FaultScore

2002 Hyundai Elantra electrical problems

14 of the 431 complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Elantra are about the electrical system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 70,000 miles.

A

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 10 71.4%
Wiring 3 21.4%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 7.1%

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.

at 91,000 miles Omaha, NE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED AND THE BCD PLAYER WOULD NOT STOP OPERATING UNLESS THERE WAS A BCD INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA complaint #10786859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Glen ARM, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR FROM JONES JUNCTION HYUNDAI BEL AIR, I NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT/WINDSHIELD WIPER STALK WAS HAVING PROBLEMS. SOMETIME THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY. AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS FOR THE DASHBOARD WOULD GO OUT. THE STALK HAD PROBLEMS. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, THE FLUIDS WOULD NOT SQUIRT PROPERLY TO EFFECTIVELY CLEAN MY WINDSHIELD AS IT SHOULD. THESE ARE 2 SEPARATE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE NOTICED OVER THE YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10681233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Glen ARM, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I NOTICED SOME TIME IN 2014 THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOWS BEGAN TO FALTER AFTER IT HAD RAINED OR PRECIPITATED IN SOME FORM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW ASSEMBLY WOULD GET WET WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPEN DURING NORMAL OPERATING USE, SUCH AS ENTERING OR EXITING THE 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE, IN MY OPINION, PRODUCED VEHICLES WHICH COULD TOLERATE A MEASURE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR THROUGH NORMAL USE, SUCH AS ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE. I COMPLAINED TO HYUNDAI USA ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I WILL SEEK TO KNOW WHAT THE NHTSA WILL DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR HYUNDAI TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10678274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,300 miles Peachtree City, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VERY DANGEROUS: THE VEHICLES SHUTSDOWN WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DASHBOARD BLINKS AND ENGINE SHUTS DOWN CAUSING LOST OF STEERING AND POWER, SLOWING CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH VEHICLES BEHIND. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. MECHANICS CAN'T SOLVE ISSUES. ON THE INTERNET, SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER HYUNDAI DRIVERS . THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, IDLE CONTROL VALVES, AND IN/OUT OUTPUT SENSOR TRANSMISSION ARE REPORTED AS POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. IN ANY EVENT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. PROBLEM SHOULD BE STUDIED AND REPORTED. IT HAPPENS NOT ONLY TO THIS MODEL, BUT ON OTHER HYUNDAI VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10667473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,146 miles Naples, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN I GOT A NEW BATTERY THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND TRIED TO RESET IT, IT DIDN'T WORK. I THEN TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AT NAPLES DODGE AND HE TRIED TO GET IT OFF BY HOOKING IT UP TO A COMPUTER. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10605526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles Milford, CT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE REPLACED MY HEADLIGHTS APPROXIMATELY NINE TIMES SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA complaint #10374977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 137,000 miles East Falmouth, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FEBRUARY 2009 I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE PERTAINING TO MY HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2002-THE ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT HAVING SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I TOOK MY CAR IN AND THEY DID THE RECALL WORK AND NO PROBLEM. NEXT MORNING, I GO OUT TO MY CAR AND TURN THE KEY AND IT IS DEAD!!! NOTHING !!! SO I GAVE IT THE ALL OR NOTHING JIGGLE OF THIS THAT AND THE OTHER THING-AND ALAS! IT STARTED. I BRUSHED IT OFF AS A FLUKE-THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED FOUR TIMES WITHIN A MONTH AND TODAY IT IS STILL SITTING WHERE I PARKED IT THIS MORNING. I CALLED THE HYUNDAI DEALER TWICE TODAY JUST TO PICK HIS BRAINS AND GIVE ME SOME IDEA AS TO WHAT IT MIGHT BE CAUSING THIS-THE BATTERY IS NEW, TRIED JUMPING IT EARLIER TODAY. THE SHIFTER DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT WANTS TO MOVE AT ALL EVEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL-THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED IT MIGHT BE THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH FOR THE SHIFTER-THIS MADE SENSE SINCE THE WIRING CORRECTION IS LOCATED IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA. PERHAPS OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME THING.

NHTSA complaint #10262173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,200 miles Deerfield Beach, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED, LOST POWER STEERING AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FUEL GAUGE ALSO FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN OPERATING NORMALLY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TIGHTENED A COMPONENT ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND ADJUSTED THE RELAY SWITCH. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY IS NOT OPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10233429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,100 miles Crivitz, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE DOOR LIGHT AND DOOR CHIME CAME ON FOR NO REASON. WENT INTO THE DITCH TRYING TO FIND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. EVERY TIME I WASHED THE CAR OR DROVE IN THE RAIN THE SAME THINGS HAPPENED . HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY AND WAIT A DAY OR TWO UNTIL SOMETHING DRIED. HEARD THAT HYUNDAI HAD A MANUFACTURING FLAW IN THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEALED THE PILLAR AND FENDER AREA ,THUS WATER JUST RAN TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. IT SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY, WHICH I HAD TO REPLACE ,AND COULD NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN OR WASH THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10191381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucson, AZ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AND/OR FLOOD LIGHTS 7 TIMES, WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS. I'VE QUESTIONED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPEATEDLY, BELIEVING THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE CAR. FINALLY, THE LAST SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT PARTICULAR TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. I'VE RESEARCHED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, AS I BELIEVED THIS WAS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE TO THIS CAR WHAT GUARANTEE WAS THERE THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WON'T GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. FOUND SEVERAL REFERENCES TO OTHER OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I HAVE FOUND INFORMATION OF A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10148592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Lansing, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CLOCK IN THE DASHBOARD BLINKS AND LOSES TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WIRING HARNESSES IN THE DOORS OF THE CAR HAD CORRODED AND CAUSED SHORTAGES OCCASIONALLY IN THE DASHBOARD. I WAS TOLD THIS COULD AFFECT THE CLOCK, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, AND POSSIBLY THE HEADLIGHTS. WE HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON AFTER THEY WERE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE COST OF THIS JOB WOULD BE $900. I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED THAT I WILL BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS OR DASHBOARD LIGHTS WILL FAIL, CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10132566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

