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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 →

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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

CAR STALL ON ME WHEN I AM AT A LIGHT OR A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL CHANGE FIRST GEAR WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I GO AROUND 20 MPH IT WILL STALL OUT ON ME THEN POP INTO GEAR....THEN THE CAR WILL GO REALLY SLOW TILL IT WILL GET ITSELF TOGETHER...I HAVE CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR CHANGE THE TIME BELT IN THE CAR CHANGE SP…

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CAR STALL ON ME WHEN I AM AT A LIGHT OR A COMPLETE STOP IT WILL CHANGE FIRST GEAR WITH NO PROBLEMS BUT WHEN I GO AROUND 20 MPH IT WILL STALL OUT ON ME THEN POP INTO GEAR....THEN THE CAR WILL GO REALLY SLOW TILL IT WILL GET ITSELF TOGETHER...I HAVE CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IN THE CAR CHANGE THE TIME BELT IN THE CAR CHANGE SPARK PLUGS IN THE CAR CHANGE THE AIR FILTER IN THE CAR AND ETC...THE LIST GOES ON...THE GUYS FROM THE HYUANDI DEALER IN NEWPORT NEWS IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND ....SAYING THEY DONT SEE NO PROBLEM BUT FIXING EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE CAR...IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW...I WILL BE HOME AFTER 8PM IF YOU NEED TO CONTACT ME OR LEAVE ME AN EMAIL I WILL REPLY BACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746114

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND STALLED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED PLUGS AND WIRES, AND REROUTED EVAP LINE. IT DID NOT REMEDY SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #887443

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. DEALER SAID IT WAS JUST THE SENSOR, BUT HAD NOT REPLACED SENSOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882687

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SPEED WAS 30 -35 MPH. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #876947

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Air Bags

AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ILLUMINATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #872775

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Visibility

IF THERE IS ANY MOISTURE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, IT IS NOT REMOVED WHEN WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AND BACK UP. ASKED HYUNDAI DEALER TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE HYUNDAI. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #733161

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Structure

WATER LEAKING FROM RIGHT SIDE GLOVE BOX TO THE FLOOR. SAW WATER ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD AND AROUND HOOD. IF I GO TO THE CAR WASH, IT LEAKS.

NHTSA ODI #9001638

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000
TiresCrashInjury

THE ENTIRE TREAD SECTION DEBONDED AND SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE IMMEDIATELLY LOST ALL PRESSURE. THE VEHICHE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR 40 TO 50 FEET AND IMPACTED ON THE RIGHT FORWARD QUARTER PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED FOUR TIMES COMING …

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THE ENTIRE TREAD SECTION DEBONDED AND SEPERATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE IMMEDIATELLY LOST ALL PRESSURE. THE VEHICHE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND LEFT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR 40 TO 50 FEET AND IMPACTED ON THE RIGHT FORWARD QUARTER PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED FOUR TIMES COMING TO REST ON IT'S WHEELS. ALL THE OCCUPANT WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, WHICH SAVED THEIR LIVES. ALL WERE AIRLIFTED TO GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL IN PHOENIX AZ. MY WIFE SUFFERED TWO DISLOCATED CARPELS IN HER LEFT WRIST, BRUISED LEFT SHOULDER AND BRUISED RIGHT ARM. MY DAUGHTER'S RIGHT WRIST WAS SEVERLY LACERATED THAT REQUIRED INTENSIVE RECONTRUCTIVE SURGERY. MY SON'S SUFFERED ONLY BUMPS AND BRUISES AND WAS TREATED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. MY DAUGHTER IS GOING TO REQUIRE EXTENSIVE REHAB FOR HER RIGHT HAND, BUT THE DOCTOR IS OPTIMISTIC FOR RECOVERY. THESE TIRES WERE RECENTLY ROTATED, WERE PROPERLY SERVICED AND INSPECTED BEFORE MY FAMILY LEFT ON THEIR TRIP.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175/65R14 )

NHTSA ODI #727259

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. WHEN HANDLE BROKE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT WAS UNABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE. ALSO, A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE,.WHEN TRUNING OFF VEHICLE WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867001

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Power Train

CONSUMER HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, A SUDDEN SURGE BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND GEAR SHIFT. *ET

NHTSA ODI #553245

Official recalls

3

00V095002 · 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

1

SQ00003 · 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

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