Home
Hyundai
Elantra
1992 problems

FaultScore report

1992 Hyundai Elantra problems

Owners have filed 46 complaints about the 1992 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA between 1995 and 2001. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Hyundai Elantra

—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

How 1992 compares with every other Hyundai Elantra

Click any bar to open that year's report.

46 39 110 179 138 196 75 183 259 445 431 310 209 180 209 365 424 319 504 589 920 1,862 550 356 395 1,074 405 330 333 214 142 156 93 31 1

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1992 Hyundai Elantra

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 9 19.6%

0 crashes, 3 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 9 19.6%

Engine & Cooling 8 17.4%

Body & Structure 4 8.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Suspension 3 6.5%

Brakes 3 6.5%

Seat Belts 2 4.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Lights 2 4.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 4.3%

Equipment & Accessories 1 2.2%

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 2.2%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 2.2%

Fuel & Propulsion 1 2.2%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Automatic Transmission 8 33.3%

Engine 4 16.7%

Ignition 3 12.5%

Body 2 8.3%

Gasoline 2 8.3%

Wiring 2 8.3%

Door 2 8.3%

Center Support Bearing 1 4.2%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.

Configuration	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
1992 Hyundai Elantra 4-DR.	—	—	—	—

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1995 peak 7 Apr 2001

NHTSA investigations into the 1992 Hyundai Elantra

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

1 investigation is still open.

SQ96017 Opened 22 Nov 1996 Still open STRUCTURE

REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE

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 THE UNITE STATES POPULATION.

PE95060 Opened 9 Dec 1995 Closed 21 Mar 1996 EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

SCISSOR JACK FAILURE

Recalls on the 1992 Hyundai Elantra

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1996156 4 Oct 1996 23,578 units in Canada

Suspension

THE BOLTS FASTENING THE REAR SUSPENSION TRAILING ARM TO THE CHASSIS MAY FAIL. IF ONE OF THESE BOLTS FAIL, THE TRAILING ARM MAY BECOME DETACHED ON ONE SIDE, ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO MOVE REARWARD OF ITS INTENDED POSITION. THIS COULD CHANGE THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED BOLTS ON BOTH MOUNTING POSITIONS OF THE TRAILING ARMS.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 30 Jun 1999 Bellefont, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT INSIDE INTO DOCTOR'S OFFICE, AND SOMEONE CAME IN AND TOLD HER THAT CAR WAS ON FIRE IN PARKING LOT. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING SHORTED OUT, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #841525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Mar 1999 Wichita, KS Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 35, I MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS FLEW TO THE LEFT, THEY WERE NOT ON AT THE TIME, BLACK SMOKE FILLED THE CAR, THROUGH THE VENTS. THE CAR JERKED FORWARD WITH A THUMP. I MANAGED TO PULL THE CAR TO THE SHOLDER JUST AS THE CAR DIED. THE CAR WAS TOLLED TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALIST IN EL DORADE, KS. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ABOUT 8 COMPUTER BOARD FRIED AND HAD TO BE REPLASED. I STILL HAVE THEM IN MY GARAGE. ON THE E.C.U. I WAS TOLD THAT IT ROTTED????? IT WAS MUST HAVE BEEN SUBMERGED IN WATER.

NHTSA complaint #704154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 1 Apr 1997 FT. Lauderdale, FL Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD THE PASSENGER.

NHTSA complaint #810572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 19 Jan 1996 FT Wayne, IN Fire

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM HOUSING UNIT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA complaint #977887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Nov 1995 Philadelphia, PA Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONSUMER STARTED CAR WOULDN'T START DEALER SAY THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE HAVING OTHER PROBLEM. TT CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAS AN OIL LEAK, CONSUMER ALSO STATES AFTER SECOND DAY OF PURCHASE DOOR WOULD NOT OPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #974588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Nov 1995 Philadelphia, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NHTSA complaint #974588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 13 Apr 2001 Moriarty, NM

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHEN TRYING TO USE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WERE FROZEN WHILE SWITCH WAS ON, WAS UNABLE TO OPERATE THEM. INSTEAD OF BLOWING A FUSE, WIRING HARNESS GOT HOT AND BURNED ALL WIRES.

NHTSA complaint #885893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 30 Jun 1999 Bellefont, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

NHTSA complaint #841525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Mar 1999 Sycamore, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

TIMING BELT, FAILED CAUSING CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGE FROM VALVES, ENGINE BLOWN

NHTSA complaint #704209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 8 Mar 1999 Wichita, KS Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

NHTSA complaint #704154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 9 Feb 1999 Colton, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE WILL NOT START. WOULD DIE OUT WHEN IT DOES START. ALTERNATOR HAD BROKEN. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #832665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 24 Dec 1998 Colton, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WOULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR PROBLEM. BROKEN PLASTIC LATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING OPERATION, STARTER FAULTY, FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES. GLOVE BOX LATCH FELL OFF IN CONSUMERS HAND. PARKING LIGHTS FAILED.