2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE. I JUST HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR A FAILING VAPOR CANISTER PURGE VALVE THAT CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS VALVE IS PART OF THE EVAPORATIVE (EVAP) EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE FAULTY VALVE STAYS IN THE OPEN POSITION WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE CHARCOAL FROM THE CANISTER TO RELEASE INTO THE FUEL LINES,CLOGGING IT. THE SYMPTOM OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSES YOU TO START HAVING TROUBLE FILLING YOUR GAS TANK. THE GAS HOSE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FILL ACTING AS IF THERE IS A VAPOR LOCK. IT WON'T LET ME PUT IN MUCH MORE THAN 25-50 CENTS BEFORE THE GAS HOSE CUTS OFF. THIS REPEATS MANY TIMES. IT TAKES ME BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MINUTES TO FILL UP MY GAS TANK. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF I COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND TO MY SURPRISE, THERE ARE AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR HYUNDAI'S. MANY PEOPLE ONLINE MADE COMMENTS ABOUT BEING SURPRISED THAT HYUNDAI DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON PROBLEM. MY REPAIR BILL TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED WAS $399.31. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 34,251

A FEW MONTHS BACK I BEGAN NOTICING THAT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WOULD TAKE 10- 15 MINS TO FILL UP GAS TANK. SENSOR WAS TRIGGERED EVERY FEW SECONDS, SUGGESTING GAS TANK WAS FULL, BUT IT WAS NOT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. WITH IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT REAR AUTOMATIC LOCKING SEAT BELT IS NOT STAYING LOCKED. CHILD CAR SEATS DO NOT STAY SECURED. CAR OCCASIONALLY STALLS WHEN STARTED, AND AIR BAG LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE TO DETERMINE IF AIR BAG WILL DEPLOY OR NOT. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT SMOKE AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE DEALER FIRST REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR A THIRD TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

Mileage: 50,000

CK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 3 TIMES TOOK IT TO DEALER SAID NO PROBLEMS JUST NEEDED TO RESET CODES??? ABOUT 2 YRS. LATER WAS DRIVING IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA IN SEPT. OF 2009- A VERY HOT DAY101-WITHOUT WARNING NO TEMP LIGHTS (NOTHING) I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD AT FIRST THOUGHT MAYBE HEAT WAVES- THEN CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER-PULLED OVER (VERY DANGEROUS) DUE TO LOOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY QUICKLY WITH MANY PEOPLE DUE TO FRI.-LABOR DAY WEEKEND 5PM- ANYWAY PULLED OVER TO SEE THAT CAR WAS SMOKING (WHITE SMOKE) ENGINE WAS SO HOT IT MELTED THE RADIATOR-WENT TO DEALER (BILL DUBE HYUNDAI) SAID WARRANTY JUST RAN OUT- BECAUSE CAR ENGINE WAS SEIZED AND DID NOT WORK PLUS THAT FACT THAT I STILL OWED SO MUCH MONEY ON BANK LOAN THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY TRADE IT IN-SO I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR AND STILL PAY BANK LOAN. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA, 138,000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 9/18/10, SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SMELL (BURNING), WHITE SMOKE FROM ENGINE, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TEMP GAUGE SHOWED EXTREMELY HOT - NO WARNING BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. MECHANIC SAYS PROBLEM WAS CLAMP IN RADIATOR THAT EITHER CORRODED OR SOMEHOW CAME OFF. RESULT IS THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS DAMAGED, AND WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT. MY CONCERNS ARE (1) THIS SEEMED TO HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS NO LEAK OR SYMPTOMS OF PROBLEMS BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS IRREPARABLY DAMAGED. (2) WE HAD THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. SAME SCENARIO - DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ENGINE OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSED MUCH ENGINE DAMAGE. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO FIGHT FOR SOME WARRANTY COVERAGE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, WE ARE WELL PAST THE LIMITS OF THE WARRANTY. I JUST FIND IT EXTREMELY STRANGE THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TWICE TO THE SAME VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 138,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE PARKED THE RPM'S INCREASED TO 7000 AND WOULD NOT DECREASE UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77246.

Mileage: 77,246

I PURCHASED MY CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASE, THE ENGINE LINE LIT UP. I NOTICED WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE RPM'S DROPPED AND THE CAR WOULD SPUTTER. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE CHECKED THE CAR BY COMPUTER AND FELT IT NEEDED 2 SENSORS. I LET HIM REPLACE THESE. 2 DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR THE SAME ISSUE BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN. THIS TIME, WHEN I STOPPED AS FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR WOULD STALL, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WOULD GO ON, AND IT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES TO START. ALSO, I PURCHASED THIS CAR AT ARNOLD HYUNDAI IN ROSEVILLE, MI. THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS NOT LONG AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I TOOK THE CAR TO A HYUNDAI DEALER. THEY THOUGHT A GUIDE WIRE HAD COME LOOSE AND REPAIRED IT. A COUPLE DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON DECEMBER 22. THEY DID A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND SAID THERE IS A LEAK IN THE VACUUM SYSTEM? ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST. I'M WONDERING HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS SYSTEM OR DO HAVE SOME SORT OF RECOURSE? *TR

DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE. GAUGE READS NORMAL TEMPERATURE WITH NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND PAUSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 31,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS BUCKING FROM THE REAR. UPDATED

Mileage: 32,000

ON MARCH 4, 2006 I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WITH 33,855 MILES FROM BUHLER & BITTER DODGE LOCATED ON ROUTE 35 IN HAZLET, NEW JERSEY. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I WAS ADVISED THAT ALL USED CARS ARE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES AND ARE PUT THROUGH A 135 POINT CHECK PRIOR TO BEING PUT ON THE LOT. THE HYUNDAI THAT I PURCHASED PASSED THIS 135 POINT CHECK AND STILL HAD THE REMAINDER OF THE FACTORY WARRANTY WHICH WAS 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. THE BALANCE OF THIS WARRANTY WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW OWNER. THE CAR RAN GREAT AND LIKE ALL OF OUR CARS IN THE PAST IT WAS GARAGE KEPT AND SERVICED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SERVICE SCHEDULE ISSUED TO US FROM THE DEALER UPON PURCHASE. ON AUGUST 22, 2007 I DROVE TO STATEN ISLAND FOR A DOCTOR?S VISIT. ON MY WAY HOME- WHILE TRAVELING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY-THE CAR APPEARED TO BE LOSING POWER AS IT RELATED TO MY ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE. FOR MY SAFETY I BEGAN TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR. UPON RESTART NOTHING OCCURRED SO I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AGAIN. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF TROUBLE ASIDE FROM THE LACK OF POWER (I.E. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, NO SMOKE OR NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE CAR), IT JUST WOULDN'T START AND THEN SLOWLY EVERYTHING APPEARED TO SHUT OFF INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL POWER. AT THAT POINT, I SAT AND WAITED FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. A GENTLEMAN FROM JULIAN?S GARAGE NAMED SCOTT ARRIVED WITH A TOW-TRUCK AND AFTER TRYING TO START THE CAR HIMSELF STATED THAT THE EITHER THE TIMING BELT WENT OR THE HEAD GASKET FAILED. BASED ON EVERYTHING SHUTTING DOWN, IT APPEARED THAT IT MOST LIKELY WAS THE HEAD GASKET. HE THEN TOWED ME TO A GAS STATION NEAR MY HOME. ALTHOUGH DISTURBED BY THE SITUATION AND THE FACT THAT IT WAS CLEAR I WOULD BE WITHOUT A CAR FOR A FEW DAYS, I KNEW THAT I HAD THE WARRANTY AND WAS COVERED. *JB

Mileage: 41,448

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THEY TESTED HER POWER BRAKES WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE TEST WAS COMPLETED. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 55,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,831. THERE WAS AN EVAP LEAK. UPDATED 08/06/07. *JB THE CONSUMER PROVIDED MULTIPLE REPAIR INVOICES PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT. UPDATED 08/09/07 *TR UPDATED 08/28/07 *TR THE DEALER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE BUT THE MOTOR LACKS PERFORMANCE. UPDATED 09/06/07 *TR

Mileage: 54,831

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY APPROX 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD POP, LOOKING AT THE DASH BOARD ALL GAUGES REPORTED NOTHING WRONG. SUDDENLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, BLINDING HER VISIBILITY AND CARS BEHIND HER. SHE WAS ABLE TO VEER OFF TO THE MEDIAN AND CALL FOR ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR SHOP NOTED THAT A PLASTIC RESERVOIR TANK EXPLODED AND DRAINED ALL COOLANT AND DAMAGED THE RADIATOR AND RECOMMENDED CALLING HYUNDAI SINCE CAR IS IN WARRANTY AND SUGGESTS THAT ENGINE DAMAGE (SEAL DAMAGE MAY RESULT IN COMPLETE DAMAGE OF ENGINE AND NEED REPLACEMENT) THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A SIMILAR REPORT AS LISTED AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO SMOKE DISABLING DRIVERS VIEW. *NM

Mileage: 57,600

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA EVAP SYSTEM HAD A SMALL LEAK, FOUND PURGE CONTROL. *TS THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATE DUE TO THE SYSTEM DETECTING A SMALL EVAP LEAK. THE DIAGNOSIS WOULD BE GAS CAP WAS LOOSE, SECURE THE CAP, CLEARED CODE/OPERATING TO SPECIFICS AND FOUND FUEL CAP HARDLY THREADED/VERY LOOSE, FOUND FAULT CODE FOR LARGE VAPOR LEAK, PURGE VALVE TO HAVE INTERNAL DAMAGE, AND EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED (SMALL LEAK). THE CONSUMER WOULD ENSURE THAT THE GAS CAP FITTED TIGHTLY. THE PURGE VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

