1999 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about automatic transmission trouble: slipping, harsh or delayed shifts, failure to move, and loss of power while accelerating. A second common theme is the engine stalling or hesitating at idle and low speed, which several owners link to the mass air flow sensor. Many complaints come in between roughly 55,000 and 150,000 miles on cars that are by then well out of warranty, and several note that their vehicle was outside the build range of the related recalls.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Automatic transmission slips, shifts hard, or loses drive

   • 30 complaints (23%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2017

   Complaints describe the automatic transmission slipping out of gear, kicking or jerking on downshifts, hesitating before engaging when shifted into drive or reverse, and in some cases refusing to shift at all. Owners also report the vehicle failing to accelerate or losing power while driving, with the check engine light coming on. Several say a dealer or independent shop diagnosed internal transmission failure and replaced or rebuilt the unit, while others report that dealers could not duplicate the problem or attributed it to something else. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 180,000 miles, with many complaints between roughly 55,000 and 160,000 miles.

   Recall 99V1780005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a mechanic check transmission fluid level and condition and road test for slipping, delayed engagement or harsh shifts, especially when cold. Ask for service records showing the correct automatic transmission fluid was used and whether the pressure control solenoid recall (99V178000) was performed for this vehicle's build range.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought the car brand new. After about 8 months the car would get stuck in second gear when slow down. The car also kicks very hard while it does this. One time I was rounding a turn after it rained and as I slowed down around the corner the car kicked and the rear end of the car slid out into the plastic divider poles between the lanes. The poles caused a ding in the car an cracked a window. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10086901, filed 2004-08, 3,000 miles

   “I took my 1999 Hyundai Elantra in to obrien auto park in fort myers service center to get looked at and fixed. I had trouble codes that I had checked prior going there at autozone that were codes po747, po743, po442. The first to are codes involving my automatic transmission. I viewed on your website that there were recalls on the pressure control solenoid that involved code po747 which states it was in the stuck on position! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10185139, filed 2007-03, 160,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling or hesitation at idle and low speed

   • 34 complaints (27%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • filed 1999–2016

   Owners describe the engine stalling at stoplights, when slowing to turn, or at speeds under about 25 mph, sometimes with the check engine light illuminating and sometimes with rough shaking before the stall. Several say a mass air flow sensor or its connector was replaced or re-routed, and others report the problem returned after repair. A number of owners reference recall 00V259001, which concerns low-speed stalling related to the mass air flow sensor wiring, and state they were told their vehicle was not included in the campaign. Mostly reported between about 75,000 and 150,000 miles, sometimes on cold-start days and at low speeds.

   Recall 00V2590013 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether the idle is steady and whether the engine stumbles when slowing to a stop. Ask whether the mass air flow sensor and its connector wiring have been serviced, and whether recall 00V259001 was completed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Compaign id 00v259001 is for low speed stalling on 1999 Hyundai Elantra models with certain VIN numbers and relates to the wiring with the mass air flow censor. I have a 1999 Hyundai Elantra that is having the exact same problem but does not fit within the VIN range so they are not covering it. I feel this campaign should be expanded further to cover all of these models with the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10258099, filed 2009-02, 120,000 miles

   “My vehicle has been stalling for more than a year. The mass airflow sensor read as bad and I have replaced it twice. I just found out that there was a recall sep 11, 2000. Nhtsa campaign id number: 00v259001 . I purchased the vehicle used several years after the recall was in effect. When I e-mailed Hyundai, they responded back that there no open campaigns on my vehicle. How do I get the problem resolved before there is a serious accident from the vehicle stalling.”

