2001 Hyundai XG300 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine quitting or losing power while driving, frequently with the check engine light coming on, and in several cases dealers were unable to reproduce or permanently fix it. A second cluster of complaints covers jerking or delayed engagement on acceleration, along with warning lights for the airbag and electrical faults such as batteries going flat and a dead speedometer. Many reports are scattered across a wide mileage range rather than confined to one age or season.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving

   • 18 complaints (28%)
   • median 34,500 mi at 3.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2015

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning at highway or city speeds, sometimes with the check engine light flashing or staying on, and occasionally after the car was parked overnight in cold weather. Several owners say the car restarted after a wait or a jump start, while others report repeated visits to the dealer where no trouble code was found or where parts such as sensors, the EGR system, ignition coil or throttle body were replaced without ending the stalling. A few link it to hesitation or rough running before the stall. Reported across a broad mileage range, from under 30,000 miles to well over 100,000, with a few cases tied to cold morning starts.

   Recall 01V3620003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the check engine light has been on and what codes were stored, and whether the powertrain control module was ever replaced or reprogrammed. A scan for stored codes and a cold-start test drive are worth doing before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car was towed 3 times in 2002, october and twice in december, to dealership for sensor failures and car stalled out at 50 MPH on major roadway. I was almost hit by a dumptruck behind me, I was able to barely coast into a side street. Electronic control module failed and was fixed. Car was in for repairs 7 times in the 2 years I owned it. I traded in this top of the line Hyundai for a buick regal that I love. One of the car salesman told me to never buy a car in the first year it is manufactured. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10030673, filed 2003-08, 26,000 miles

   “Traveling at 45 to 55 MPH, engine stalled and check engine light came on. It LED to lost of power and acceleration on the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, because the engine light continued to illuminate. The consumer stated the air bag light illuminated, there was a cracking sound under the vehicle, there was a wind noise and a vibration coming from the vehicle. The injectors, gaskets, ignition sensor and throttle body were replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #10059659, filed 2004-02, 13,173 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Jerking, lurching or delayed acceleration

   • 16 complaints (25%)
   • median 52,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2010

   Owners describe the car hesitating, stuttering or shuddering when accelerating, and in some cases not moving at all for a moment before lurching forward, often in the first minutes of a drive or when leaving a stop. A few mention the transmission light coming on with a sudden drop in acceleration, and one reports the car refusing to go into reverse. Dealers reportedly replaced the transmission in one case, reprogrammed the control module in another, and in several cases could not find a cause. Typical reports come between roughly 30,000 and 60,000 miles, often during the first part of a drive or at low-speed pull-away.

   Recall 01V3620003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the car from a cold start and pay attention to the first few minutes of acceleration and any delay going into drive or reverse. Ask whether the transmission control module was reprogrammed and whether the fluid was changed to the specified type.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Hyundai XG300 will not move and than plunges forward out of my control, does this the initial drive of the day anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes of driving. Sometimes it just does it out of the blue, when stopped at a stop light. I spoke with one of your representatives today. I just got back from the store - when started my car, put it in drive and I almost hit the car in front of me, my car would not move and than it plunged out and I hit the brakes in time! This was way too close for comfort, and my body is still upset m as I type! …”

   NHTSA complaint #761093, filed 2002-04

   “While driving at highway speed the transmission light illuminated and there was a sudden decrease in acceleration. The vehicles RPM's dropped to 14. Consumer states' this was very dangerous. Please provide any further information. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #8024135, filed 2002-12
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on or airbags don't deploy

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • median 21,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2016

   Complaints describe the airbag or SRS light staying illuminated continuously, sometimes from the moment the ignition is turned, and dealers resetting or replacing the airbag module without the light staying off. Several owners report accidents in which the airbags did not deploy, and one describes the side airbags deploying when the driver door was shut. One owner notes the wiring under the seat loosens as the seat is moved. Appears at low mileage in some reports, including under 20,000 miles, and at higher mileage in others.

