2001 Hyundai Elantra Reliability
The 2001 Hyundai Elantra has 329 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and suspension. Compared with nearby Elantra model years (1999–2003), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Elantra's typical year, while the 1999 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
329
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
72
Complaints citing a crash
5
Complaints citing a fire
2001 Hyundai Elantra complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2001 model year, filed between 2001 and 2019. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 118 | 36% |
| Suspension | 82 | 25% |
| Service brakes | 29 | 9% |
| Body structure | 28 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 8% |
| Steering | 25 | 8% |
| Engine & cooling | 21 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 19 | 6% |
2001 Hyundai Elantra recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2001 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00V332000 | Oct 17, 2000 | Air bags — side/window | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The supplemental restraint system side air bag satellite sensors installed were improperly manufactured, causing the air bag warning light to illuminate and the side air bags to not deploy as intended in the event of a… |
| 03V257000 | Jul 22, 2003 | Service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | On certain passenger vehicles, the rear brake tubes pass behind the front suspension crossmember. Two steering gearbox mounting brackets are welded to the crossmember. On vehicles equipped with an antilock brake system (abs), the rear brake tubes could… |
| 03V496000 | Dec 3, 2003 | Service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets. |
| 08V533000 | Oct 14, 2008 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | Hyundai is recalling certain my 2001-2002 Elantra vehicles. Movement of the side impact air bag wiring harness mounted under each front seat, possibly caused by contact from materials placed under the seat, may result in an electrical resistance that would… |
| 08V532000 | Oct 14, 2008 | Air bags — frontal / sensor/control module-inactive | Hyundai is recalling certain my 2001 Elantra vehicles. If a liquid is spilled in the area of the cupholder on the center console, it may seep through the console opening for the parking brake lever and then drip onto the air bag control module electrical… |
| 09V125000 | Apr 16, 2009 | Suspension — front / control arm | Hyundai is recalling 160,904 my 2001-2003 Elantra and my 2003 tiburon vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new… |
How the 2001 compares with nearby Elantra years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Elantra analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 133 | 2 | Powertrain / transmission | Solid |
| 2000 | 200 | 1 | Engine & cooling | Solid |
| 2001 (this page) | 329 | 6 | Air bags | Caution |
| 2002 | 348 | 6 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2003 | 234 | 5 | Suspension | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2001 Hyundai Elantra
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2001 Hyundai Elantra can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2001 Hyundai Elantra reliability FAQ
Is the 2001 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2001 Hyundai Elantra has 329 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and suspension. Compared with nearby Elantra model years (1999–2003), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Elantra's typical year, while the 1999 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2001 Hyundai Elantra problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra are air bags (118), suspension (82), service brakes (29), body structure (28). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2001 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, including 00V332000 (air bags — side/window) and 03V257000 (service brakes — foundation components / hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2001 Hyundai Elantra compare with the 2000 and 2002 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2000 has 200 complaints and 1 recall (solid); the 2002 has 348 complaints and 6 recalls (caution). The 2001 has 329 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2001 Hyundai Elantra?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Hyundai Elantra research
Other Hyundai Elantra model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2001 Elantra, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.