IllustrationBOTH FRONT ROTORS HAVE MULTIPLE HAIRLINE CRACKS -NEVER BEEN CUT WITH PLENTY OF BRAKE LINING LEFT -- ALL HIGHWAY DRIVING NOT STOP AND GO . *AK
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
What owners actually said
100 reportsWHILE 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
WHENEVER DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD DIE OUT. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 5 TIMES. EACH TIME MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. CHECKED COILS/AIR/ OIL FILTERS/ ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL SYSTEM. NOTHING RESOLVED STALLING. *AK
DASH HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR. FIRST IT WAS SAID TO BE A SPEEDOMETER CABLE THAT WAS REPLACED. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER AND LOUDER. *AK
CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 00V095001, MANUFCTURER'S NUMBER NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE RECALL PROBLEM, CAP WAS ONLY REPLACED. CONSUMER NOTE WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS AND CUT OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING. *AK
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED, AND TIRE JUST EXPLODED. COOPER TIRE WONT DO ANYTHING.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UT8JFE7327 TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)
DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE 3/99 COULD NOT EXIT THROUGH THAT DOOR. NEW HANDLE INSTALLED 3/99 AND BROKE AGAIN 9/2000 COULD NOT EXIT THROUGH SUBJECT DOOR. THIS COULD MAKE EMERGENCY EXIT DIFFICULT. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. MFR CLAIMS "PURGE VALVE STUCK" CODE INDICATES UNRELATED FAILURE, REFUSES TO REPAIR.
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. 100,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY IS DUE TO EXPIRE. VEHICLE PLACE IN SERVICE SHOP FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 4TH TIME. VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED IT, HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HAVE INCURRED FINANCIAL LOSSES DUE TO FREQUENT REOCCURRENCE OF P…
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. 100,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY IS DUE TO EXPIRE. VEHICLE PLACE IN SERVICE SHOP FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 4TH TIME. VEHICLE WAS ROAD TESTED IT, HOWEVER, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HAVE INCURRED FINANCIAL LOSSES DUE TO FREQUENT REOCCURRENCE OF PROBLEM (LOSS OF WORK, VEHICLE RENTAL, ETC.) WOULD LIKE PROBLEM FIXED PERMANENTLY OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE.*AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT (00V-095) PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CAUSING ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *MJS
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.