   Recall 02V105000

   What to check: Check that the airbag warning light comes on with the ignition and then goes out, and ask whether the side airbag harness or module has been serviced. Moving the seats back and forth and watching the light is a simple first check.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Note - reported airbag failure earlier, this is an additional problem. On oct 11th, during a rain storm two dogs walked into the roadway in front of my car. I hit the brakes, and had plenty of pedal yet the car continued onward. My initial reaction was that I had plenty of time to stop but quickly it became apparent that I could not. I attempted to swerve to the right hopeing that I would slow the vehicle enough to go around the dogs. The car barely slowed and I continued off the roadway striking a pole perhaps 100 feet off of the roadway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #758887, filed 2002-03

   “Driving 65 MPH on a major interstate when vehicle #1 drove across interstate, vehicle #2 t-boned vehicle #1, and I struck vehicle #2 from behind at approximately 45 MPH. Totaled vehicle and air bags never deployed. Neck, back, shoulder, and left elbow injuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10903462, filed 2016-09, 300,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: dead battery, radio, speedometer

   • 10 complaints (15%)
   • median 47,500 mi at 4.5 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2010

   Owners report batteries going flat repeatedly, sometimes needing a jump start if the car sits for a day, and dealers unable to find the drain. Others describe the radio turning on and off by itself or staying on with the car off, a speedometer that stopped working, warning lights that come and go, and interior or exterior lights behaving erratically. In several cases the car simply died and was traced to an ignition coil, alternator or control module. Reported from low mileage up to around 130,000, with no clear seasonal pattern.

   Recall 01V3620003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about battery replacements and any history of the car needing jump starts, and test the radio, gauge cluster and lights with the engine running. A parasitic drain test at a shop can confirm whether something stays powered with the car off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Check engine light came on and almost cut-off. Took it in to the dealer and the problem is major (electronic transmitter (valves) spark plug wires). Previously I've had two recalls. I need some additional information regarding Hyundai cars. Very inconveniencing. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10002850, filed 2003-01, 43,000 miles

   “Dt: the speedometer just stopped working. It stopped working on august 31, 2005. The consumer contacted the dealer and was told it would cost 500.00 to 700.00 to fix. The dealer said it was extremely rare, thought it could be a sensor or something electrical. The consumer believed the odometer has an internal short.”

   NHTSA complaint #10135158, filed 2005-09, 79,082 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake vibration and warped or corroded rotors

   • 8 complaints (12%)
   • median 22,500 mi at 5.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2014

   Complaints describe vibration through the brake pedal or steering when braking from any speed, which owners attribute to warped or corroded rotors. Several say rotors were resurfaced or replaced, sometimes more than once, and the vibration returned; one dealer reportedly told an owner the rotors warped because of braking style. One report describes a rear caliper sticking. Often reported at low mileage, with several cases under 20,000 miles and one around 30,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Brake firmly from highway speed during the test drive and feel for pedal or steering vibration. Ask whether rotors have been replaced and check the calipers and rotors for corrosion and uneven wear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. Have had brakes replaced and rotors recalibrated twice and still have vibration upon braking. Dealership says I'm not braking properly and causing brakes to overheat, which causing rotors to warp. I've been braking the same way for 35 years and never had this problem. 2. Air conditioner still does not cool properly and has been in shop several times. Dealership says there is a leak in the A/C coolant, but they cannot find it. 3. Car continually stutters at high speeds, dealership has replaced numerous parts, but problem persists. 4. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10165481, filed 2006-08

   “When the brake pedal was depressed from any speed vehicle vibrated. This was caused by warped brake rotors. Dealership replaced and re surfaced the rotor, but the problem still occurs.”

   NHTSA complaint #10047920, filed 2003-11, 11,000 miles

Buying note. Look for service records showing how stalling, transmission and brake complaints were handled, and have a shop scan for stored codes and inspect the subframe and rotors before purchase. Given the age of this model year, a thorough pre-purchase inspection matters more than any single fix.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 57 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.