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 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON,SURGES,MISSES,JERKS,DIES,TAPPING NOISE,LOSES POWER,THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. OTHER REPAIRS 9-26-98 ALTERNATOR,GENERATOR MILEAGE 24662: 10-29-98 MISSING AND ROUGH IDLE COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, MILEAGE 25350; 3-22-99 PLUG AND CABLE SET CHANGED AGAIN, MILEAGE 29167; 4-12-99 REPLACED TRANSMISSI…
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ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON,SURGES,MISSES,JERKS,DIES,TAPPING NOISE,LOSES POWER,THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. OTHER REPAIRS 9-26-98 ALTERNATOR,GENERATOR MILEAGE 24662: 10-29-98 MISSING AND ROUGH IDLE COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, MILEAGE 25350; 3-22-99 PLUG AND CABLE SET CHANGED AGAIN, MILEAGE 29167; 4-12-99 REPLACED TRANSMISSION PART, MILEAGE 29760; HAVE TALKED TO CONSUMER ASSISTANT CENTER,THE DM,ALL I AM TOLD IS TO KEEP TAKING IT IN . AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE IT LOST ALL POWER WHEN DRIVING ON I- 65.WAS TOWED IN 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF NO POWER.THEY OFFERED FOR ME TO TRADE IT IN ON A NEW CAR, THAT WOULD MEAN ANOTHER 5 YR. LOAN AND ANOTHER $50.00 A MONTH PAYMENT.I DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS A VERY GOOD SOLUTION .SERVICE DEPT.HAS BEEN GOOD AS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEMS, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS CAR AT NO COST TO ME, FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705793
Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1999
Air BagsCrash
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
NHTSA ODI #833561
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON 8 TIMES/SEATBELTS WON'T LATCH/TRANSMISSION SLIPS/POOR ACCELERATION/EXHAUST SMELLS LIKE "ROTTEN EGGS"--
NHTSA ODI #704229
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.
NHTSA ODI #543591
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 1999
Electrical System
CONSUMER IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD THAT IS CAUSING MELTDOWN OF WIRES UNDER THE HOOD/DRAINAGE OF THE BATTERY AND THE ALTENATOR, AND THE RADIO TO SWITCH ITSELF ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833824
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1999
Tires
AIR IN THE TIRES KEEPS COMING OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO KEEP STOPPING AND PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES. AIR IS COMING OUT OF THE TIRES FROM THE METAL PART ON THE RIMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #833116
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1998
Visibility
RECALL REMEDY DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE STILL INOPERABLE. RECALL NUMBER 97V026000. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ON. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #831395
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AND TRYING TO PULL OUT, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND CUT OFF. UPON PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND CUTTING OFF THE HEAT/RADIO AND EVERYTHING, AND WAITING TO START THE VEHICLE UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE DID'NT GIVE ANY PRIOR WARNING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #830492
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1998
Unknown Or OtherVisibility
WHEN DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON FOR NO REASON, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830143
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1998
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
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
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.
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.
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
2
SQ00003 · 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.
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