IllustrationWHEN ACCELERATING AND LETTING OFF GAS PEDAL, AND GETTING BACK ON GAS PEDAL ENGINE IDLES UP REALLY HIGH, AND VEHCLE BUCKS FORWARD LIKE SLAMMING ON BRAKES, BUT FOOTAS NOT ON BRAKES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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.
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: 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
What owners actually said
115 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION JUST SHUTS OFF AND IS ALSO LEAKING FLUID.*JB
CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION JERKS ON DECELERATION/ACCELERATION FROM STOPS AND THEN DOWN SHIFTS ROUGHLY. DEALER FOUND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AND BANGING INTO GEAR. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND FLUSH COOLER AND HOOK UP SCANNER. INTERMITTENTLY AFTER DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WON'T MOVE VE…
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CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION JERKS ON DECELERATION/ACCELERATION FROM STOPS AND THEN DOWN SHIFTS ROUGHLY. DEALER FOUND THE TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING AND BANGING INTO GEAR. REPLACED TRANSMISSION WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND FLUSH COOLER AND HOOK UP SCANNER. INTERMITTENTLY AFTER DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WON'T MOVE VEHICLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE OFF FROM A STOP. DEALER REPLACED PULSE GENERATORS. *TT
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP THEY PUT IT ON A MACHINE & SAID IT EITHER HAS ABAD GAS CAP OR A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. WHEN I TAKE THE GAS CAP OFF TO FILL UP MY CAR IT HAS NO PRESSURE AT ALL & I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES FOR AWHILE AFTER THAT. YOU CAN UNHOOK THE BATTERY FOR AWHILE & THE LIGHT WILL STAY OF…
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO SHOP THEY PUT IT ON A MACHINE & SAID IT EITHER HAS ABAD GAS CAP OR A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. WHEN I TAKE THE GAS CAP OFF TO FILL UP MY CAR IT HAS NO PRESSURE AT ALL & I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES FOR AWHILE AFTER THAT. YOU CAN UNHOOK THE BATTERY FOR AWHILE & THE LIGHT WILL STAY OFF FOR A FEW DAYS THE IT COMES BACK ON AGAIN. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM & WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS.*AK
02 SENSOR REPLACED ON 8-6-01, B/U LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED ON 8-6-01,IGNITION COILS REPL. ON 9-21-99, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEEN RESET 10 TIMES,#1 & #4 NOT FIRING 10 TIMES OR MORE, CAR LOOSES POWER, CHUGS THEN DIES 2 TIMES. *AK
DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPOY DURING A 35MPH FRONT END COLLISION. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO NECK AND CHEST AREA. CONSUMER STATED THAT AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FUNCTONING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *JB
NO SUMMARY FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE FUEL FILLER CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IN JANUARY 2000, HYUNDAI SENT THE ORIGINAL OWNER A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP. A FOLLOW-UP NOTICE CAME REQUESTING TO TAKE THE CAR TO A HYUNDAI DEALER TO HAVE THE PRESSURE CHECKED IN THE FUEL TANK TO SEE IF ANY CRACKS. JUST BEFORE TAKING THE CAR IN FOR THIS INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT …
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THE FUEL FILLER CAP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. IN JANUARY 2000, HYUNDAI SENT THE ORIGINAL OWNER A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP. A FOLLOW-UP NOTICE CAME REQUESTING TO TAKE THE CAR TO A HYUNDAI DEALER TO HAVE THE PRESSURE CHECKED IN THE FUEL TANK TO SEE IF ANY CRACKS. JUST BEFORE TAKING THE CAR IN FOR THIS INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER CHANGED THE FUEL FILLER CAP AGAIN AND THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. MY CONCERN IS, DO I HAVE TO HAVE THIS PRESSURE CHECKED PERIODICALLY. DOES THE FUEL FILLER CAP NEED TO BE CHANGED, HOW OFTEN. I REALLY FEEL PARANOID AND INTIMIDATED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ACTION I SHOULD TAKE. THANK YOU
WINDOW CONTROL- WHEN ROLLING UP YHE RUBBER GET CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM , I GUESS IT WAS FIX RIGHT HOPEFUL THIS TIMEWHICH WAS 7-24-01. EMISSION-WAS A PROBLEM .I THINK IT'S STILL A PROBLEM I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS NOT PRETAING TO THE TRANSMISSION.TRANSMISSION-ALWAYS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND STILL IS. THE …
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WINDOW CONTROL- WHEN ROLLING UP YHE RUBBER GET CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM , I GUESS IT WAS FIX RIGHT HOPEFUL THIS TIMEWHICH WAS 7-24-01. EMISSION-WAS A PROBLEM .I THINK IT'S STILL A PROBLEM I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS NOT PRETAING TO THE TRANSMISSION.TRANSMISSION-ALWAYS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND STILL IS. THE CAR JERKS BUCK,AND IT ACTS LIKE IT BE SFITING TO ANOTHER GEAR SOMETIMES. I;M BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND NOTHING. WAIT UNTIL THE ENIGINE LIGHT COMES ON.THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSE THIS HAS GOTTEN TO MY BACK. I CONTACT THE MANUF THEY DON'T CARE ,THEY JUST SAY AS LONG AS THERE IS A WARRANTY ON THE CAR THEY WILL KEEP FIXING, BUT IT'S NOT .THEY SAID A NEW ONE WAS PUT IN . I'M STILL HAVING A PROBLEM ALL I AK FOR WAS A ANOTHER CAR.AS BEE. *AK
FAILURE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. STARTED TO FAIL AT ABT 30,000. *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
1SQ00003 · 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