2003 Hyundai Elantra Suspension Problems

Which parts fail

• Front
  13
• Front › Control arm
  12
• Front › Wheel bearing
  2
• Front › Control arm › Lower arm
  2

Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  24%
• 25k–50k
  24%
• 50k–75k
  714%
• 75k–100k
  1530%
• 100k–150k
  1734%
• 150k+
  714%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Hyundai Elantra owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated and lost motive power. Additionally, while attempting to complete a turn, the contact heard an abnormal clicking sound coming from the front driver's side of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the driver's side brake pad and rotor were abnormally worn and needed to be replaced; however, the power train failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V125000 (Suspension) and 04V369000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,000.

*The rear sub-frame assembly nearly rusted through. Steering and Handling noticebly effected with rear of vehicle feeling soft and sluggish in turns. *The vehicle is available for inspection and was brought to my attention when the mechanic was beginning rear brake maintenance. *The mechanic is a licensed mechanic and the Repair shop is a licensed service facility. *The mechanic called me and asked me to return to the shop to show me the extent of the rust damage, to which I did return to the shop to examine his findings. I did take photos. *There were no warning lamps or messages. The symptoms were as described above.

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. I have spent about 4 thousand dollars into this car doing all the work myself to make this car run In pristine conditions. I am very very worried that my whole back end will just fall apart going down the road due to the rust.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the passenger's side control arm became defective which caused difficulty to steer the vehicle at various speeds. The contact then called superior Hyundai south (238 w mitchell ave, cincinnati, oh 45232) where she made an appointment and was informed to check if there were any recalls on her vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 09V125000 (suspension) however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact also stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle stalled without warning upon depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a defective o2 sensor which was then replaced. Despite the o2 sensor being replaced, the failure persisted. …

Right front lower control arm and right front axle, broke while driving, causing loss of control. This was a previous recall, which was done at the dealership. Replacement of the control arms were not required at the time. Inspection, undercoating and ,drilled drainage holes were the fix. While stranded on the road, a cross country driver stopped. He informed me that he is seeing this same problem across the country with the 2002 and 2003 elantras. It looks as if the recall fix only postponed the problem. The arms should have been replaced, not holes drilled to let the water drain, the damage was already in the works, and now with so many of these cars still on the road,, we are looking at a disaster waiting to happen. I had just exited from a main highway, onto a local road when the incident happened, no one was injured. A few moments earlier would have been a very different scene. …

Driving on highway and turning right; a tire blew. On inspection by a mechanic, the front passenger control arm was bent with rust on the exposed metal. The bent control arm allowed the tire to rub against the interior fender, eventually leading to the tire failing. The tire was in great condition before the sudden failure. On researching: there was a recall on 2003 Hyundai Elantra for front control arm problems. NHTSA campaign number: 09V125000. This recall cites that road salt used in certain jurisdictions can cause internal degradation of the front control arms: leading to failure. Looking back through this car's history: it was originally registered in ohio, one of the states using road salt. I don't know why this car escaped recall, but it's having the same problems as other 2003 elantras.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. While driving 20 MPH, the front driver side wheel detached from the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the front passenger lower control arm was rusted from the inside out and the axle detached from the transmission. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to columbia Hyundai (10981 montgomery rd, cincinnati, oh 45249, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the front passenger lower control arm was completely safe and had a small amount of rust. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.

Recall # 03V257000, 09V125000, 03V496000 severe rusting and corrosion under my car which they claim was "fixed" under the recalls. They did not fix this! The front driver side axle is completely corroded and breaking - they claim they sprayed it with anti corrosion compound but this did not stop further corrosion and rust. The brakelines were also sprayed but this also did not work! My brakeline rusted out and all my brake fluid went out while driving. Hyundai is now refusing to correct the problem which by federal law has to be done!

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. The contact took the vehicle to fuccillo Lincoln Hyundai [phone], located at 4101 state st, schenectady, ny 12304) to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 09V125000 (suspension). The contact diagnosed that the rear subframe was rusted. The technician stated that there was no recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that there was an abnormal noise coming from the front driver side tire. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed of NHTSA campaign number: 09V125000 (suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Suspension complaints in other Elantra years