Because existing sources of auto reliability information left much to be desired, in late 2005 I started conducting my own reliability research at TrueDelta.com. TrueDelta reports absolute stats like "trips to the shop" that make the differences between cars much clearer. Results are updated four times a year, so any significant changes in a model's reliability become apparent quickly.

Thanks to the help of this forum, for which I'm very grateful, we've been providing results for the Sonata, Santa Fe, and Tucson for some time. I'd like to do the same for the Elantra, but don't yet have enough owners signed up to participate.

Participants simply report repairs the month after they occur on a one-page survey. When there are no repairs, they simply report an approximate odometer reading four times a year, at the end of each quarter.

To encourage participation, panel members receive full access to the results for free.

For the details, and to sign up to help out:

Vehicle reliability research

I have an 02 gls with 60000 miles on it. I'v changed the oil myself every 3000 myself. What's went wrong so far is the following"

The door pillar molding started to peel in the florida sun. 3 trips to the dealer later and two replacements later they agreed to just peel it off and painted the pillars flat black. That worked fine. I simply touch it up every year.

At 26 monthe the battery went. Oops, battery warranty just expired. I bought a new one. Walmart $60.00.

The front brakes wore out around 27,000. $150.00

At 25000 and 50000 the transmission fluid flush was due. Back to the dealer and 75.00 each time. Hmm, this critter has to have a special kind of fluid. $150.00 so far.

At 55000, I noticed a new noise and the CV joints were failing. The dealer said they wouldn't cover those, because the boots had cracked. $ 480.00. at Tire kingdom.

Now at 60.000 the timing belt is at the required change interval. Not covered in the Drive Train warranty. Well that's another $590.00 at a reputable shop.

Wow, I bought thiis car so I wouldn't have to fix all these things for a while.

The timing belt is rarely if ever covered.

I am surprised at the frequency of transmission fluid changes. Does the manual call for that, or is that a dealer recommendation?

Batteries are rarely covered more than 2 years.

If you do a lot of city driving, 27K miles for front pads is also normal. Also, pads are not covered either because they are a wear item.

The trans only needs to be flushed every 30K miles (not 25K). Again, that's normal for most automatics.

The CV joint boots should be inspected regularly, were they? If the boot rips the grease will fly out and the joint will fail. That's not a warranty item.

The timing belt is also a wear item. Replacing it at 60K is normal for just about all cars (that use timing belts).

This post has been edited by NovaResource: Apr 15 2008, 10:53 AM

I used to inspect the CV boots on my cars regularly, because if you catch them early you only have to replace the boot and not the joint. It's been a long time since I last had one fail, though. So I assumed they've been making them better. Maybe not.

I still need more owners to sign up before I can include the Elantra in this research.

To help get your year included:

Vehicle reliability research

Hi. I own 05 Elantra GLS,manual transmition, it has now 52 000 miles. I`m very satisfied with this car. Car seems trouble free for me so far. The car is used by my wife and for trips and vacations. First and only trip to dealer was at 22000 miles. Wife drove with parking brake activated few times so rear brake pads were needed to be changed. It cost me $200 plus parts $90. Oil and filters and anything else I change and check myself.

That`s it. I love this car.

For work I`m using 97 Elantra Wagon, 148000 miles. Love this car too.

I have an '04 GLS with just under 39k miles. Have only needed to do scheduled maintenance: oil + filter changes, air filter, ATF change (@30k). Front pads are next because I do mostly city driving.


I'm hoping to get a good 10 years out of this car, so far so good.

I have a 2001 Elantra with 224,000KM or 139187 miles on it. Overall my Elantra has been quite reliable. Just recently I had to replace the ball joint, tie rod end and wheel bearing. Considering the price I paid for it 7 years ago, I really cannot complain it has held up much better than I thought it would.

As for the dealership, the service department is A1 at Ontario Hyundai in Whitby and the sales person I deal with is excellent.

Yeah, none of that seems out of line given the km.

Still trying to get enough of these to include them in the survey. To help make this happen:

Vehicle reliability research

2003 Elantra Gt 5 Speed 86,000miles 1st and 2nd gear synchronizers are going out. Should run me about 1200 to 1800 dollars to have it rebuilt. I bought the car at 52,000 miles and changed the fluid then and it was clean. Also I used the spec III from the Hyundai dealership. At 82,000 miles ether I'm unlucky or the manual transmissions in the 01-06 Elantras are garbage.

Made this post a few days ago. Still trying to decide if I should have it rebuilt or spend a little more money and buy a whole new transmission. Any help would be appreciated.
http://www.hyundai-forums.com/t27228-elant...-speed-2003.htm

If it's a 2003 and has 86,000 miles, shouldn't all that be coverd by the 10yr 100,000 mile warranty?

I said I'm the second owner which means I only had the 60,000 mile warranty. So I have to pay for the repairs my self.

Not everyone realizes that the full warranty does not transfer.

Many model years are close to the minimum--a few more participants for each would get them into the survey.

Vehicle reliability research

I bought this car hoping it would last longer. At 44,000 thousand miles and six years after. Scheduled maintenance has a total of 3 thousand dollars.
3 thousand dollars plus due for:
800.00 for timing belt replacement
500.00 for alternator replacement - dealer did not change even with TSB and with complain of rotten egg odor since first year.
100.00 for battery replacement
due for SRS diagnosis and repair
due for crankshaft position sensor replacement
due for powersteering hose line replacement

It is my first car. I got suckered to the 10 yr warranty. Brought it at 14,000 thousand with 24 percent interest (no credit history) New graduate, new job, new car with 10 year warranty, no problem.

The car still runs with MIL lights, whistling steering, puffing gas pump and knocking engine that vibrates giving me a free body massage.

I know what your saying. I have a 2001 Elantra with 98k on the clock.I follow the
maint schedule religously and The Tranny was rebuilt 2x(under warrenty), had a head light assembly repleced,repleaced the clutch at 55k! :w00t: :w00t: I have been driving a manual tranny for the last 26 years and think that it safe to say that I am not overworking the clutch assembly! The clutch in my old Accord prior to this last 100k and
I leaned to drive a 5 speed with 6 miles on the clock.Ronkowl63

I have an 05 elantra which i bought at an auction in 2007 with 40k miles. i go to school at SUNY Cortland which is in central New York. So its been through a winter season with me and i have to say the car handled very well in the snow. Had to get new tires this summer. and i also had a problem with my steering wheel in that it would shake when i accelerated and slowed down. getting that fixed soon. other than that, the car is amazing on gas and i like it.

hope that helps:)

I'm sure readers of this thread will find these reports helpful.

That said, I can only use responses submitted through the survey process in my analysis.

To participate:

Vehicle reliability research

Five model years are now included in the survey, but in all cases the sample sizes remain close to the minimum.

For results in November, additional participants will probably be necessary.

To help ensure that your year is included:

Vehicle reliability research

I have an '05 Elantra GT 5 speed with 63000 miles.

I had the top O2 sensor replaced under warranty at 55,000 miles
Rear brakes also at 55000 miles.....cost $200.00 @ the dealer (I guess they got their money back for the O2 sensor)

I am presently shopping around around for a new set of tires as they will need to be replaced soon. The tires have worn evenly across the treads, so no alignment worries

I get between 36 & 39mpg in mixed driving, 70% highway

The car has been extremely reliable for us and I will seriously consider buying another one

Missing features that I would like-daylight running lights, fog lights that remain on with the high beams, better insulation in the trunk, and a slightly bigger rear stabilizer bar