Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2002 Hyundai Elantra
NHTSA data on file today
The 2002 Hyundai Elantra has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 342 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09V125000 FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS RUSTING NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08V533000 AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION - MATERIAL CONTACT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V369000 HYUNDAI PUERTO RICO/FMVSS/FUEL VALVE INSTALLATION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V178000 HYUNDAI/FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE/FMVSS 301 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V496000 HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN/BRAKE TUBE WEAR AND CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V257000 HYUNDAI/BRAKE HOSE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Suspension 95 complaints
- Air Bags 70 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 32 complaints
- Structure 27 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 22 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 18 complaints
Of the 342 complaints on file, 58 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 342 complaints, owners report 40 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2002 Hyundai Elantra exhibits a significant number of recalls and owner complaints, primarily targeting suspension, airbag, and fuel system components. These issues, particularly in salt-prone regions, indicate potential reliability concerns, resulting in a below-average rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| control arm | 70,000–100,000 miles | $400–$700 | very common |
| airbag module | 80,000–120,000 miles | $350–$600 | common |
| fuel tank valve | 60,000–90,000 miles | $250–$500 | occasional |
| brake lines | 70,000–110,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
| suspension components | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake pads and rotors every 30,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
- Tire rotation and balance every 6,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Suspension noise or sagging
- Illuminated SRS warning light
- Fuel smell near rear of vehicle
- Brake pedal feels spongy
- Rattling noise from control arms
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.