2002 Hyundai Elantra problems
Owners have filed 431 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Hyundai Elantra. Suspension is the most reported problem area, at 23% of complaints. After that come air bags (17%) and brakes (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 431 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 80 and 7
- Injuries and deaths
- 53 and 2
- Typical mileage
- 72,000 miles 308 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 42 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 35 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 48 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 53 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 38 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 35 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 31 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 8 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 10 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Among the 308 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 72,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 93,000 miles (81 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 80 complaints mention a crash; 7 complaints mention a fire; 53 injuries reported; 2 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 88% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 14th most-complained-about out of 34 model years of the Hyundai Elantra with enough data (177 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 hyundai elantra. While driving approximately 70 MPH the front control arms failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle which resulted in a fatal crash. The police and fire department arrived on the scene. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a collision center. The VIN is a part of recall NHTSA id number 09v12500 (suspension front: control arm). An appointment was previously scheduled before the crash occurred. The current and failure mileages were 118,000.
Consumer complained about a brake problem. A recall notice was mailed to consumer one year after vehicle was in an accident and the original owner was killed. The owner's father wanted to know why did it so long to be notified about the recall.
Head on collision, drivers side, airbags did not deploy, three people in the car all sustained injuries, driver was transported to the hospital....damage to the car from this accident is considered a total loss.......my biggest concern is why didn't my airbags deploy?
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 hyundai elantra. The contact was driving approximately 15 MPH on a slight incline. The vehicle stopped without warning. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure was contributed to the cross member assembly and control arm. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number 09v125000 (suspension:front:control arm) the vehicle was repaired for the malfunction.
2002 hyundai elantra. Fuel shoots out of tank soaking owners with gas during fill up. Condition occurs regardless of fuel tank level. A venting issue is determined. Evap. Canister has ruptured clogging vents and vacuum lines with charcoal pellets. Condition causes no mechanical or performance issues. Slow, sputtering fill is only symptom. Possibility of fire at pumps. I fill person is exposed to fuel at time of fire injury highly likely.