The Lemon Index2003 Hyundai Elantra.
The 2003 Hyundai Elantra is better than average by owner complaints: 82 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 83, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 25 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Elantra year is 2015.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 234 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Hyundai Elantra year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 32K to 95K miles on the car (168 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- suspension complaints mostly came at 78K–130K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 24K–72K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 57K–98K miles
Recalls 5
- suspension 2009
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, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, M…
- fuel system, gasoline 2004
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.
- fuel system, gasoline 2004
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY.
Show all 5 recalls
- brakes 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.
- brakes 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 70 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- High pitched wind noise related to front door weatherstrip
- Corrosion in the front door wiring connector
- Power door lock actuator circuit etm/shop manual correction
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedFront lower control arms rusting2009
- ClosedAir bag light illumination2008
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
While the consumer was going 30 mph in the rain, the vehicle skidded. The brakes did not stop the vehicle, causing the consumer's vehicle to collide with another.
2003 Hyundai Elantra owner · NHTSA complaint 10106959
More owner reports
Air bag controller sensor is located underneath the cup holder. In the event of a liquid spill the air bag system will short out. When this occurs it will result in premature deployment of the air bags.
NHTSA complaint 10057522
The vehicle was involved in a collision, and the driver's air bag did not deploy.
NHTSA complaint 10020409
Quick answers
Is the 2003 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 83; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Elantra year by this measure is 2015.
What are the most common 2003 Hyundai Elantra problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (29%), brakes (20%) and body structure (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have?
5 safety recalls (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra get?
25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2003 Hyundai Elantra problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 32,100 and 95,000 miles. The middle report was at 61,100 miles, from 168 complaints.
Does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have?
2.0L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Elantra year is better than the 2003?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2015, 2014 and 2016.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works