FaultScore

1996 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems

18 of the 138 complaints about the 1996 Hyundai Elantra are about the electrical system — 13% of everything reported for this model year.

B

18

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Front Underhood 3 16.7%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 3 16.7%
Module 2 11.1%
Interior/Under Dash 2 11.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 2 11.1%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 5.6%
Horn 1 5.6%
Ignition 1 5.6%
Wiring 1 5.6%
Switch 1 5.6%

Electrical System across every Hyundai Elantra year

1994 20 1.9%
1995 22 2.1%
1996 18 1.7%
1997 17 1.6%
1999 21 2.0%
2000 35 3.3%
2001 21 2.0%
2002 14 1.3%
2003 10 0.9%
2005 10 0.9%
2006 16 1.5%
2007 32 3.0%
2008 30 2.8%
2009 24 2.2%
2010 50 4.7%
2011 51 4.8%
2012 126 11.8%
2013 155 14.5%
2014 46 4.3%
2015 23 2.2%
2016 22 2.1%
2017 111 10.4%
2018 43 4.0%
2019 38 3.6%
2020 25 2.3%
2021 30 2.8%
2022 20 1.9%
2023 23 2.2%
2024 15 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Farmington, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IF THEY TURN OFF VEHICLE IT WOULD BE HARD TO START IT BACK UP. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #8015709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newark, DE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS RECCURRING. *JB OXYGEN SENSOR AND COIL PACK WERE REPLACED. FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLEANED, THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTED UNTIL DEALER FOUND BATTERY HAD DEAD CELL.

NHTSA complaint #8013238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gainesville, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DASH HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO REPAIR. FIRST IT WAS SAID TO BE A SPEEDOMETER CABLE THAT WAS REPLACED. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER AND LOUDER.

NHTSA complaint #738175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Falls Church, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THE CAR HAS BEEN CUTTING OFF ON ME SINCE PURCHASE/GOING IN REVERSE ON ITS OWN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #710035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Atlanta, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

COMPUTER ASSEMBLEY ADD/SCAN TOOL.

NHTSA complaint #706618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Station, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON,SURGES,MISSES,JERKS,DIES,TAPPING NOISE,LOSES POWER,THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. OTHER REPAIRS 9-26-98 ALTERNATOR,GENERATOR MILEAGE 24662: 10-29-98 MISSING AND ROUGH IDLE COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, MILEAGE 25350; 3-22-99 PLUG AND CABLE SET CHANGED AGAIN, MILEAGE 29167; 4-12-99 REPLACED TRANSMISSION PART, MILEAGE 29760; HAVE TALKED TO CONSUMER ASSISTANT CENTER,THE DM,ALL I AM TOLD IS TO KEEP TAKING IT IN . AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE IT LOST ALL POWER WHEN DRIVING ON I- 65.WAS TOWED IN 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF NO POWER.THEY OFFERED FOR ME TO TRADE IT IN ON A NEW CAR, THAT WOULD MEAN ANOTHER 5 YR. LOAN AND ANOTHER $50.00 A MONTH PAYMENT.I DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS A VERY GOOD SOLUTION .SERVICE DEPT.HAS BEEN GOOD AS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEMS, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS CAR AT NO COST TO ME, FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD.

NHTSA complaint #705793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Station, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON,SURGES,MISSES,JERKS,DIES,TAPPING NOISE,LOSES POWER,THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. OTHER REPAIRS 9-26-98 ALTERNATOR,GENERATOR MILEAGE 24662: 10-29-98 MISSING AND ROUGH IDLE COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, MILEAGE 25350; 3-22-99 PLUG AND CABLE SET CHANGED AGAIN, MILEAGE 29167; 4-12-99 REPLACED TRANSMISSION PART, MILEAGE 29760; HAVE TALKED TO CONSUMER ASSISTANT CENTER,THE DM,ALL I AM TOLD IS TO KEEP TAKING IT IN . AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS CAR AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAYS BECAUSE IT LOST ALL POWER WHEN DRIVING ON I- 65.WAS TOWED IN 2 TIMES BECAUSE OF NO POWER.THEY OFFERED FOR ME TO TRADE IT IN ON A NEW CAR, THAT WOULD MEAN ANOTHER 5 YR. LOAN AND ANOTHER $50.00 A MONTH PAYMENT.I DID NOT FEEL THIS WAS A VERY GOOD SOLUTION .SERVICE DEPT.HAS BEEN GOOD AS TRYING TO FIND THE PROBLEMS, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY THAT THEY HAVE NOT REPLACED THIS CAR AT NO COST TO ME, FOR ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD.

