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1999 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 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

49 reports with mileage · 79 unknown

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 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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.

22 crash reports2 fire reports16 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

20 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteeringFire

I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY …

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I HAVE A 99 HYUNDAI ELANTRA 4 DOOR. LAST WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. MORE SPECIFICALLY, I WAS AT THE TIME IN THE HARDEE'S DRIVE THRU WHEN THE SMOKE AND FLAMES STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO ROLL OUT OF THE DRIVE THRU AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A FEW MECHANICS WHO SAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MELTED ALL OF THE STEERING COLUMN, DASH, CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE HEAT, AND OTHER FIRE DAMAGE. THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AND UNDRIVEABLE. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF 2 KIDS AND THIS WAS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD CONTACTED HYUNDAI AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THE CAR WAS FINE AND NOT TO WORRY. I HAVE NO WAY TO SCAN MY DOCUMENTS, BUT I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AS WELL AS SEVERAL EMAILS FROM HYUNDAI FROM LAST YEAR, AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10913774

99,000 miles · Nov 1, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

12/2/2014 MULTI-CAR/SEMI ACCIDENT. FRONT END COLLISION WITH REAR END DAMAGE. TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 465 S @ MM 41 NEAR PENDLETON PIKE EXIT. AT FAULT DRIVER SPUN ON ICE, CAME INTO MY LANE THAT I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN SO SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTH. HIT DRIVERS SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE, SEMI TRAILER RAN OVER THE PASSENGER S…

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12/2/2014 MULTI-CAR/SEMI ACCIDENT. FRONT END COLLISION WITH REAR END DAMAGE. TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 465 S @ MM 41 NEAR PENDLETON PIKE EXIT. AT FAULT DRIVER SPUN ON ICE, CAME INTO MY LANE THAT I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH IN SO SHE WAS TRAVELING NORTH. HIT DRIVERS SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE, SEMI TRAILER RAN OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR. TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ODI #10787558

62,000 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

THE "AIR BAG" AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. BOTH DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK, BOTH MUST BE TAPED UP. CAR HAS HAD A "ELECTRIAL BURNING" SMELL OFF AND ON FOR A YEAR. THE HEADLIGHTS GOES BRIGHT WHILE DRIVING. GETTING LESS THAN 20 MPG GAS. BATTERIES FREQUENTLY GOES DEAD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096495

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING 35-40 MPH THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNERS ARE AWARE OF (4) SIMILAR CASES OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015276

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

IN A FRONTAL IMPACT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8019135

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAG COVER POPPED OFF, BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

NHTSA ODI #8005568

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMERS VEHICLE REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON WINDSHIELD, AND PASSENGER SUFFERED BACK INJURIES. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 5500.00. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8001949

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH ON EXPRESS WAY WHEN CONSUMERS VEHICLE REARENDED A STALLED VEHICLE, DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, PASSENGER WAS INJURED, CONSUMER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING MANUFACTURER. *AK *YD

NHTSA ODI #897122

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION (I HIT THE BACK BUMPER OF A PICKUP TRUCK). ALTHOUGH NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE TRUCK, MY CAR ENDED UP WITH ALMOST $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. NEITHER MY AIR BAGS NOR SHOULDER RESTRAINTS WORKED. I ENDED UP HITTING MY FOREHEAD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING SOME MODERATE TO SEVERE NECK TRAUMA…

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION (I HIT THE BACK BUMPER OF A PICKUP TRUCK). ALTHOUGH NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE TRUCK, MY CAR ENDED UP WITH ALMOST $5,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. NEITHER MY AIR BAGS NOR SHOULDER RESTRAINTS WORKED. I ENDED UP HITTING MY FOREHEAD ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAUSING SOME MODERATE TO SEVERE NECK TRAUMA. I REPORTED THE FAILURE TO HYUNDAI AND SEEM TO BE GETTING NO HELP. THEY INSIST THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I STILL CAN SIT IN MY CAR AND MOVE MY CHEST FORWARD AGAINST THE SHOULDER RESTRAINTS AS FAST AS I CAN AND NEVER HAVE THE EVEN SLOW ME DOWN. HOWEVER, IF I USE MY HAND TO MOVE THE STRAPS FORWARD, THEY LOCK UP IMMEDIATELY AS THEY SHOULD. I SPOKE AGAIN TO HYUNDAI (1-800-633-5151 FILE #[XXX]) AND THEY INSIST THAT IT IS NORMAL TO MOVE FORWARD LIKE MY RESTRAINTS DO. ALL I KNOW IS THAT MY SHOULDER RESTRAINTS DO NOTAND DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY OTHER CAR I HAVE DRIVEN IN. SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER AS I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT HAS PROVEN TO ME TO BE UNSAFE. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

NHTSA ODI #745782

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER CAR AT 15MPH AND BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881294

Official recalls

2

00V259001 · Electrical System:wiring

Sep 11, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITER V-6 ENGINES AND ALL ELANTRA MODEL VEHICLES MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT LOW-SPEED ENGINE STALLING, WHICH COULD OCCUR IF THE MAF (MASS AIR FLOW) SENSOR ELECTRICAL SIGNAL IS INTERRUPTED AS A RESULT OF ENGINE VIBRATION TRANSMITTED TO THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS.

99V178000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jul 7, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE SEALS DO NOT REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY ELASTIC, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN REDUCED PRESSURE APPLICATION TO THE CLUTCHES, BRAKE, AND KICKDOWN SERVO, ALLOWING THEM TO SLIP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SUCH SLIPPAGE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENT SURFACES AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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