1994 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Recalls & Reliability

110 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1994 Hyundai Elantra, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 9/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1994 Hyundai Elantra has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

110Complaints
9/100Trouble index
2Recalls

Better year

Where 1994 sits among all Elantra years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 33 complaints (30%)
“The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and the airbag did not deploy. Please describe. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Elantra
Electrical 25 complaints (23%)
“Electrically system over charge, causing the air flow sensor and ecu to burn out.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1994 Elantra
Transmission & drivetrain 10 complaints (9%)
Engine 9 complaints (8%)
Body & structure 7 complaints (6%)
Brakes & stability 6 complaints (5%)

Recalls (2)

AIR BAGS 95V101000 1995

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED AND COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE FROM INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO DETERMINE IF IT CONTAINS A TERMINAL HOLDER. IF IT DOES NOT, ONE WILL BE INSTALLED.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 94V090000 1994

IN SOME VEHICLES, THE MANUFACTURER'S PROTECTIVE INTERNAL COATING OF THE ELECTRONIC CRANK ANGLE SENSOR DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH CAN CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT AT HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE SENSOR IS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, AND REPLACE ANY SENSOR FOUND WITH THE DEFECTIVE INTERNAL COATING.

Federal defect investigations

Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →

REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE SQ96017 opened November 22, 1996 · still open

Component: STRUCTURE

ODI HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CANADIAN RECALL.FURTHERMORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS OPENED TO EVALUATE HYUNDAI'S RATIONAL FOR NOT CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE…

Model years named: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

SCISSOR JACK FAILURE PE95060 opened 1995, closed 1996

Technical service bulletins

13 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on visibility & wipers and engine — are on file for the 1994 Hyundai Elantra. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1994 Elantra TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 26 in 19972002

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1994 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

The 1994 Hyundai Elantra drew 110 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 9/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 1994 Hyundai Elantra problems?

The top reported problems for the 1994 Hyundai Elantra are airbags (33 complaints), electrical (25), and transmission & drivetrain (10).

Does the 1994 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 1994 Hyundai Elantra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1993 Elantra All Elantra years 1995 Elantra →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.