2000 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Elantra most often describe two patterns: intermittent engine stalling and hesitation, sometimes at low speed or while slowing for an intersection, and air bags that did not deploy in reported collisions. Around that, complaints also cover power window regulators that stop working, transmission shifting problems, and a range of cooling-system and rust-related repairs. Mileage on these reports varies widely, from nearly new vehicles to well over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Intermittent engine stalling and hesitation

   • 31 complaints (16%)
   • median 65,500 mi at 5.3 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Complaints describe the engine hesitating or cutting out without warning, often at low speed, while slowing for a stop, or on initial acceleration; some say it restarted, others needed a tow. Several reports mention the mass air flow sensor, spark plug wires, ignition wiring, or the wiring harness recall campaign 00V259001 as the area examined, and some state the stalling continued after the recall repair was performed. Owners also describe diagnosis difficulty, with shops unable to reproduce the problem or find stored codes. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 30,000 to well past 100,000 miles, with many at moderate mileage and no clear weather pattern.

   Recall 00V259001

   What to check: Ask whether recall 00V259001 was performed and whether stalling recurred afterward. On a test drive, note any hesitation at low speed or when slowing to a stop, and have any stored misfire or sensor codes read.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 65 MPH, on the highway, the engine stalled, all lights on the instrument panel came on and I was able to coast to a nearby off ramp. Five weeks later, the engine will start, and the onl ylight on the instrument panel is the air bag light which has never gone off since the stalling episode. The check engine light has come on for a year, with the same multiple misfire readings (300 and 301). I have had mechanics make almost every possible replacement in the last 12 months. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11081037, filed 2018-03, 84,000 miles

   “Intermittently stalls when slowing. Happened at railroad tracks. Seems alot of people having same problem. Found recall #00v259001 called Hyundai. Was told recall was done by previous owner. Had car checked out at shop. Was same part that was replaced by recall. Told Hyundai maybe the part went bad. Was told they only fix recall item once,I would have to pay to replace it. I think this is pretty dangerous. Had a complete tune-up done to see if this would help. It didn't. Guess some people have to die or file lawsuits before anything gets done. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10252866, filed 2008-12, 88,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in a collision

   • 38 complaints (19%)
   • median 50,512 mi at 4.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2015

   Complaints describe frontal collisions in which the air bags did not deploy, or deployed without inflating, and in some cases the seat belt did not hold the occupant. Reported crash speeds range from roughly 20 to 45 mph, and some owners say they were injured and that the vehicle was totaled. In a few reports the air bag warning light stayed on or came on before the incident, sometimes alongside seat belt pretensioner issues. Reported across a broad mileage range, from under 20,000 to about 200,000 miles, in both low-speed and higher-speed collisions.

   What to check: Confirm the air bag warning light goes out after the bulb-check sequence at startup; a light that stays on points to a fault in the system. Consider having the air bag system scanned and the seat belts inspected for locking and pretensioner function.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In head on collision, estimated speed on impact roughly 20-25 MPH--airbag did not deploy---should it have? Not sure what speed would caue airbag to deploy- if there is a defect in my airbag system,because it did not deploy, resume with a class action, which I will check off, if there is no recourse or reason why my airbag did not deploy, I feel that it should have, but anyway, if there is reason to substanciate the air bag not going off, the I will disregard the class action. Please reply asap if possible. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10071067, filed 2004-01, 18,400 miles

   “While driving at 45 MPH consumer's vehicle rear ended another vehicle in front . Seat belts were worn, but seat belt did not hold. Also, driver's air bag did not deploy. Consumer suffered neck/back, and knee injuries. Police did arrive on the scene, and vehicle was totaled. Dealer and manufacturer were informed of the accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043989, filed 2003-10, 58,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Power window regulators and motors failing

   • 12 complaints (6%)
   • median 32,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2015

   Owners describe electric windows that stop moving or drop and will not stay up, affecting front and rear doors, sometimes more than one window within a short period. Complaints say the window motor or regulator had to be replaced, with repair costs cited per window, and one report notes a dealer diagnostic charge before any repair. A related complaint describes a door that would not unlock from outside. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 95,000 miles, often on vehicles several years old with light use.

   What to check: Operate every window from both the driver and door switches and watch for slow movement, grinding, or a window that will not stay up. Ask whether any regulators or motors have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Our drivers side window would not go up or down a few months ago, the dealer replaced the window motor. Now, our passenger side window is doing the same thing...it will not raise or lower. We will have to take more time off from work to get this fixed. This is at least our seventh warranty repair since we purchased the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10030296, filed 2003-07, 42,000 miles

   “I am 87 years old and bought a 2000 Elantra brand new in 1999. I have only put 25,000 miles on this car in 7 years and the only time I have opened the rear windows was when I hit the wrong button by mistake. Well recently my son drove the car and opened the rear windows - both of them failed in one week. When we took it to the dealership they wanted to charge $69 per window just to diagnose the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10193374, filed 2007-06, 24,950 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shifting and gear faults

   • 20 complaints (10%)
   • median 20,063 mi at 4.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2008

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed shifts, the transmission sticking in a gear, thumping or jerking on downshift and upshift, and in some cases a loss of acceleration followed by delayed engagement. Several owners report dealer diagnosis of an internal fault such as an incorrect fourth-gear ratio or internal gear failure, while others say the dealer could not duplicate the concern. One report describes a shift lock that would not release from park. Reported from very low mileage, including under 10,000 miles, up to around 100,000 miles, with several reports in the 5,000 to 45,000 mile range.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, feel for harsh engagement when shifting from park to drive or reverse and for jerking during downshifts. Ask about transmission fluid service history and whether any diagnostic trouble codes for the range switch have been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1) when slowing down at an intersection vehicle downshifts with a thumping noise and the car jerks violently. When accelerating from an intersection the vehicle upshifts with a violent jerk. 2) check engine light is on and dealer states the gear 4 ratio is incorrect. 3) dealer unable to perform replacement unless car owner covers cost.”

   NHTSA complaint #10096258, filed 2004-10, 6,000 miles

   “The passenger window will not roll down. The switch went out 2. Dealership replaced once. The horn was bad. The car doesn't want to shift right. Went through 3 transmissions. Dealership says it fine. It still doesn't want to shift right. It doesn't want to take gas. Want to get rid of car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10025280, filed 2003-07, 53 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Overheating and cooling-system failures

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 38,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2006

   Owners describe the engine overheating, sometimes repeatedly, with reports of a melted radiator, a blown head gasket, and replacement of the thermostat, water pump, cylinder head, and related parts. Some complaints say the dealer could not duplicate the overheating or declined warranty coverage, and a few connect the overheating to later engine replacement. Reported from under 10,000 miles up to about 93,000 miles, with many reports in the 30,000 to 50,000 mile range.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant level and condition, look for residue around the radiator and head gasket area, and ask whether the thermostat, water pump, or radiator has been replaced. Confirm the temperature gauge behaves normally during a test drive with the engine fully warmed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car continues to overheat. This is the fourth time it has happened; sometime the problem can not be duplicated and I am sent on my way even though it has happen before. The cylinder heads, water pump, thermostat, sensor and many others are only a few of the things that have been replaced on this problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10082529, filed 2004-07, 8,127 miles

   “I had to replace thermostat/radaitor/spark plugs/wires, and oil change in novemeber, costing $800, the following month I had to put a new engine in my car, costing $6000. My car is still in the 10year 100,000mile warranty, and the Hyundai dealership has had my car over 3months.”

   NHTSA complaint #10060218, filed 2004-03, 93,000 miles

Buying note. A 2000 Elantra is an old car, so condition and service history matter more than the model's reputation. Prioritize a car with documented cooling-system and transmission service, verify the air bag light behaves correctly, and confirm whether recall 00V259001 was completed and whether stalling returned afterward.

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.