2001 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Recalls & Reliability
445 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 36/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 62,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2001 sits among all Elantra years
What owners report
“Consumer states that when hit at 35 mph in the front center of the vehicle the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. Dealer notified. Mr”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Elantra
“Was exiting off of the parkway to the right traveling approx. 25- 30 mph when i lost control of the vehicles steering causing me to crash into the curb of the median. Resulting in both of the front tires to blow out and pushing the wheel on the drivers side back into the wheel well. The control arm…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Elantra
“Takata recall. The airbag light is illuminated on dash. The vehicle has never been in an accident yet the light is on. Not sure if airbags will work if an accident ever does occur. Cannot have full coverage insurance because air bag light is on. Vehicle was stationary when light came on. Unknown…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Elantra
“Brakes failed. Unable to stop. Had to initiate emergency measures--emergency brake, put car into park.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Elantra
“The plastic caps that the manufacturer use to cover the rear doors bolts are popping off. Consumer had an 18 month old child in the back seat who almost choked on the plastic cap. The manufacturer was not helpful. Ph”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Elantra
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 286 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 69,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 35,700 and 102,783 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 160,904 MY 2001-2003 ELANTRA AND MY 2003 TIBURON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS FOR CORROSION DAMAGE. IF SPECIFIED LEVELS OF INTERNAL CORROSION DAMAGE ARE FOUND, THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW FRONT LOWER…
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CLIPS AND REVISED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ATTACHMENTS UNDER THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS. THE RECALL IS…
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001 ELANTRA VEHICLES. IF A LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE AREA OF THE CUPHOLDER ON THE CENTER CONSOLE, IT MAY SEEP THROUGH THE CONSOLE OPENING FOR THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER AND THEN DRIP ONTO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE ELECTRICAL…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR. THE RECALL OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2008, AND LETTERS WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS.…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE REAR BRAKE TUBES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM SIDE AIR BAG SATELLITE SENSORS INSTALLED WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED, CAUSING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS TO NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED IN THE EVENT OF…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TWO SATELLITE SENSORS.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 09V125000.
Led to recall campaign 08V532000.
Technical service bulletins
102 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2001 Elantra TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2001 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2001 Hyundai Elantra drew 445 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 36/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2001 Hyundai Elantra problems?
The top reported problems for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra are airbags (125 complaints), suspension (86), and electrical (32).
At what mileage do 2001 Hyundai Elantra problems show up?
Owners most often report 2001 Hyundai Elantra problems around 69,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 35,700 and 102,783 miles.
Does the 2001 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2001 Hyundai Elantra. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.