1997 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Elantra years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 24th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Hyundai Elantra. That ranks 24th out of 32 Elantra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (31 complaints, 27%), typically at around 67,000 miles. Complaints mention 20 crashes, 15 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 115owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 20complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Hyundai Elantra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 31 | 27% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 21 | 18% | 141,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 17% | 86,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 18 | 16% | 136,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 13 | 11% | 143,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 10 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 10 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 8% | 141,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 8 | 7% | 35,672 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2% | 38,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 2% | 141,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 189,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 120,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 124,015 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Hyundai Elantra recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface. The "check engine" light would then illuminate and, in some cases, the vehicle driver may notice a gasoline odor.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If the fuel tank has cracked, it will be replaced.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface. The "check engine" light would then illuminate and, in some cases, the vehicle driver may notice a gasoline odor.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If the fuel tank has cracked, it will be replaced.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Problem: The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.
Risk: This contamination interferes with the electrical circuit continuity and prevents the windshield wiper motor from operating. Inoperative windshield wipers can contribute to reduced visibility during inclement weather increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel cap replacement campaign 36 (SQ00003) — opened Feb 2, 2000, still open, led to recall 00V095001.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 hyundai elantra. The contact noticed a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that there was a fracture/crack in the fuel tank that needed to be replaced. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 hyundai elantra. While operating the vehicle the check engine indicator illuminated and the odor of fuel was present inside the vehicle. The contact also discovered fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer…
1997 hyundai elantra, my car got totaled on 5/18/2015,. I received a concussion and joint pain all over for months from a collision that happened this day. My airbag failed to deploy. I was going 40 to 45 mph when a van made a right hand turn in front of me. Her fault, i slammed on my brakes, but…
Traveling west on adam shepherds pkwy, i had a green light, lady opposite side turned left in front of me, resulted in collision. Her fault. Witnesses said she hesitated but went anyway. She was supposed to yield. I could of been killed! My front dual air bags didn't deploy. I can hardly move my…
Hyundai charged for recall - did not perform recall. Car still not fixed. Hyundai still has the money. *tr
Other Hyundai Elantra years
← 1996 Elantra · 1998 Elantra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Elantra | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Elantra | 22 | 0 |
| 2024 Elantra | 54 | 1 |
| 2023 Elantra | 99 | 2 |
| 2022 Elantra | 102 | 5 |
| 2021 Elantra | 132 | 6 |
| 2020 Elantra | 254 | 3 |
| 2019 Elantra | 251 | 1 |
| 2018 Elantra | 283 | 0 |
| 2017 Elantra | 768 | 4 |
| 2016 Elantra | 293 | 2 |
| 2015 Elantra | 262 | 3 |
| 2014 Elantra | 386 | 2 |
| 2013 Elantra | 1,314 | 4 |
| 2012 Elantra | 653 | 4 |
| 2011 Elantra | 433 | 5 |
| 2010 Elantra | 380 | 3 |
| 2009 Elantra | 254 | 4 |
| 2008 Elantra | 314 | 7 |
| 2007 Elantra | 267 | 6 |
| 2006 Elantra | 155 | 1 |
| 2005 Elantra | 137 | 4 |
| 2004 Elantra | 182 | 5 |
| 2003 Elantra | 234 | 5 |
| 2002 Elantra | 342 | 6 |
| 2001 Elantra | 315 | 6 |
| 2000 Elantra | 197 | 1 |
| 1999 Elantra | 128 | 2 |
| 1998 Elantra | 55 | 0 |
| 1997 | 115 | 3 |
| 1996 Elantra | 100 | 3 |
| 1995 Elantra | 112 | 1 |
See all Hyundai Elantra problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
Embed this 1997 Hyundai Elantra badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners most often report power train, air bags, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 31 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Hyundai Elantra?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Hyundai Elantra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Elantra model years, the 1997 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.