2003 Hyundai Elantra recalls and problems

The 2003 Hyundai Elantra has 5 safety recalls and 234 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Hyundai dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

234

Crashes / fires

42 / 1

Injuries / deaths

33 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2003 Hyundai Elantra vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2003 Hyundai Elantra recalls

Recall 09V-125: Suspension

Reported Apr 16, 2009 · 160,904 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor Company

Problem: 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 hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Road salt used during the winter months in these jurisdictions may result in internal corrosion and thinning of the steel in the front lower control arms. The corrosion may progress to the point where the lower control arm's upper and lower panels become perforated. A perforated front lower control arm may fracture between its ball joint attachment and the forward and rearward pivot attachments to the chassis.

Risk: The fracturing of the control arm could an owner's control over their vehicle that may increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the front lower control arms for corrosion damage. If specified levels of internal corrosion damage are found, the front lower control arms will be replaced with new front lower control arms incorporating additional holes in the upper and lower panels. If the front lower control arms do not require replacement, the dealer will add drainage holes to the front lower control arms and will treat the front lower control arms with rust-proofing materials to arrest the internal corrosion process. These procedures will be performed free of charge. The recall began on august 17, 2009. Owners may contact the hyundai customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151.

Recall 04V-369: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Jul 26, 2004 · 919 vehicles affected · HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO

Problem: Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity" a valve on the fuel tank assembly may not close properly. If a vehicle rolls over and the fuel tank assembly valve is not properly closed, fuel spillage may occur.

Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. The recall began on october 5, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai de puerto rico at 1-800-981-0188.

Recall 04V-178: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Apr 9, 2004 · 263,968 vehicles affected · HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

Problem: Some passenger vehicles contain a fuel tank assembly valve that may not close properly. If a vehicle with a fuel tank assembly valve that is not properly closed were to roll over, fuel spillage may occur.

Risk: Fuel spillage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Fix: Dealers will install an additional fuel tank assembly valve. Owner notification began on june 30, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

Recall 03V-496: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Dec 3, 2003 · 1,993 vehicles affected · HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.

Risk: Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering gearbox mounting brackets may result in rear brake tube wear and corrosion, increasing the risk of brake fluid leakage. Brake fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability, which could result in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes, install brake tube clips, and apply anti-corrosion material to the rear brake tubes. Owner notification began january 22, 2004. Owners should contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1-800-633-5151.

Recall 03V-257: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Jul 22, 2003 · 312,292 vehicles affected · HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

Problem: 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 contact both steering gearbox mounting brackets. On vehicles that are not equipped with ABS, the rear brake tubes may contact only the left mounting bracket. Contact between the rear brake tubes and the steering brackets could cause wear and corrosion that could result in brake fluid leakage.

Risk: Fluid leakage could result in reduced braking capability increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will reposition the rear brake tubes so they do not contact the mounting brackets, install brake tube clips to control the location of the rear brake tubes, and apply anti-corrosion material to the tubes in the areas where contact with the mounting brackets may have occurred. Owner notification began on october 13, 2003. Owners should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

2003 Hyundai Elantra problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Suspension	62
Air Bags	49
Structure	33
Engine and Engine Cooling	21
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	21
Steering	16
Exterior Lighting	13
Seat Belts	12
Fuel System, Gasoline	10
Electrical System	10
Vehicle Speed Control	9
Power Train	9

Most reported parts

Air Bags › Frontal — 15
Structure › Body — 13
Suspension › Front — 13
Suspension › Front › Control Arm — 12
Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 9
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 9
Structure › Frame and Members — 6
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module — 4

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 62,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2003 Hyundai Elantra complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Suspension · at 132,000 miles · reported Dec 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and lost motive power. Additionally, while attempting to complete a turn, the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front driverâs side of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the driver's side brake pad and rotor were abnormally worn and needed to be replaced; however, the power train failure was not determined. The vehicle was not…

Air Bags · reported Oct 21, 2023

Live in Indiana where the weather is super salty in the winters and all of the salt in Indiana has really really affected the whole underside of my car. The whole subframe is falling apart and the rust has gotten to everything under the car. I have spent about 4 thousand dollars into this car doing all the work myself to make this car run In pristine conditions. I am very very worried that my whole back end will just fall apart going down the road due to the rust.

Suspension · reported May 16, 2023

*The rear sub-frame assembly nearly rusted through. Steering and Handling noticebly effected with rear of vehicle feeling soft and sluggish in turns. *The vehicle is available for inspection and was brought to my attention when the mechanic was beginning rear brake maintenance. *The mechanic is a licensed mechanic and the Repair shop is a licensed service facility. *The mechanic called me and asked me to return to the shop to show me the extent of the rust damage, to which I did return to the shop to examine his findings. I did take photos. *There were no warning lamps or messages. The…

Unknown or Other · reported Apr 6, 2022

Driver and front passenger inside plastic handles for doors broke apart from normal use. Drivers side outside plastic door handle also broke off. Getting out of the car requires power windows to be energized and lowered to access outside handles. The problem first appeared about a year ago.

Power Train · at 153,000 miles · reported Sep 1, 2020

The contact owns a 2003 hyundai elantra. The contact stated that the passenger's side control arm became defective which caused difficulty to steer the vehicle at various speeds. The contact then called superior hyundai south (238 w mitchell ave, cincinnati, oh 45232) where she made an appointment and was informed to check if there were any recalls on her vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 09v125000 (Suspension) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact also stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled…

Other Hyundai Elantra years

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Compare all Hyundai Elantra years · All Hyundai models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Elantra: 09V-125 (suspension), 04V-369 (fuel system, gasoline), 04V-178 (fuel system, gasoline), 03V-496 (service brakes, hydraulic), 03V-257 (service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners report suspension problems most often (62 reports), followed by air bags (49). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 62,000 miles.

Are Hyundai recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Hyundai dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.