2005 Hyundai Elantra from North America

Summary:

Piece of junk

Faults:

The timing belt went and the car stalled. Wouldn't restart and had to have it towed into the shop. Did you know that regular maintenance is replacing the timing belt at 60,000 miles. If you don't you void the 100k warranty. This is not a cheap part (approx 600.00) never had a car you had to this on. if the timing belt goes while you are driving you might as well call the junk yard to come get it. The timing belt is just the beginning, not to mention all the damage that occur ed when the engine stopped. Our three year old car is now a piece of junk.

General Comments:

Don't be tempted by the hyundai this was our 6th hyundai in our family. The quality isn't what it used to be. I thought they were becoming the next toyota. guess not. save your money and buy a toyota. Or buy the hyundai and start saving for the really big repair bill.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 24th January, 2008

27th Jan 2008, 00:04

Read the service schedule and do the maintenance!

Admittedly, a timing belt failure only 8k miles over the recommended change point is a bit close, but technically not premature.

Our family has owned four Hyundais and two Kias all made after 2000 and they have been as near to perfect as any mass-produced machine could be.

By the way, most Toyotas also use the same type of timing belt which also has to be changed at the same frequency for approx. the same cost.

The annoyance aimed at your car and Hyundai, in my view, is largely unfounded.

You took a risk running past 60kmiles (probably trying to save money) and lost. Your fault, not Hyundai's!

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2005 Hyundai Elantra from North America

Summary:

Many design faults and low quality

Faults:

My wife's elantra needs a new clutch at 19,000 miles. The worker at Rick Case Hyundai laughed and said it would cost $2000.00 to fix and was not on warranty. I bought two cars, xg350, and elantra on my son's recommendation. Since then he has had a blown engine and various electrical problems. I have just finished reading many e-mails with the same problem on early clutch burnouts. Beware.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 26th December, 2007

17th Apr 2008, 18:05

My Hyundai Elantra is still on its original clutch and my odometer just rolled over 100,000 km. Maybe you are hard on your clutch due to driving style?

27th Apr 2008, 07:09

I have a 2005 Hyundai Elantra CRDI and the clutch now seems weak. The car has covered barely 35000 Kms and is still under warranty. The car trembles when acceleration is given although for a short period of time. The dealer has advised to me to replace the clutch which is outside warranty.

advfaisel@yahoo.com

2005 Hyundai Elantra GLS from North America

Summary:

Poorly designed clutch is the one fatal flaw

Faults:

I had owned the car for less than a week when the "Check Engine" light came on. Apparently this is not unusual, but it was still a pain. I took it back to the dealer and they fixed it, no problem.

My real problem is with the clutch. My car has under 36,000 miles on it, and the clutch is slipping and will need to be replaced. This is going to cost me roughly $1000. The dealer tells me this is not covered under the "bumper-to-bumper" warranty, which I guess I can understand, given that the clutch IS a wear item.

However, based on what I'm finding out there on the Net, Hyundai clutches "wear" VERY quickly. And apparently, other Hyundai vehicles have had clutch problems in the past (there is a class-action suit pending regarding the clutch in late-model Tiburons-- LOOK IT UP!). YET, the dealer wants to foist the clutch problems on me. And it's not like I can stop them-- I commute to work and I NEED a drivable car. Color me pissed.

I'm convinced the clutch failure is not my fault. I have been driving for 13 years, save for a 5-year period in college when I did not have a car. I have driven manual transmissions (VW Rabbit and Fox) that entire time, and I have never had a clutch fail. Not once. Not even on a car that was 10 years old when I got it.

My advice? Get a VW. Sure, the electrical system will have problems, but it'll be covered, and at least they'll own up and honor their warranty.

Meanwhile, I'll keep my receipt and my CC bill, and Google "class action suit hyundai elantra clutch" every so often. Just in case.

General Comments:

Except for the clutch problems, I like the car fine. It handles well and it's comfortable. The dashboard design is intuitive and attractive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 14th December, 2007

26th Sep 2008, 21:20

My 05 Elantra gls suffers the same clutch malady as yours and others! Its worst in the winter months when the clutch pedal comes off the floor slowly in the cold winter months in ny.

I brought it to my dealer and was fully aware of the class action suit. They were quite courteous and offered me several road test with their technicians. They acknowledged there is/was a problem and set forth to address and resolve it.

They bled the clutch system of air and moisture and the clutch was better. In all fairness the weather warmed up considerably when the car was in for service. I have not had any slipping this summer with 34.000 miles on the clocks.

We'll see what this winter brings but I fear with the pedal already engaging higher then I deem normal, that the damage has already been done.

This is my 5th Hyundai but my 1st Elantra. ALL my cars have been sticks and all have gone over 100,000 miles with the original clutch in them. The trouble is the Elantra is a heavy car and the clutch is not up to par for the weight of the vehicle. My excell/accents never gave me a hint of clutch trouble even during the coldest times of the year!

Other than that I like the car and the Hyundai product as a whole and would not hesitate to consider/purchase another one if/when the need arises.

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