3rd Nov 2008, 18:10

RE: 2004 Elantra

My problem is not that the headlight bulbs have been burning out but that the outside of the headlight seems coated with some type of residue. (One other writer referred to his headlight problem as "the glass has fogged so badly that I can barely see... on a dark night". I believe we are experiencing the same difficulty.)

I consider this a safety issue as the headlights are necessary to driving at night, and where I live, night starts at 4:00 p.m. in winter! I am taking the car in and will be arguing for the replacement of the headlights at the dealer's cost. Will post the result...;)

25th Nov 2008, 11:16

I have a 2001 Elantra which I bought new in December '01. It currently has 129,700 miles and it has been basically trouble fee. Around 45k I had the starting one day/not starting the next day problem. As others have noted, if you have a manual transmission, there is a switch that needs to be engaged when you depress the clutch completely before starting. If this switch is faulty, you get the intermittent starting issue. It took me 2 trips to the dealer to get that resolved, but it was a freebie warranty repair. After that was fixed, I have had no other issues other than a thermostat around 60k. Recently the check engine light has come on and I discovered that if I jump-start the car, the light goes out for a few days. I haven't had the code read yet, but this seems very strange that jumping it would re-set the code temporarily.

11th Dec 2008, 12:59

I bought my son a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS. It ran good for a while, but now I have to replace the PULSE GENERATOR and the couple other things... which I thought no big thing, it's 8 years old..

But all you guys have me rethinking my thoughts on it...

26th Dec 2008, 19:03

I have Elantra 2001 since Dec 2000. Very reliable, especially when compared to my other cars (Ford Focus 2001). Did only the regular maintenance. Change the battery twice in 8 years and two sets of tires. Had to replace spark plug cables once. Nothing major in more than 8 years.

I just got the described problem with both battery and break light turned on. Will check with the service what is going on (alternator???). Thanks for the comments.

27th Mar 2009, 16:13

Interesting to read the Elantra comments... quite fun. :)

Sadly though, half of you (at the very least) are being screwed by the shady tree mechanics you're taking your cars to. Yes, that's right...don't pretend you're all going to the dealer...

A few points:

1. Your bulbs are not 'blowing' every other day. Quit slamming your hood, it's not a domestic clunker, for crying out loud. Do you slam your hand on your plasma TV if the picture is fuzzy? Didn't think so.

2. Your check engine light comes on intermittently? Try not plowing through standing water. Go buy a pickup truck instead.

3. Starter floor switch issues / suspension issues? Hrm, perhaps slowing down on those unfinished roads might help... or, like the other user, go buy a pickup truck.

3. Wiper problems? Try not yanking the living hell out of them when you change the blades. It's a car, not an Econoline.

Simply put, instead of trying to beat the crap out of your Hyundai under the assumption that it's just like every piece of domestic junk you drove in your younger days, try taking care of your possessions... after all, you paid hard-earned money for it, didn't you?

I currently own *2* Elantras. A 2001 and a 2006.

They have been crashed into, they have lived in environments ranging from 90 F. near the coast to -20 F winters... even parked for a year while I was away for work. They have been fiercely reliable cars..... *always* started, never broke down.

Stop being raped by shoddy mechanics. Do your research.

...and if you're the type of person to judge a few hundred thousand of the best compact cars on the market by virtue of a couple of dozen comments online, go buy something else. We don't need you in a Hyundai.

11th May 2009, 23:30

My 2001 Hyundai Elantra has a clicking sound in 2nd gear that gets a little louder the faster I go. No noise in 1st or 3rd. It drives me crazy, any ideas. I love my car other than the clicking noise that sounds just like I am driving over railroad tracks.

22nd Aug 2009, 23:08

My car is great. It is my first car so I love it, but now it takes off slow like it has no power and the engine light will come on. It will shift down very hard.

I went to a car shop and the person said the car was a great car, and there was nothing wrong. I paid him 150 dollars tell me there was nothing wrong with it, and on the way home did it again. My brother told it felt like a sensor in the transmission, and to take it to a part store to have it scanned to see if any codes would pop up, and they did; 5 codes came up. The prices on those went from 70 to 300 bucks. The manager said one of the parts might be reason for the others.

3rd Oct 2009, 08:50

We have a 2001 Hyundai Elantra - our 2nd Elantra. We sold my husband's, which was a 1999. The 2001 hit 95k miles and started falling apart. We've replaced all sensors, too many headlight bulbs to mention, starter, 2 batteries, front end rusted so bad that it almost collapsed while on the highway... I would never, ever, ever buy a product from this manufacturer again!!! What a nightmare!

We replaced the 1999 with a Honda Civic and plan to do the same with the 2001. You are not saving yourself a dime by purchasing what initially appears to be the more economical vehicle. I have spoken with many others who have the same issues as all the posters here - these are not isolated incidents!!!

7th Oct 2009, 19:03

I paid $12,500.00 each for two new 2000 Hyundai Elantras, one car for me and one for my wife. $25,000.00 for two new cars that have a 100,000 mile warranty was a super deal.

Both cars now have over 100,000 miles and they have been serviced by the selling Hyundai dealer, which cost another $1,200.00 for each cars required service intervals for oil changes, tune ups, timing belt replacements and etc.

Both cars have been trouble free except for 2 power window motor cables breaking and 1 A/C compressor failure. We get 27mpg at Interstate speeds. I plan to continue buying Hyundais.

10th Apr 2010, 14:27

We have 2 Elantras, both have been relatively trouble free. Nothing but tires, oil and filters, and a couple of bulbs on the 2004 (50k miles). Same for the 2001 (80k miles) + a ignition coil (the OBD2 codes pointed right to it!) and the lower control arms and exhaust manifold (both under warranty). Both are now driven by my 20 year old sons (a hard life for a car) and are holding up well. They are not Honda's, but function well none the less. Would buy them again.