NHTSA complaint #705793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ecorse, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION AT ALL WILL STOP. WHILE DRIVING IT STOPS ABRUPTLY AND STARTS BACK UP. DEALER CONTACTED, AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. BOTH AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, ECM WAS REPLACED, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #828863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hurst, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON 8 TIMES/SEATBELTS WON'T LATCH/TRANSMISSION SLIPS/POOR ACCELERATION/EXHAUST SMELLS LIKE "ROTTEN EGGS"--

NHTSA complaint #704229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Leesburg, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER IS HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD THAT IS CAUSING MELTDOWN OF WIRES UNDER THE HOOD/DRAINAGE OF THE BATTERY AND THE ALTENATOR, AND THE RADIO TO SWITCH ITSELF ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #833824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jesup, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

I REPORTED THIS INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU TO THE MAIN COMPANY IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I FEEL THAT IT HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE SOME PREPARATION TO SATISFY THEIR CUSTOMER,ONE WHO HAS AN EXCELLENT PAYING HISTORY. I AM VERY DISSATIFIED WITH THIS PRODUCT AND WOULD LIKE A BETTER AUTOMOBILE, ONE IN WHICH I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AND PAYING FOR IN THE REMAINDER YEARS. PLEASE HELP! THANKS, CAROLYN B. THOMAS. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.) ADDED ON 09-07-1999.

NHTSA complaint #700032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jesup, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

I REPORTED THIS INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU TO THE MAIN COMPANY IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS TOTALLY UNFAIR BECAUSE I AM MAKING PAYMENTS ON AN AUTOMOBILE THAT IS LITERALLY FALLING APART. I FEEL THAT IT HYUNDAI MOTOR FINANCE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE SOME PREPARATION TO SATISFY THEIR CUSTOMER,ONE WHO HAS AN EXCELLENT PAYING HISTORY. I AM VERY DISSATIFIED WITH THIS PRODUCT AND WOULD LIKE A BETTER AUTOMOBILE, ONE IN WHICH I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AND PAYING FOR IN THE REMAINDER YEARS. PLEASE HELP! THANKS, CAROLYN B. THOMAS. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.) ADDED ON 09-07-1999.

NHTSA complaint #700032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rancho CUC, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #517190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marysville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ELECTRICAL IGNITION COIL: WHEN DRIVING CAR WILL LOSE POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART AND IT WILL RUN FINE . TOKK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FIRST TIME IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL WIRE, THE SECOND TIME DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #816234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marysville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ELECTRICAL IGNITION COIL: WHEN DRIVING CAR WILL LOSE POWER AND SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND RESTART AND IT WILL RUN FINE . TOKK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE FIRST TIME IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL WIRE, THE SECOND TIME DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #816234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

OWNER STATED THE VEHICLE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN INOPERABLE, IF THE AIRBAG WAS TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMBEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS FUSE BLOWN OUT, HEATER PROBLEMS AND ELECTRIAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #811946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chester, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OWNER STATED THE VEHICLE SRS LIGHT CAME ON AND DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN INOPERABLE, IF THE AIRBAG WAS TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED NUMBEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS, SUCH AS FUSE BLOWN OUT, HEATER PROBLEMS AND ELECTRIAL PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #811946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

AFTER MAKING A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER REPLACED A CLIP IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEING INOPERATIVE, DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #807078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Hyundai Elantra problems

← Full 1996 Hyundai Elantra report