IllustrationAIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICTAING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE 36,000 WARRANTY PERIOD. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *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 reportsTRANSMISSION WENT EITHER TO REVERSE OR INTO FIRST GEAR WHICH COULD BRING VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP. *SLC
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR NEW I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE PULSE GENERATOR REPLACED TWICE, AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT KEPT BURING OUT. I WOULD REPEATEDLY TAKE MY CAR INTO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI FOR SERVICE DUE TO SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, CAR CUTTING OFF AND STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE …
Read full complaint
SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR NEW I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE PULSE GENERATOR REPLACED TWICE, AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT KEPT BURING OUT. I WOULD REPEATEDLY TAKE MY CAR INTO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI FOR SERVICE DUE TO SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, CAR CUTTING OFF AND STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY AT 65MPH SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST ETC. FINALLY ON 17 MARCH 1999, APPROXIAMATELY 4 WEEKS AFTER PAYING 350 DOLLARS TO HAVE MY ENGINE CLEANED (RECOMMENDED BY SERVICE MANAGER) MY ENGINE BLEW AT 15 MPH. OIL WAS SPURTING OUT EVERYWHERE AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO GIVE THE THE HYUNDAI COMPLAINANT LINE NUMBER. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR.. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOMMY HAS REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER BUT STATES THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK OUT A REASONABLE RATE FOR PARTS A LABOR. GRANTED I HAVE 78,000 MILES ON A 97' HOWEVER THESE ARE ALL HIGHWAY MILES 167 MILES ROUNDTRIP TO WORK. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE WAS DONE. I DO NOT THINK NOR FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO BE SADDLED WITH THIS LEMON ANY LONGER NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN GOING BACK FOR MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE 6/97 THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS VEHICLE SLID AND CAUSED A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A TREE, WHICH DESTROED THE FRONT END. DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED IN CRASH AND DRIVER WAS KILLED. *AK
OIL LEAK DUE TO ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILURE. MJS
THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
ORIGINAL & ONE INSIDE DOOR RELEASE FAILED (INSTALLING 3RD ONE NOW).
CENTER DASH VENT FELL APART WHEN CUSTOMER TRIED TO ADJUST. NLM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH WHEN WINDSHIELD BEGAN CRACKING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, THERE WAS NO IMPACT. ALSO, IN MAY 98 THE AIR VENTS WERE REPLACED, AND WERE REPLACED AGAIN IN NOVEMBER, 98, AND FEBRUARY 99. *AK
DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRING CAUSED SMOKE TO COME FROM ASHTRAY AND VEHICLE COULD NOT GO 30 MPH.
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