The timing belt went and the car stalled. Wouldn't restart and had to have it towed into the shop. Did you know that regular maintenance is replacing the timing belt at 60,000 miles. If you don't you void the 100k warranty. This is not a cheap part (approx 600.00) never had a car you had to this on. if the timing belt goes while you are driving you might as well call the junk yard to come get it. The timing belt is just the beginning, not to mention all the damage that occur ed when the engine stopped. Our three year old car is now a piece of junk.
Don't be tempted by the hyundai this was our 6th hyundai in our family. The quality isn't what it used to be. I thought they were becoming the next toyota. guess not. save your money and buy a toyota. Or buy the hyundai and start saving for the really big repair bill.
Read the service schedule and do the maintenance!
Admittedly, a timing belt failure only 8k miles over the recommended change point is a bit close, but technically not premature.
Our family has owned four Hyundais and two Kias all made after 2000 and they have been as near to perfect as any mass-produced machine could be.
By the way, most Toyotas also use the same type of timing belt which also has to be changed at the same frequency for approx. the same cost.
The annoyance aimed at your car and Hyundai, in my view, is largely unfounded.
You took a risk running past 60kmiles (probably trying to save money) and lost. Your fault, not Hyundai's!
If I understand his review, in the context of his comments, he didn't change the timing belt at the 60K point.
I agree with the above comments. I just changed my timing belt on my 2005 Hyundai Elantra GT at 52,000 miles, just to be "early" on the maintenance that is clearly laid out for you in the owner's manual. I went ahead and changed the accessory belt, too, while at it and was able to replace all the belts for less than $400.00. I am not sure what types of cars he is referring to when he says he has never heard of never having to replace a timing belt either preemptively or because of wear. Tell me where to buy one of those! Maybe that is why he is paying $600 for the belt. I will pay that if it is a lifetime, never need replacing belt.
Most Toyota's haven't had timing belts since 1997, well the corolla anyways so the comparison is unwarrented. Please try to be a little accurate as it discards your otherwise intuitive comment. Elantra's are quite good cars I agree but they're no Corolla until at least the new 2007 model. That's an argument I wouldn't want to challenge.
I have a 2003 Hyundai Elantra.
The car overheated 4 times, and at 78k miles the engine and transmission cracked and it totaled. Unbelievable.
I bought the car used with 30k, and probably never drove it over 80 miles/hr.
Of course Hyundai invalidated the 100k powertrain warranty since I was a 2nd owner, even though I bought it from a Hyundai dealership, even they claim their used cars are "certified" now. Yeah right.
They are junk and probably the worst car I have over owned in almost 25 years of driving. Never again will I even consider Hyundai.
I would say this is a darn good engineering from Hyundai or whoever made the belt. They tell you it snaps at 60000 and it snapped at 68000, that's what I say; good design. And functioned as designed. Don't blame the car; many cars have to change the timing belt, and many of them are interference type engines, where if the belt snapped while the is engine running, then the engine is toast and you better replace it than fix it.
MOST Hondas are like this, except few models like the RSX that had a chain instead of a belt. Not sure about the newers Civics though.
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