Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (26.6% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 3.7× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 34 · 26.6% | Recalled | Recall 99V178000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 16 · 12.5% | not available | — |
| Electrical System | 11 · 8.6% | Recalled | Recall 00V259001 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 · 6.2% | not available | — |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 7 · 5.5% | not available | — |
| Power Train | 6 · 4.7% | Recalled | Recall 99V178000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 128 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 00V259001 · 2000 · reported 09/11/2000
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 99V178000 · 1999 · reported 07/07/1999
SUCH SLIPPAGE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FRICTION ELEMENT SURFACES AND COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE, OR NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, WHEN THE DRIVER PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING PROPERLY WHEN THE PEDAL…”NHTSA complaint 10241466 — filed 09/09/2008 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA GL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD WHEN GOING…”NHTSA complaint 10210861 — filed 12/05/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. THE CURRENT…”NHTSA complaint 10193973 — filed 06/22/2007 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 34 of 128 NHTSA complaints (26.6%), followed by air bags:frontal (16), electrical system (11), engine and engine cooling (8). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
128 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 22 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, and 24 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 2 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 00V259001. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
