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1997 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Hyundai Elantra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 182.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 115 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports0 fire reports12 injury reports

Structure complaints

9 reports
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141,000 miles · May 19, 2015
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrashInjury

TRAVELING WEST ON ADAM SHEPHERDS PKWY, I HAD A GREEN LIGHT, LADY OPPOSITE SIDE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTED IN COLLISION. HER FAULT. WITNESSES SAID SHE HESITATED BUT WENT ANYWAY. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO YIELD. I COULD OF BEEN KILLED! MY FRONT DUAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I CAN HARDLY MOVE MY RIGHT ARM, MY BACK, MY NECK MY CH…

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TRAVELING WEST ON ADAM SHEPHERDS PKWY, I HAD A GREEN LIGHT, LADY OPPOSITE SIDE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTED IN COLLISION. HER FAULT. WITNESSES SAID SHE HESITATED BUT WENT ANYWAY. SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO YIELD. I COULD OF BEEN KILLED! MY FRONT DUAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I CAN HARDLY MOVE MY RIGHT ARM, MY BACK, MY NECK MY CHEST HURTS. I WAS TAKEN THEN TO NORTON'S EMERGENCY ROOM . I CAN'T SIT OR LAY DOWN OR STAND TOO LONG. CAN'T HOLD ON TO ANYTHING. VERY SORE, STRAINED MUSCLES AND BRUISING OF MUSCLES.

NHTSA ODI #10717302

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Structure

FAILURE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. STARTED TO FAIL AT ABT 30,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747491

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Structure

WATER LEAKING FROM RIGHT SIDE GLOVE BOX TO THE FLOOR. SAW WATER ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD AND AROUND HOOD. IF I GO TO THE CAR WASH, IT LEAKS.

NHTSA ODI #9001638

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN HANDLE BROKE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ALSO, A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE,.WHEN TRUNING OFF VEHICLE WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867001

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

HEAD LINER IN REAR IS FALLING .*ET

NHTSA ODI #784459

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1999
Structure

DOOR HANDLE ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FAILS TO WORK. WOULD HAVE TO OPEN DOOR ON THE OUTSIDE WHILE BEING INSIDE OF VEHICLE. ALL THE DOOR HANDLES ON VEHICLE ARE BROKEN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851165

Mileage unknown · May 18, 1999
Structure

ORIGINAL & ONE INSIDE DOOR RELEASE FAILED (INSTALLING 3RD ONE NOW).

NHTSA ODI #706607

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1998
Interior LightingService Brakes, HydraulicStructure

WITHIN 17,000 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAS PREMATURELY WORN OUT, AND ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.*AK BOTH FRONT WINDOW FALL WHILE DRIVING. DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON. RIGHT DOOR PANEL MAKE NOISE. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON. *YH

NHTSA ODI #828696

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1997
Power TrainStructure

DEFECTIVE SIDE MOLDING

NHTSA ODI #523131

Official recalls

3

00V095002 · 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

1

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

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