2001 Hyundai Elantra Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 24about this part
- Share
- 8%of 315 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 49,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 24 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, 8% of the 315 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 49,500 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“All 4 brakes started to randomly lock up. I was driving and had to run it almost a 1/2 mile for a shoulder to pull over at. Upon stopping, the brakes were smoking all around the car and the front driver side actually caught flame. I'm guessing brake booster is the cause. Also front control arms are almost rusted through. The cars been well maintained and has around 185,000 miles on it. Has valve cover leak into spark plug port on cylinder 3 and has a very weak clutch that sometimes slips.”
NHTSA complaint #11113663, filed 2018-07, 185,000 miles“Was exiting off of the parkway to the right traveling approx. 25- 30 MPH when I lost control of the vehicles steering causing me to crash into the curb of the median. Resulting in both of the front tires to blow out and pushing the wheel on the drivers side back into the wheel well. The control arm was broken when we looked at the damage after. The vehicle which is a 2001 Hyundai Elantra had to be towed. Also the airbags did not deploy. I am looking into this recall for that vehicle. Mileage at time was 99,400.”
NHTSA complaint #10501907, filed 2013-03, 99,400 miles“While driving with my infant granddaughter I hit the brakes to avoid hitting a deer. I was going 35-40 miles and hour and the whole control arm in the front of my 2001 Hyundai Elantra snapped. It was all rusted out. I did some research and discovered this is a safety recall which I was never notified about. There are 26 other cars at the dealership with the same problem. We could have been killed had I been on the highway!! Hyundai failed to properly notify consumers of such a dangerous situation. …”
NHTSA complaint #10283745, filed 2009-09, 99,000 miles“This vehicle is hazardous to be on the road. It has front end steering and suspension problems. It has a terrible vibration from 35 MPH and up. If traveling on the highway the wheel shakes so badly that your hands go numb. I have had the vehicle in for service and repeated time over a two and a half year period, and the dealership has done nothing. I have also spoken with the manufacturers on several occasions, and have done nothing. It has gotten to the point that I had an accident, because of these problems. …”
NHTSA complaint #10041157, filed 2003-10, 12,237 miles“After 1 1/2 months of driving this brand new car I began having problems with the steering. The car would wonder in different directions on the road and freeway. I also had steering wheel shimmy. They have aligned my car at least five times on different occasions and forced balanced the car twice to no avail. In march of 2003 an independent service evaluated my car and found both tie rod ends (outers)were extremely lose and needed to be replaced. Because of the faulty rods both the front tires are now cupped on the outer edges and the dealership refuses to replace them. …”
NHTSA complaint #10070072, filed 2004-01, 1,847 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 5% |
| 2024 | 7 | 13% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% |
| 2022 | 2 | 2% |
| 2021 | 5 | 4% |
| 2020 | 20 | 8% |
| 2019 | 9 | 4% |
| 2018 | 16 | 6% |
| 2017 | 71 | 9% |
| 2016 | 19 | 6% |
| 2015 | 26 | 10% |
| 2014 | 28 | 7% |
| 2013 | 271 | 21% |
| 2012 | 88 | 13% |
| 2011 | 75 | 17% |
| 2010 | 195 | 51% |
| 2009 | 133 | 52% |
| 2008 | 55 | 17% |
| 2007 | 34 | 13% |
| 2006 | 3 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% |
| 2004 | 5 | 3% |
| 2003 | 16 | 7% |
| 2002 | 16 | 5% |
| 2001 | 24 | 8% |
| 2000 | 2 | 1% |
| 1999 | 2 | 2% |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% |
| 1997 | 2 | 2% |
| 1996 | 1 | 1% |
| 1995 | 6 | 5% |
| 1994 | 3 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2001 Hyundai Elantra
118 complaintsSuspension
81 complaintsBrakes
30 complaintsBody and structure
28 complaintsElectrical system
21 complaintsEngine cooling
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
17 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
16 complaintsFuel system
14 complaintsExterior lighting
11 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsSeat belts
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology