IllustrationAIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR COLLISION. *LA THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. *JB
1996 Hyundai Elantra
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Elantra years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 100 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
14 reportsAS CONSUMER WAS DRIVING HE HAD TO SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER CAR. VEHICLE WENT UP ON A CURB, CAUSING BOTH AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED BY AIRBAGS/ FRONT END WAS PUSHED BACK. PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH AND CROSSING A GREEN LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRYING TO MAKE A TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, BUT CONSUMER COULD NOT AVOID CRASHING INTO IT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
THE CHECK ENGINE AND AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL I REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE DEALER'S DAMAGE. *AK
IN THIS ACCIDENT I WAS TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION. THE LIGHT WAS RED AND ABOUT TO TURN GREEN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR THAT WAS SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION DID NOT GO. I RAN DIRECTLY IN THE BACK OF A 1998 CHEVY CAVILAR. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WIND SHEILD. THE AIR BAG DIDN'T …
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IN THIS ACCIDENT I WAS TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN I CAME TO AN INTERSECTION. THE LIGHT WAS RED AND ABOUT TO TURN GREEN. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN THE CAR THAT WAS SITTING AT THE INTERSECTION DID NOT GO. I RAN DIRECTLY IN THE BACK OF A 1998 CHEVY CAVILAR. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE WIND SHEILD. THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.
CONSUMER WAS IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN ELK AT 50 MPH , AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
I REPORTED THIS INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU TO THE MAIN COMPANY IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I FEEL THAT IT HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE SO…
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I REPORTED THIS INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU TO THE MAIN COMPANY IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I FEEL THAT IT HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE SOME PREPARATION TO SATISFY THEIR CUSTOMER,ONE WHO HAS AN EXCELLENT PAYING HISTORY. I AM VERY DISSATIFIED WITH THIS PRODUCT AND WOULD LIKE A BETTER AUTOMOBILE, ONE IN WHICH I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AND PAYING FOR IN THE REMAINDER YEARS. PLEASE HELP! THANKS, CAROLYN B. THOMAS. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.) ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERS, BUT DEALERS ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 25 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A INTER-SECTIONAL CRASH, TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THE CRASH BUCKLED THE FIRE WALL. *AK
Official recalls
300V095002 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 21, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. IF EXCESSIVE VACUUM IS APPLIED, MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION CAN RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
00V095001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Mar 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. IF EXCESSIVE VACUUM IS APPLIED, MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION CAN RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
97V026000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
Feb 26, 1997
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2SQ00003 · Fuel Cap Replacement Campaign 36
Opened Feb 2, 2000 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
There is no summary currently available
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE97002 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened Jan 17, 1997 · Closed Feb 27, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 14, 1997, HYUNDAI STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 75,000 HYUNDAI VEHICLES (CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-97 ELANTRA, ACCENT, SONATA AND TIBURON MODELS BUILT THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 1996 -- SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 97V-026 FOR DETAILS) WILL BE RECALLED FOR A DEFECT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR.HYUNDAI STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY NOT OPERATE IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF THE MOTOR'S CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITH SOLDERING FLUX DURING MANUFACTURING PROCESS.HYUNDAI WILL REMEDY THE DEFECT BY CLEANING THE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS TO REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS.