Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
All 4 brakes started to randomly lock up. I was driving and had to run it almost a 1/2 mile for a shoulder to pull over at. Upon stopping, the brakes were smoking all around the car and the front driver side actually caught flame. I'm guessing brake booster is the cause. Also front control arms are almost rusted through. The cars been well maintained and has around 185,000 miles on it. Has valve cover leak into spark plug port on cylinder 3 and has a very weak clutch that sometimes slips.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the brake pedal extended to the floor when it was depressed. The brakes were pumped several times before the vehicle came to a complete stop. A small amount of smoke appeared underneath the hood. The air bag and engine warning lights illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact exerted more effort to turn the steering wheel as if there were no power steering. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they replaced the power steering hose. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 98,000.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 25 MPH, the driver was unable to stop the vehicle. The driver's side of the vehicle crashed into a curb. There were no injuries. The contact noticed that the frame of the vehicle was rotted. There were no warnings prior to the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the lower front control arm was rusted. No repairs have currently been made to the vehicle. The contact called the manufacturer and was informed that they would cover the repair costs. The failure mileage was 99,000.
While driving at 30 MPH driver applied the brakes and they failed. Vehicle took longer to stop,and it rear ended another vehicle. Prior to the accident, consumer called the dealer to verify if NHTSA recall 03v25700 concerning ABS failure applied to her vehicle. Dealer denied it. Three weeks after the accident consumer received a recall letter on the ABS system.
Consumer complained about a brake problem. When driver applied brakes while driving 25-30 MPH vehicle did not stop. Consumer's vehicle rear ended vehicle in front. Currently, vehicle was being recalled for brake malfunction.
It is back at earnhardts, for the elec. System again 4th time. It started in 3/02 and went out again last fri. 6/6/03 but they don't consider it a problem. Because I filed a lemon law on the previous accent and replaced it with the Elantra 2001 and I filled out a survey saying they had bad customer service, the normal use of a rental while they fixed it for days was not granted. I am so upset I spent a day out in the az sun waiting for a tow of 205 miles to the next dealership and they tell me I have a bad record with them and don't deserve the courtesy of a rental car. This is my second hyndai and I have had nothing but trouble with it and the dealership. I have sent letters to the attorney general, three on my side, hyndai and earnhardts dealership. I want out of this car and don't feel safe in it any more. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The front passenger side window air bag was replaced in 2004. The day after the replacement, the air bag light illuminated again. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and they stated that they could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact discovered an air bag safety recall online, but the dealer stated that no recall was available. In 2004, the contact also informed the dealer that the weather stripping on the back door frame was too small. The vehicle was still under warranty. The dealer pushed the weather stripping back on the door. In 2005, the contact heard a strange noise coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle stalled in hot weather. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. While at the dealer, she was informed of a brake line recall and clips were applied. …
Braking from highway speeds 70 down to 50 results in serious vibration and pulsation due to out of round disc brake rotors. Feels like possible loss of braking control. Problem has existed since vehicle was new and corrected only by machining the front brake rotors. Original rotors machined 3 times in 65000 miles. Original rotors recently replaced with new OEM parts and problem occured again within 5K miles. Complained to dealer and Hyundai regional manager. Explanation was that rotors are not defective if out of round and condition can be corrected by machining. Appears rotors are unable to withstand braking temperatures and warp as result. Quality of steel material used in manufacturing the rotors appears poor. Hyundai does not seem to acknowledge problem with flaw in manufacturing process.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. When the brake pedal was applied, the brakes failed to function properly. The contact had to apply force to the brake pedal several times to ensure that the vehicle completely stopped. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to service the brake system. In addition, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle associated with the upper or lower control arms. The check engine and air bag warning indicators remained illuminated. Also, the vehicle failed to refuel in a reasonable time frame, which caused the contact to have to wait an extended period of time during refueling. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The failure mileage was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. His vehicle was repaired according to recall 03V257000 ( service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). After the repair, he noticed that the brake lines had holes in them which caused brake fluid leakage. There was no compression in the brake line , so the pedal fell completely to the floor during application. He took the vehicle to the dealership and was advised that the entire brake line needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was provided. No repairs were made. The current mileage was approximately 58,000. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › 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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › 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 contact both steering gearbox mounting brackets.
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…
Brake complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, 10% of the model year's 315 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (5 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Hyundai Elantra brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 03V-496 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Dec 3, 2003); NHTSA recall 03V-257 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Jul 22, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2001 Hyundai Elantra brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 42,000 miles, and 37% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.