1997 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe transmission trouble — harsh or delayed shifting and gears that stick — along with fuel smells and a check engine light traced to a cracked fuel tank. Airbag non-deployment in collisions is the other frequently reported theme, typically on higher-mileage cars, and cooling and exhaust manifold problems show up as well.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a collision

   • 17 complaints (15%)
   • median 91,500 mi at 12.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2015

   Owners report that front airbags failed to deploy in frontal or offset impacts, sometimes with the airbag warning light showing normal operation beforehand. Other complaints describe the airbag light staying illuminated as a system fault, which one owner says the dealer declined to repair outside warranty. Injuries including concussion and neck or chest soreness are described after the non-deployments. Mostly reported on older, higher-mileage vehicles, several above 100,000 miles, though some early reports came at low mileage.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light comes on at startup and goes out. Ask whether the airbag system has ever been scanned for stored fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1997 Hyundai Elantra, my car got totaled on 5/18/2015,. I received a concussion and joint pain all over for months from a collision that happened this day. My airbag failed to deploy. I was going 40 to 45 MPH when a van made a right hand turn in front of me. Her fault, I slammed on my brakes, but it was too late to do any good. My head hit the steering wheel. I am still having problems. I had no warning indicator light before this happened. I contacted NHTSA on 5/19/15 made a complaint. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10746386, filed 2015-08, 145,000 miles

   “Traveling west on adam shepherds pkwy, I had a green light, lady opposite side turned left in front of me, resulted in collision. Her fault. Witnesses said she hesitated but went anyway. She was supposed to yield. I could of been killed! My front dual air bags didn't deploy. I can hardly move my right arm, my back, my neck my chest hurts. I was taken then to norton's emergency room . I can't sit or lay down or stand too long. Can't hold on to anything. Very sore, strained muscles and bruising of muscles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10717302, filed 2015-05, 141,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and cracked fuel tank

   • 17 complaints (15%)
   • median 136,000 mi at 11.7 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2017

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline odor inside or around the car, the check engine light coming on, and diagnosis of a crack on the upper surface of the fuel tank. Some owners report fuel loss or fuel visible inside the cabin. Several say the dealer or manufacturer told them the vehicle was not covered by the fuel tank campaign because of its VIN or because it had already been inspected. Usually reported on vehicles well past 60,000 miles, often over 100,000 miles.

   Recall 00V095001Recall 00V095002

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank campaign was performed and whether the tank has been replaced since. Check for a fuel smell around and inside the car and look for the check engine light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 1997 Hyundai Elantra that was recalled in 2000 (00v095002). Recently I smelled a very strong gasoline odor and sipping sound coming out of my tank. I been filling my tank and kept losing gas within a week and this is 10 gallons within four days. When I went to check I noticed gasoline coming out through my passenger seats especially when the engine is running. There is also a light on and when I took for computer read I was told the code po446 was on (evaporative emission control was applying to much pressure to my tank. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10098405, filed 2004-11, 178,000 miles

   “The check engine light came on I took it to a local auto shop they put it on a machine & said it either has abad gas cap or a crack in the gas tank. When I take the gas cap off to fill up my car it has no pressure at all & I can smell gas fumes for awhile after that. You can unhook the battery for awhile & the light will stay off for a few days the it comes back on again. I heard there was a recall for this problem & would like to get it fixed before something bad happens.”

   NHTSA complaint #760667, filed 2002-04
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips, jerks or sticks in gear

   • 18 complaints (16%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2006

   Owners describe the automatic transmission jerking, bucking, slipping between gears, or staying stuck in first or low gear, sometimes stalling at low speed. Several report the transmission failing outright and being replaced or rebuilt. Complaints note repeated dealer visits where the problem could not be reproduced, and one describes fluid overfilling as a suspected cause. A service bulletin lists automatic transaxle diagnostic trouble codes. Reported from low mileage up to around 70,000 miles, with several failures near that point.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car through all gears from cold and warm, watching for hesitation, hard shifts or a delay engaging reverse. Ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced with the specified fluid.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Transmission died at 67000. Repeatedly had the car in for knocking sounds. Check engine lights on since I first bought the car at 14 miles. Transmission will stick in first gear. Third Hyundai I bought. All had the same problems. Will never buy another car from Hyundai again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10018846, filed 2003-05, 67,000 miles

   “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, filed 2004-01, 67,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Check engine light and exhaust manifold cracks

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 105,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2005

   Owners describe the check engine light illuminating repeatedly, with mechanics replacing valves or sensors without a lasting fix, and some note stalling or sputtering at startup. Several report a cracked exhaust manifold found during diagnosis, which owners say was repaired at their own cost once the car was out of warranty. Others describe rough running and power loss traced to ignition components. Reported from moderate mileage up past 98,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the car scanned for stored fault codes and listen for an exhaust tick on a cold start. Ask whether the exhaust manifold has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2005-10

   “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, filed 2005-03, 105,000 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stopping in rain

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 143,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2005

   Complaints describe the windshield wipers quitting while driving in rain, in one case contributing to a collision at low speed. Another owner says the wiper motor recall did not include their vehicle by VIN even though the same symptom occurred. Separately, owners report windows binding or falling and a windshield cracking without impact. Reported across a wide mileage range, including cars above 140,000 miles.

   Recall 97V0260001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Run the wipers at every speed, including intermittent, and check whether the wiper motor circuit breaker recall was completed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #749387, filed 2001-07

   “Dt: consumer found 2 recall warnings concerning windshield wiper motor and fuel tank with a possible leak on the internet. He is not getting vehicle serviced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10123719, filed 2005-06, 143,000 miles

Buying note. Check the transmission behavior on a full test drive and confirm the fuel tank campaign status and the condition of the tank, since those are the two most common themes in these complaints. Also verify the airbag warning light and wiper operation on any example you look at.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.