Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
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.
This vehicle is hazardous to be on the road. It has front end steering and suspension problems. It has a terrible vibration from 35 MPH and up. If traveling on the highway the wheel shakes so badly that your hands go numb. I have had the vehicle in for service and repeated time over a two and a half year period, and the dealership has done nothing. I have also spoken with the manufacturers on several occasions, and have done nothing. It has gotten to the point that I had an accident, because of these problems. I now have a permanent injury that I will live with for the rest of my life, and they still do not care. I have 2 small children, and I am afraid every time I leave the house that something will happen with this vehicle, and one of my children get injured. Fortunately, with my accident I was alone. …
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.
Was exiting off of the parkway to the right traveling approx. 25- 30 MPH when I lost control of the vehicles steering causing me to crash into the curb of the median. Resulting in both of the front tires to blow out and pushing the wheel on the drivers side back into the wheel well. The control arm was broken when we looked at the damage after. The vehicle which is a 2001 Hyundai Elantra had to be towed. Also the airbags did not deploy. I am looking into this recall for that vehicle. Mileage at time was 99,400.
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. …
While driving with my infant granddaughter I hit the brakes to avoid hitting a deer. I was going 35-40 miles and hour and the whole control arm in the front of my 2001 Hyundai Elantra snapped. It was all rusted out. I did some research and discovered this is a safety recall which I was never notified about. There are 26 other cars at the dealership with the same problem. We could have been killed had I been on the highway!! Hyundai failed to properly notify consumers of such a dangerous situation. I also had to have my car flatbed towed an hour away to the nearest dealership at my own expense where I am still waiting for the parts to come in from Hyundai. No eta on that. Hyundai wouldn't pay for a rental until I threatened to contact the media and the bbb. Two days later, I was approved for a rental. …
At highway speeds approaching 65 MPH, steering wheel begins to shake. I was originally told by the dealership that the tires were out of balance or out of round. Had tires professionally inspected and balanced, and checked various times.... It is not the tires. I have lifetime balancing and alignment so the tires are balanced and aligned every 3 to 5 thousand miles. Replaced original (poor quality) michelins with high end firestones at 43,000 miles and vibration persist. You have to go above the speed limit, or way below, to stop your arms and hands from being shaken ridiculously...... Service manger at dealership and regional service manager told me the vibration was normal. The vibration might be normal for a paint mixing machine but not for a car. …
After 1 1/2 months of driving this brand new car I began having problems with the steering. The car would wonder in different directions on the road and freeway. I also had steering wheel shimmy. They have aligned my car at least five times on different occasions and forced balanced the car twice to no avail. In March of 2003 an independent service evaluated my car and found both tie rod ends (outers)were extremely lose and needed to be replaced. Because of the faulty rods both the front tires are now cupped on the outer edges and the dealership refuses to replace them. Hyundai performed the work and the problems got a little better, but have since gotten worse again. I am so fed up with this car and need help! I have filed complaint with Hyundai customer service, but the problems still exist!
Numerous problems with vehicle since day one. Power steering pump replaced one month after purchase. TCM module replaced in transmission at 3 months. Alternator and battery replaced at 10 months. Another power steering pump at 40000 miles. Steering rack at 41K miles. Car has not been properly aligned since steering rack was installed almost a year ago. Vehicle has been at dealership on 14 seperate occasions in 10 months. Shaking in steering wheel at all speeds. Was told this was tire related. Installed and balanced new tires, problem still exists. Wheel shakes so bad at highway speeds that arms are sore. Alignment is not correct and steering wheel is off center. Dealer and manufacturer are not willing or able to correct problem.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 09V125000 (suspension: front: control arm). When leaving the dealer, he noticed that there was a leak coming from the vehicle and an abnormal oil odor. He then inspected under his vehicle and saw that the power steering line had rusted. The dealer was then contacted and they advised him that the steering was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired for the steering. The failure and current mileage was approximately 121,900.
Steering complaints in other Elantra years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2001 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the steering of the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, 8% of the model year's 315 complaints. The component named most often is steering wheel/handle bar (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Hyundai Elantra steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2001 Hyundai Elantra, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Hyundai Elantra steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to steering 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.