How many recalls does the 2002 Hyundai Elantra have?

The 2002 Hyundai Elantra has 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2002 Hyundai Elantra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2002 Hyundai Elantra?

Of 431 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is air bags.

2002 Hyundai Elantra Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2002 Hyundai Elantra has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 890,617 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 431 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SUSPENSION 09V125000 2009-04-16 160,904 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

THE FRACTURING OF THE CONTROL ARM COULD AN OWNER'S CONTROL OVER THEIR VEHICLE THAT MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

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…

AIR BAGS 08V533000 2008-10-14 150,541 affected

Defect

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 CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT…

Consequence

THIS CONDITION ONLY RELATES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS AND MAY PREVENT SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT DURING A CRASH WHERE SUCH DEPLOYMENT SHOULD OCCUR. NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SRS AIR BAGS MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER UNDER CERTAIN…

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CLIPS AND REVISED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS ATTACHMENTS UNDER THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2008, AND WILL BE SENT OUT IN SIX MAILINGS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 04V369000 2004-07-26 919 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 04V178000 2004-04-09 263,968 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 03V496000 2003-12-03 1,993 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 03V257000 2003-07-22 312,292 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

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…

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS

1213

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

SUSPENSION

SUSPENSION:FRONT

211

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

19213

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

STEERING

STRUCTURE:BODY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Total complaints431

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“When pumping gas I can only pump about $1.50 worth of gas at a time before it starts coming back out and spilling everywhere. I have tried pumping gas with the car on, not safe I know, and it still only takes about $1.50 before it comes back out. I have spoken to multiple elantra owners and they…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2020-01-29

“I was driving the car and the moment I tried to stop at the traffic stop sign the lower arm control from the driver side broke and the wheel broke and the car slid. Thanks god it was at night and no cars were there. I remember the night before I was driving on the highway and nothing happened. I…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2019-09-03

“My 2002 huyndai elantra gls suddently the airbag is on soon engine running, and I have been told by technician that the airbag defective and it is under a recall.”

AIR BAGS · reported 2018-11-30

“I have noted a recall #09v125000 related to this make/model/year but for some reason my car with the exact problem is not part of the recall. My right front control arm colapsed. It was completely rusted through. With that side fixed I traveled about 3 miles and my left side control arm broke. My…”

SUSPENSION · reported 2018-11-05

“Rear suspension cross member rotted out”

SUSPENSION · reported 2017-11-02

“The whole frame is rusty.”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2017-05-01

“The whole frame is rusty.”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2017-05-01

“On october 28th, 2016 the lower, driver's side, front control arm disintegrated while my wife was driving her elantra in a parking lot. She was making a right turn to leave the lot when she lost control of the car as it made a "terrible grinding noise." the next day I removed the wheel and…”

STEERING · reported 2016-10-28