2002 ELANTRA HAS BEEN BLOWING BULBS SINCE THE CAR WAS 2WKS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS IN THE CAR APPOX. 40TIMES. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED BULBS AND NOW EVEN CHARGES ME FOR BULBS I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR 3 YEARS NOW. HYUNDAI SAYS THERE IS NO SHORT. MEANWHILE MY TRUNK ALARM HAS NEVER WORKED. MANFREDIY WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW SAID THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM DOES NOT ALARM THE TRUNK. GUIFFRE HYUNDAI SAID THE TRUNK WAS ALARMED AND JUST DOESN'T WORK. GIVE ME A BREAK, IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A [XXX] SHORT IN THE CAR. THE REGIONAL OFFICE DID NOTHING AND DID NOT EVEN MEET WITH ME. I WAS TOLD TO CALL AN ARBITRATION COMP. MORE TIME LOST I SENT THEM 350.00 IN BILLS THAT I PAID ON THE OUT SIDE TO REPLACE BULBS AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE BULBS THAT HYUNDAI HAD THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME. NOW TODAY I GET A LETTER THAT MY CAR IS TOO OLD TO GO THROUGH ARBITRATION. HYUNDAI JUST JERKED ME AROUND AND I WILL BE STUCK WITH THE BILLS AND CONTINUE TO PAY FOR BULBS. I CANT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO EXCEPT GO TO THE MEDIA. IF YOU HAVE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.HYUNDAI ALSO EXPECTED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT EVERYTIME A BULB OR BULBS BLEW. THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR MORE THAN ME IF THAT WAS THE CASE. THEY HAVE INSULTED MY INTELLIGENCE. AND HAVE LOST ME FOR A FUTURE CUSTOMER. AND THE PROBLEM IS, I REALLY LOVE MY CAR AND THE WAY IT DRIVES. IF ONLY IT WOULD NOT KEEP SHORTING OUT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10124160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Staten Island, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2002 ELANTRA HAS BEEN BLOWING BULBS SINCE THE CAR WAS 2WKS. I HAVE REPLACED ALL BULBS IN THE CAR APPOX. 40TIMES. HYUNDAI HAS REPLACED BULBS AND NOW EVEN CHARGES ME FOR BULBS I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THIS FOR 3 YEARS NOW. HYUNDAI SAYS THERE IS NO SHORT. MEANWHILE MY TRUNK ALARM HAS NEVER WORKED. MANFREDIY WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW SAID THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM DOES NOT ALARM THE TRUNK. GUIFFRE HYUNDAI SAID THE TRUNK WAS ALARMED AND JUST DOESN'T WORK. GIVE ME A BREAK, IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A [XXX] SHORT IN THE CAR. THE REGIONAL OFFICE DID NOTHING AND DID NOT EVEN MEET WITH ME. I WAS TOLD TO CALL AN ARBITRATION COMP. MORE TIME LOST I SENT THEM 350.00 IN BILLS THAT I PAID ON THE OUT SIDE TO REPLACE BULBS AND THAT'S NOT COUNTING THE BULBS THAT HYUNDAI HAD THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME. NOW TODAY I GET A LETTER THAT MY CAR IS TOO OLD TO GO THROUGH ARBITRATION. HYUNDAI JUST JERKED ME AROUND AND I WILL BE STUCK WITH THE BILLS AND CONTINUE TO PAY FOR BULBS. I CANT THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO EXCEPT GO TO THE MEDIA. IF YOU HAVE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.HYUNDAI ALSO EXPECTED ME TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT EVERYTIME A BULB OR BULBS BLEW. THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR MORE THAN ME IF THAT WAS THE CASE. THEY HAVE INSULTED MY INTELLIGENCE. AND HAVE LOST ME FOR A FUTURE CUSTOMER. AND THE PROBLEM IS, I REALLY LOVE MY CAR AND THE WAY IT DRIVES. IF ONLY IT WOULD NOT KEEP SHORTING OUT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10124160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Philadelphia, PA

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

BROUGHT 2002 HYUNDAI ELANTRA-JULY OF 2002-IN A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER LOSING 3 DAYS OF WORK DUE TO MY CAR STALLING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO START I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS BAD, THEY PUT IN NEW BATTERY-IN A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR CAR DIE I WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS SHOT, THERE WAS A LOT OF WHITE BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE BATTERY POST AND CABLES, AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY CABLES WERE CORODED AND FRIED THE LENGTH OF THE CABLES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THEY ONLY HAD 1 CABLE IN STOCK, WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH WHY NO CABLES IN STOCK HE SAID THEY DO ABOUT 5 OF THESE A DAY BECAUSE THE BATTERYS ARE THAT BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10086351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2002 Hyundai Elantra problems

← Full 2002 Hyundai Elantra report