FaultScore

1997 Hyundai Elantra engine problems

28 of the 196 complaints about the 1997 Hyundai Elantra are about the engine — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 86,000 miles.

B

28

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 6 21.4%
Gasoline 6 21.4%
Exhaust System 4 14.3%
Emission Control 3 10.7%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 2 7.1%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 2 7.1%
Cooling System 2 7.1%
Catalytic Convertor 1 3.6%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 3.6%
Engine 1 3.6%

Engine & Cooling across every Hyundai Elantra year

1995 25 1.3%
1996 23 1.2%
1997 28 1.5%
1998 16 0.8%
1999 28 1.5%
2000 54 2.8%
2001 24 1.3%
2002 13 0.7%
2003 22 1.1%
2004 16 0.8%
2005 10 0.5%
2007 18 0.9%
2008 41 2.1%
2009 13 0.7%
2010 20 1.0%
2011 97 5.1%
2012 142 7.4%
2013 236 12.3%
2014 165 8.6%
2015 94 4.9%
2016 112 5.8%
2017 292 15.2%
2018 143 7.5%
2019 133 6.9%
2020 105 5.5%
2021 16 0.8%
2022 11 0.6%
2023 19 1.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 189,000 miles Bronx, NY

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V095002 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000. UPDATED 04/18/17 *LJ

NHTSA complaint #10907089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dunnellon, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

MY 1997 HYUNDAI/ELANTRA GLS HAS A CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD THAT WAS DETECTED BY MY HUSBAND, THE CAR HAS 98,600. MILES AND OUT OF WARRANT,BUT IT HAS TO BE FIXED. IT COULD BE A HEALTH PROBLEM IF YOU ARE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, AND DO NOT KNOW THE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED. WE TRAVEL A LOT OF MILES ,NOW MY HUSBAND KNOWS WHY HE WAS SO EXHAUSTED LAST TRIP. WE JUST WANT SOMEONE TO KNOW THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10139874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Bumpass, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED FOR AN ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ON THE WELD. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10113841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Torrington, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.I HAVE BEEN IN REPEATEDLY FOR THIS TO BE CORRECTED TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY. ENGINE WAS CAUSING A VACUUM AND NOT ALLOWING TO CAR TO SHIFT.

NHTSA complaint #10069280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Torrington, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.I HAVE BEEN IN REPEATEDLY FOR THIS TO BE CORRECTED TO NO AVAIL. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY. ENGINE WAS CAUSING A VACUUM AND NOT ALLOWING TO CAR TO SHIFT.

NHTSA complaint #10069280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Opelika, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ENGINE CHECL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD IT CHECKED THREE TIMES. MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY REPLACED CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND PURGE CONTROL VALVE. HOWEVER, ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #8013817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Opelika, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

ENGINE CHECL LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD IT CHECKED THREE TIMES. MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY REPLACED CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND PURGE CONTROL VALVE. HOWEVER, ENGINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #8013817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tacoma, WA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

02 SENSOR REPLACED ON 8-6-01, B/U LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED ON 8-6-01,IGNITION COILS REPL. ON 9-21-99, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT BEEN RESET 10 TIMES,#1 & #4 NOT FIRING 10 TIMES OR MORE, CAR LOOSES POWER, CHUGS THEN DIES 2 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #758344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plainfield, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

WINDOW CONTROL- WHEN ROLLING UP YHE RUBBER GET CAUGHT IN THE WINDOW. THIS IS STILL A PROBLEM , I GUESS IT WAS FIX RIGHT HOPEFUL THIS TIMEWHICH WAS 7-24-01. EMISSION-WAS A PROBLEM .I THINK IT'S STILL A PROBLEM I REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS NOT PRETAING TO THE TRANSMISSION.TRANSMISSION-ALWAYS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND STILL IS. THE CAR JERKS BUCK,AND IT ACTS LIKE IT BE SFITING TO ANOTHER GEAR SOMETIMES. I;M BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIND NOTHING. WAIT UNTIL THE ENIGINE LIGHT COMES ON.THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM CAUSE THIS HAS GOTTEN TO MY BACK. I CONTACT THE MANUF THEY DON'T CARE ,THEY JUST SAY AS LONG AS THERE IS A WARRANTY ON THE CAR THEY WILL KEEP FIXING, BUT IT'S NOT .THEY SAID A NEW ONE WAS PUT IN . I'M STILL HAVING A PROBLEM ALL I AK FOR WAS A ANOTHER CAR.AS BEE.