EVER SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE 2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA NEW 2 YEARS AGO, I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD SERIOUS EXHAUST PROBLEMS, AND HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS. I HAVE BEEN REALLY SICK, BREATHING IN THE FUMES FROM THE CAR. MY CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL IS HIGH, AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING FOR A LONG TIME NOW. THE DEALER REFUSES TO SEE A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I HAVE HAD PEOPLE DRIVE IN MY CAR, AND SMELL THIS EXHAUST. THE EXHAUST SMELLS LIKE A SKUNK, AND BACKS UP THROUGH THE FRONT INSIDE VENTS, IT SMELLS BEHIND THE CAR, AND I CANNOT OPEN THE WINDOWS, BECAUSE THE SMELL IS SO STRONG IT COMES THROUGH THE WINDOWS WHEN OPENED TO. THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING THEY DON'T SMELL ANYTHING. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER, AND IT AMAZES ME THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT MONEY, INSTEAD OF SOMEONE'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. *NM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING AT ABOUT 65-70 MPH, SHE WITNESSED AN OBJECT FLYING BY. SHE STATED SHE LOOKED DOWN AND ALL OF HER GAGES WERE FINE, THEN SUDDENLY SHE SAW SMOKE, SHE STATES SHE PULLED TO THE SIDE AND GOT HERSELF AND HER CHILD OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW PIECES WERE HANGING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE STATES BY THIS TIME ALL OF THE SMOKE THAT SHE HAD SEEN WAS GONE. SHE STATED THAT SHE CALLED THE TOW TRUCK AND HAD HER VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. SHE STATES SHE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, ALONG WITH HER INFANT. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.*TC

Mileage: 6,115

AT 36,000 MILES THE VALVES STARTED TAPPING. CHECKED OIL LEVEL, WHICH WAS AT THE "LOW" LINE, AND THEN ADDED OIL. TAPPING STOPPED, THEN RESUMED ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A CRANK IN THE CAM HAD BROKEN, THROWING METAL CHARDS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDES REPLACEMENT. *AK

Mileage: 36,000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER BRAKES WERE APPLIED.*MR CONSUMER APPLIED ALL HIS WEIGHT ONTO THE PEDAL AND IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL A COUPLE OF FEET BEHIND THE LINE. HE REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS REVVING UP WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT THE GAS. HIS WIFE SUGGESTED HE SHIFT TO PARK. WHEN HE DID, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FLY OUT. HE SHIFTED BACK TO DRIVE, KEEPING FULL PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL. AFTER THE LIGHT CHANGED, HE CAREFULLY RELEASED HIS FOOT AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLING. CONSUMER PLANNED TO GET IT SERVICED BUT WANTED A RECORD OF THE FAILURE ON FILE. *PH

Mileage: 1,199

I PURCHASED A DEFECTIVE VEHICHLE,THAT BECAME DISSABLED, AND TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS TO THE ENGINE WITH ONLY 2800 MILES.I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO THE DEALER, INQUIRING ABOUT THE VEHICLE.THE SERVICE MANAGER COULD NOT LOCATE MY CAR AND COULDNT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON ITS WHERE ABOUT'S OR ANYTHING.*AK

Mileage: 2,800

WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATES SLOWLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 7/2/2003. DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE REFORMULATED GASOLINE THAT WAS USED. *AK

I HAVE A 2003 HYUNDAI ELANANTA GT. THERE IS A WHINING NOISE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS, SOMETIMES AT 55 MPH OR AT 75 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON 4/22/03. THE NOISE ON THE LEFT WENT AWAY. THE SAME NOISE SURFACED ON THE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. ON 5/22/03 THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT, THEY SAID IT WAS COMING APART. ONCE I DROVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN ON 5/29/03 THE NOISE WAS THERE. I ALSO STILL HEARD THE WHINNING NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR AGAIN, BUT FOR JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS. THE RIGHT SIDE WILL MAKE NOISE CONTINUOUSLY. NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN, WASTING MORE OF MY TIME, MONEY, AND EXTRA MILES ON MY CAR. I LIVE 130 MILES FROM THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALER. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FROM 4/08/03 AND THE CAR HAS 2400 MILES ON IT AND WILL NOW BE ON MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO HAVE THIS CAR REPAIRED.*AK

Mileage: 641

2003 HYUNDAI ELANTRA: VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER WHILE ENTERING FREEWAY ON-RAMP. HAD TO PULL OFF ROAD TO AVOID REAR-END COLLISION WITH APPROACHING VEHICLES. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS "FIXED." A SECOND EPISODE OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AND FIXED BY DEALER. *JB

Mileage: 2,500