2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS from North America - Comments

The clutch cracked up at 4,000 miles. It was making a really weird clacking noise. The dealer couldn't figure it out so they "greased the linkage" and gave it back. Didn't even make it home. I had it towed back, after which they replaced the flywheel. Didn't fix it. Then the pilot bearing. Then the entire clutch assembly. Finally they replaced the transmission and then the engine. Can you say incompetent?

Now the car is tearing through tires like crazy. At this rate I'll be putting tires on it every 10,000 miles. I've repeatedly had it aligned. The dealer straight up refused to even look at it. Tried to tell me it needed aligned.

The brakes are pathetic. Try a panic stop from 70 and see how scary that is.

The clutch is really quirky (hard to shift smoothly), not to mention weak.

The dealer is worthless (Hyundai dealers are independent. Hyundai has very little leverage). They can refuse to do warranty work and Hyundai can't/won't (cop out) do anything about it.

Fuel mileage is very mediocre.

I feel stupid for buying it. Everybody laughs at me.

The interior is pretty well made. It has held up well. This includes upholstery and controls (AC controls, Signals etc.)

Your dealership has replaced your entire transmission assembly and engine yet you blast them for not honoring the warranty? You're very lucky just to have gotten that, considering how many rotten dealerships there are out there. And why would they replace the entire engine due to a bad clutch? This makes no sense, and if they did replace the tranny and the same problem is coming back, then the cause is most likely driver error. Also, I seriously doubt that this car's stopping power is as bad as you make it sound. Although I'm not a Hyundai fan personally, all cars of the econo class are very similar in terms of performance.

I own an Elantra and your car was either built on a day when all the Hyundai employees were hung over or you don't own the car and felt a need to post a phony review. I'd bet you don't even own this car.

Right now, I am agreeing with Korean Turd. At 70,000 miles, I have found a transmission leak and I don't yet know if I have to be responsible or the dealer does. I have been on the Internet and reading of similar situations. I thought I got a good deal, but I too have had to replace tires like mad. I have also had the check engine light come on, but next time I think I will buy a used car. I have two more years of payments on this thing yet, but now I am afraid of what else might happen. We shall see.

I'm surprised by what you have to say. I had a 2002 until yesterday when I traded it on a 2005. I had nearly 62,000 miles on it, still had the original tires, never had a leak, and drove it like it was a Corvette. I had it serviced regularly and never had it in the shop except for what I felt was a defective AC system. When I got it back the AC was fine. My only gripe is that they wanted $400 to install a new timing belt. That's kind of high for that activity.

I have an automatic so I can't relate to the clutch etc. problems. However, I am now replacing my second water pump in less than a year and it's no longer covered because I'm just over 60,000 miles and it's not covered on the extended warranty I bought. I had the work done at the dealer and they used Hyundai parts so go figure. My car is about 3 1/2 years old and I've had to replace both head lights (after one year) all tail lights (after one year), engine problems and now two water pumps. I've had 15 year old cars that didn't need new water pumps until they were 15 years old. I seriously don't think I will buy another Hyundai, even though I think they are nice looking.

I own a 2002 Elantra GLS, stick, 53k. I've been very happy with the car overall, considering its price and package. The car has had several minor issues for which it was taken back to the dealer, and each time I've had no problem making appointments or getting them to honor the warranty. The itemized list:

* Six months into ownership, the "Check Engine" light came on and stayed on. Dealer looked at it the next day, giving me a rental. Turned out it was a bad gas cap; they replaced it and sent me on my way.

* Two years into ownership the driver's side seat belt stopped recoiling. Took it in and was told it needed a new motor; they ordered the part and replaced it while I waited a week and a half later. Again, no problem getting them to honor the warranty.

* In just under four years, I've had to replace both headlamps twice. I was amazed at that.

* In just under four years, I'm getting ready to replace the tires again. I had to replace them at two years, despite the fact that the vehicle came with Michelins.

* My biggest complaint: The paint job is minimalist, to say the least. 2002 model year didn't offer very snazzy colors to begin with, and my burgundy has a BRIGHT orange undercoat and apparently no clear coat. I know about the under coat because I see it in approximately 30 places on my car - every time a bird flies over it the paint chips off.

I've got 53,000 miles on the car and have not had any major problems. It runs fine, the A/C is fantastic, and it's fairly comfy for a compact. I test-drove Hondas and Saturns and my Elantra has far more elbow room than the comparable models in those families. The trunk is way roomy and the stereo is decent. The mileage is average. I paid just over $11,000 for the car and I don't regret the purchase.

I got a 2002 GT

My only complaint is they called it GT when there is only a hatchback... would have been happy with at least 10 or 20 more hp, but its all good.

I bought it in 2004, we are now in 2006 60 000km later.

Oww ya... about the tire comment... IT HAD THE STOCK TIRES when I got it in 2004 and MILKED them untill now... tho I just replaced them with 17" mags...

Things that have gone wrong...

Replaced a baring... ouuuuuuuuu

driver door luck stopped working for 3 days... then worked fine for 6 months... stopped again for a week, then worked again... a little confused there.

I changed my original timing belt and fuel pump last week (5/5/2006)

My friend smashed it sideways on a sidewalk going 70kmph due to being high after gokarting... 1 weel disconnected, tranny hit from under the hood and leaked... 700$ worth of repairs ONLY (local garage... I don't trust dealerships)

An old man fainted at the weel, and smashed his buick on it going 50kmph.

Got fixed and yet is does not rattle, shake or anything going 140kmph.

I admit I don't like the clutch... it feels a little weak so I don't beat on it... tho I do drive fast... PROPERLY.

I think my breaks need a little adjustment... but they still seem pretty good.

Problems problems... I don't know... I Haven't HAD MUCH PROBLEMS.

Its got more space then the competition!!! A LOT MORE SPACE...

On the highway... 5th gear has very good power.

Have I tried braking from 70kmph???

Not really... but it seems your just a kid abusing the crap out of your car not even knowing how to drive stick.

I agree with the second comment. The review is too vague and general in every aspect. I can almost be certain that whomever posted this review doesn't own the car. Just a false review from maybe... ahh ummm a Honda sales rep??. Please ignore the original review. Thank you.

Why on earth should this review be phony? I agree it's not very well written and is probably not written by a car person since it's difficult to really figure out what was wrong with this car. But a blind man should not comment on the actions of a near sighted man if you see what I mean...

My story is that I have about the same experience with Hyundai dealers, but I never had the Elantra, but the Sonata. They really hadn't a clue when I had a hard-to-find electronics problem on my car. It was just the same. No proper diagnostics. They plugged in the computer, but got no error code back and they just stood there scratching their groins. What then? Well just try to replace every component randomly. I must admit that they really tried, but they never found the problem even I was in about ten times. Finally I demanded my money back or a replacement vehicle since this car was less two years old. At that time this car had spent about 1.5 month in the shop in total and the car was at that point useless and I couldn't trust it.

At the end they got someone that actually knows car electronics (an outside company) to look at it and problem was fixed within one working day. So the clutch problem in the review may very well have happened in my experience. They really haven't got a clue.

What year is your Sonata sir. Pre 2001 Hyundai have problems. 2002 and beyond they are as good as Hondas and Toyotas if not better.