NHTSA complaint #749387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #746114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Breese, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #887443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Knox, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA complaint #784459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FT Leonard Wood, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #867001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indian Lake, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINIE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TAKEN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS TO DEALER FOR STALLING PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #862303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ronkonkoma, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THERE IS A SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHERE PASSENGERS CANNOT BREATH AND EYES START BURNING. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #861636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meriden, CT

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

NHTSA complaint #718184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Cajon, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NOTED COOLANT LEAK - INSPECTED FOUND RAD PETCOCK HAD BROKEN WHERE SCREWED IN TO RAD.

NHTSA complaint #718055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greystone, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAK DUE TO ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greystone, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greystone, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

IGNITION COIL AND PCV VALVE REPLACE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Landover, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR NEW I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE PULSE GENERATOR REPLACED TWICE, AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT KEPT BURING OUT. I WOULD REPEATEDLY TAKE MY CAR INTO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI FOR SERVICE DUE TO SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, CAR CUTTING OFF AND STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY AT 65MPH SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST ETC. FINALLY ON 17 MARCH 1999, APPROXIAMATELY 4 WEEKS AFTER PAYING 350 DOLLARS TO HAVE MY ENGINE CLEANED (RECOMMENDED BY SERVICE MANAGER) MY ENGINE BLEW AT 15 MPH. OIL WAS SPURTING OUT EVERYWHERE AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO GIVE THE THE HYUNDAI COMPLAINANT LINE NUMBER. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR.. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOMMY HAS REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER BUT STATES THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK OUT A REASONABLE RATE FOR PARTS A LABOR. GRANTED I HAVE 78,000 MILES ON A 97' HOWEVER THESE ARE ALL HIGHWAY MILES 167 MILES ROUNDTRIP TO WORK. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE WAS DONE. I DO NOT THINK NOR FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO BE SADDLED WITH THIS LEMON ANY LONGER NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN GOING BACK FOR MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE 6/97 THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE.

NHTSA complaint #708577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Landover, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY CAR NEW I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE PULSE GENERATOR REPLACED TWICE, AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRING REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT KEPT BURING OUT. I WOULD REPEATEDLY TAKE MY CAR INTO FAIRFAX HYUNDAI FOR SERVICE DUE TO SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, CAR CUTTING OFF AND STEERING LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY AT 65MPH SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST ETC. FINALLY ON 17 MARCH 1999, APPROXIAMATELY 4 WEEKS AFTER PAYING 350 DOLLARS TO HAVE MY ENGINE CLEANED (RECOMMENDED BY SERVICE MANAGER) MY ENGINE BLEW AT 15 MPH. OIL WAS SPURTING OUT EVERYWHERE AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO GIVE THE THE HYUNDAI COMPLAINANT LINE NUMBER. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET THAT NUMBER FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR.. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOMMY HAS REFUSED TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER BUT STATES THAT HE IS WILLING TO WORK OUT A REASONABLE RATE FOR PARTS A LABOR. GRANTED I HAVE 78,000 MILES ON A 97' HOWEVER THESE ARE ALL HIGHWAY MILES 167 MILES ROUNDTRIP TO WORK. ALL SCHEDULED MAINTANENCE WAS DONE. I DO NOT THINK NOR FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO BE SADDLED WITH THIS LEMON ANY LONGER NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS SINCE THE CAR HAS BEEN GOING BACK FOR MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE 6/97 THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE.

NHTSA complaint #708577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, BRAKE CALIPERS AND WARPED ROTORS WERE CAUSING NOISE AND VIBRATION UNDER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #543989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AND FAST IDLE AFTER SEVERAL REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #543989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Smith, AR Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

DEFECTIVE STEERING SYSTEM CAUSED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, STEERING HAD A VIBRATION AND TIRES WERE WORN TOO QUICKLY. ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #824887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chetsworth, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING. IT WILL MISS WHEN IDLING. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS ,THERE IS NO GAS, DEALER CONTACTED AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPAIR WORK DONE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK.ET.

NHTSA complaint #831963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chantilly, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OIL SEAL FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL.

NHTSA complaint #541092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chantilly, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INHIBITOR SWITCH FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #541092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Hyundai Elantra problems

← Full 1997 Hyundai Elantra report