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#BS-2002-HYUELA-38C7

2002 Hyundai Elantra

Based on reports from 431 owners and 6 recalls for this exact model.

Complaints
431
Crashes
80
Fires
7
Recalls
6
TSBs
75
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 431 complaints, 80 crashes, 7 fires, and 6 recalls. Complaint rate is 2.5x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

overheating

3 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

excessive rust

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
3

overheating caused engine failure

1 complaints • Severity 10/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the AirbagsHIGH

40 owners reported airbags issues — failures commonly reported around 72K miles.

!Inspect the Suspension:front:control ArmMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

62
0–30K
63
30–60K
67
60–90K
59
90–120K
35
120–150K
22
150K+

Peak failure range: 60–90K miles (67 reports) • Median: 72K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Airbags (40 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Airbags40 (9%)
Suspension:front:control Arm29 (7%)
Fuel System28 (6%)
Suspension:front27 (6%)
Suspension27 (6%)
Air Bags:frontal22 (5%)
Steering16 (4%)
Structure:body13 (3%)

2002 Hyundai Elantra: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Airbags Issues

Airbags complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra, with 40 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 72,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 72K-mile mark.

Suspension:front:control Arm Issues

Suspension:front:control Arm complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra, with 29 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:front:control arm-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra, with 28 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension:front Issues

Suspension:front complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra, with 27 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:front-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
01
18
02
53
03
46
04
29
05
20
06
13
07
27
08
52
09
64
10
22
11
16
12
11
13
19
14
21
15
9
16
4
17
1
18
1
19
2
20

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2002 Hyundai Elantra. Recent trend: increasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (6 recalls)

03V257000Oct 2003

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES PASS BEHIND THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER. TWO STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS ARE WELDED TO THE CROSSMEMBER. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), THE REAR BRAKE TUBES COULD CONTACT BOTH STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS. ON VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS, THE REAR BRAKE TUBES MAY CONTACT ONLY THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET. CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING BRACKETS COULD CAUSE WEAR AND CORROSION THAT COULD RESULT IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

03V496000Jan 2004

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE TUBES FOR THE REAR BRAKES CAN CONTACT THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS.

04V178000Jun 2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE WITH A FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE THAT IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED WERE TO ROLL OVER, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

04V369000Oct 2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY" A VALVE ON THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. IF A VEHICLE ROLLS OVER AND THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY VALVE IS NOT PROPERLY CLOSED, FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

08V533000Nov 2008

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 ELANTRA VEHICLES. MOVEMENT OF THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS MOUNTED UNDER EACH FRONT SEAT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY CONTACT FROM MATERIALS PLACED UNDER THE SEAT, MAY RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION.

+ 1 more recall in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Hyundai Elantra is the 2013 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2002 Hyundai Elantra vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

431

Class avg

176

2.5x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical compact cars vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 431 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 6 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Other Hyundai Elantra Model Years

202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990
View all Hyundai Elantra years →

2002 Hyundai Elantra: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2002 Hyundai Elantra?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2002 Hyundai Elantra is related to the airbags, with 40 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2002 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 2002 Hyundai Elantra has 431 complaints, 80 crash reports, and 7 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 2.5x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How much does it cost to fix 2002 Hyundai Elantra problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2002 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
Yes, the 2002 Hyundai Elantra has 6 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Hyundai Elantra problems start?
Based on 308 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 72,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 60–90K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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Get the Full 2002 Hyundai Elantra Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 431 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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