MYRModel Year Report

2003 Hyundai Elantra

● Typical for this model
2003 Hyundai Elantra
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
234
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
2

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Suspension

26% of complaints

Complaints per year

1992: 29 complaints 1992 1993: 24 complaints 1994: 78 complaints 1995: 112 complaints 1996: 100 complaints 1997: 115 complaints 1997 1998: 55 complaints 1999: 128 complaints 2000: 197 complaints 2001: 315 complaints 2002: 342 complaints 2003: 234 complaints 2003 234 2004: 182 complaints 2005: 137 complaints 2006: 155 complaints 2007: 266 complaints 2007 2008: 314 complaints 2009: 253 complaints 2010: 379 complaints 2011: 433 complaints 2012: 652 complaints 2012 2013: 1,312 complaints 2014: 384 complaints 2015: 262 complaints 2016: 293 complaints 2017: 767 complaints 2017 2018: 283 complaints 2019: 250 complaints 2020: 252 complaints 2021: 131 complaints 2022: 101 complaints 2022 2023: 97 complaints 2024: 54 complaints 2025: 22 complaints 2026: 2 complaints
1992: 29 complaints 1992 1993: 24 complaints 1994: 78 complaints 1995: 112 complaints 1995 1996: 100 complaints 1997: 115 complaints 1998: 55 complaints 1998 1999: 128 complaints 2000: 197 complaints 2001: 315 complaints 2001 2002: 342 complaints 2003: 234 complaints 2003 234 2004: 182 complaints 2005: 137 complaints 2006: 155 complaints 2007: 266 complaints 2007 2008: 314 complaints 2009: 253 complaints 2010: 379 complaints 2010 2011: 433 complaints 2012: 652 complaints 2013: 1,312 complaints 2013 2014: 384 complaints 2015: 262 complaints 2016: 293 complaints 2016 2017: 767 complaints 2018: 283 complaints 2019: 250 complaints 2019 2020: 252 complaints 2021: 131 complaints 2022: 101 complaints 2022 2023: 97 complaints 2024: 54 complaints 2025: 22 complaints 2025 2026: 2 complaints
1992: 29 complaints 1992 1993: 24 complaints 1994: 78 complaints 1994 1995: 112 complaints 1996: 100 complaints 1996 1997: 115 complaints 1998: 55 complaints 1998 1999: 128 complaints 2000: 197 complaints 2000 2001: 315 complaints 2002: 342 complaints 2003: 234 complaints 2003 234 2004: 182 complaints 2005: 137 complaints 2006: 155 complaints 2006 2007: 266 complaints 2008: 314 complaints 2008 2009: 253 complaints 2010: 379 complaints 2010 2011: 433 complaints 2012: 652 complaints 2012 2013: 1,312 complaints 2014: 384 complaints 2014 2015: 262 complaints 2016: 293 complaints 2016 2017: 767 complaints 2018: 283 complaints 2018 2019: 250 complaints 2020: 252 complaints 2020 2021: 131 complaints 2022: 101 complaints 2022 2023: 97 complaints 2024: 54 complaints 2024 2025: 22 complaints 2026: 2 complaints 2026

2003: 234 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19900
19910
199229
199324
199478
1995112
1996100
1997115
199855
1999128
2000197
2001315
2002342
2003234
2004182
2005137
2006155
2007266
2008314
2009253
2010379
2011433
2012652
20131,312
2014384
2015262
2016293
2017767
2018283
2019250
2020252
2021131
2022101
202397
202454
202522
20262

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Suspension

26% · 62 reports

Most commonly citing front and control arm.

Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-21

Also filed under Air bags and structure

Air bags

21% · 49 reports

Most commonly citing frontal and sensor/control module.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

I had a wreck today on a highway where I was traveling at 40 MPH and I slammed on my brakes and hit the car in front of me when the vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-06-03

Also filed under Structure

I had a low speed accident approximately 10-20MPH in a parking lot where I hit a cement surrounding of a pole on the driver side and the airbag deployed on the passengers side causing significant damage to the windshield, busted the dash vents,...

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-06-17

Also filed under Structure and seat belts

The vehicle was involved in a collision, and the driver's air bag did not deploy. *jb ph

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-05-22

Structure

14% · 33 reports

Most commonly citing body and frame and members.

CRASHINJURY

Service brakes

12% · 27 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Recall # 03V257000, 09V125000, 03V496000 severe rusting and corrosion under my car which they claim was "Fixed" Under the recalls. They did not fix this!

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-29

Engine and engine cooling

9% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing engine and emission control.

FIRE

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2003-10-13Service brakes, hydraulic03V257000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. R
    2004-01-22Service brakes, hydraulic03V496000 On certain passenger vehicles, the brake tubes for the rear brakes can contact the steering gearbox mounting brackets.

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2004-06-30Fuel system, gasoline04V178000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2004-10-05Fuel system, gasoline04V369000 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.…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. I
    2008-03-10Preliminary evaluationClosed 2008-07-10 Air bag light illumination
  6. I
    2009-02-18Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-04-21 Front lower control arms rusting
  7. R
    2009-07-17Suspension09V125000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Hyundai Elantra — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Suspension: 62 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 49 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 33 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 03V257000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 03V496000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 04V178000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 04V369000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 09V125000 · Suspension
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Hyundai Elantra is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Hyundai Elantra?
The most-reported component is suspension, accounting for 26% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.