   NHTSA complaint #10702472, filed 2015-03, 101,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a collision

   • 18 complaints (14%)
   • median 99,000 mi at 16.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2016

   Several complaints describe frontal or side impacts in which the airbags did not deploy, while a few describe deployment that owners felt was overly forceful. In the non-deployment reports, owners say they contacted the dealer or the manufacturer and were told the airbag should not have deployed or that the matter was not their responsibility. These are accounts of individual crashes rather than a repeated pattern of a warning light or a specific part failure. Complaints are tied to specific crashes rather than mileage; those that list mileage include both low-mileage and higher-mileage vehicles.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag warning light comes on with the ignition and then goes out, and whether the vehicle has ever been in a reported collision. Because these complaints describe crash outcomes rather than a diagnosable fault, an inspection by a qualified technician is the practical step.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving through a toll stop, proceeded to go through another car which pulled in front. Consumer had put on brakes to avoid hitting the other vehicle. However, consumer hit side railing at about 40, and airbags deployed. Consumer felt as though airbags were too forceful, consumer was unable to see out of right eye bucause of airbag deployment.”

   NHTSA complaint #856142, filed 2000-02

   “While driving 20 MPH had a frontal impact with another vehicle coming at 55 MPH, and driver's/passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in this accident. Consume r hired an appraiser who said that the airbags should hav e deployed, but the Hyundai claimed thart airbags should not have deployed. Please provide further information and VIN#.”

   NHTSA complaint #842755, filed 1999-07
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Overheating or coolant and engine cooling trouble

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the engine tending to overheat while idling at a stop and returning to normal once the car is moving, and one complaint describes a timing belt failure after the belt cover cracked. Others describe stalling and rough running that they attribute to engine management or intake components, and one owner links repeated engine trouble to a PCV valve replacement followed by engine failure and a rebuild. Reported from roughly 60,000 miles upward, with several complaints above 100,000 miles and concentrated in warm-weather idling conditions.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Watch the temperature gauge during an extended idle in traffic, and check coolant level and condition plus signs of leaks around the radiator and hoses. Ask when the timing belt was last replaced and whether the belt cover and exhaust manifold have been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sunday sept 11, 2005- my car would not accelerate on I-285 west bound I had to coast over to the side of the road amidst sunday traffic,they confirmed that my timing belt had popped car towed to midas gave me a TSB report stating that the timing belt covered had cracked and that is what made the timing belt pop, which in turn is a manufacturing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10136630, filed 2005-09, 147,256 miles

   “I have read many of the complaints about the Hyundai. I've eliminated practically all the same complaints about the engine performance by tuning the engine every 30 to 35 thousand miles. The gas mileage and performance has been very acceptable. Yes I too have had to replace the manifold, mas air sensor, and other small maintenance parts. The only thing I haven't been able to repair is when I'm setting at a stop and idling, the engine tends to overheat. But when I began to drive it quickly cools back down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10460105, filed 2012-05, 120,000 miles
5. 5
   Equipment

   Rust in subframe and underbody mounts

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   A few owners in salt-road states describe the rear crossmember and subframe rusting through, and one reports the evaporative emissions canister bracket rusting and breaking away from the body underneath the trunk. In those accounts the affected parts needed replacement, and one owner notes the repairs were not carried out. These reports are few and are tied to vehicles driven in areas where road salt is used. Reported on vehicles with roughly 120,000 to 165,000 miles, typically in regions that use road salt.

   What to check: Look underneath the rear of the car for flaking or perforated metal on the crossmember and subframe, especially if the car spent its life in a salt-belt state. Ask for a pre-purchase inspection on a lift, since rust damage may not be visible at ground level.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When fueling, the pump shuts off approximately every fifty cents of gasoline. An independent mechanic at a repair shop determined that the fuel tank must be replaced. Please provide further details. Vehicle's check engine light illuminated and consumer experienced trouble pumping gas. Vehicle also experiencing jerking upon acceleration as well as frequent stalling. Repair shop determined that fuel tank must be replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047838, filed 2003-11, 65,000 miles

   “The rear frame crossmember has rusted through and holds the other suspension components in place. The whole car is severely rusted. Hyundai rusting in the salt belt states is documented. I would like Hyundai to replace all rusted out frame suspension members.”

   NHTSA complaint #10456890, filed 2012-04, 128,900 miles

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission, cooling system and underbody rust is worthwhile. Ask specifically whether the two safety recalls affecting this model year were completed for the vehicle's build range, and budget for transmission or cooling repairs given how often owners report them.

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.