2001 Hyundai Elantra Brakes Problems

SINCE NEW, OUR 2001 ELANTRA HAS HAD AN INTERMITTENT "THUMPING" SOUND IN THE REAR WHEELS WHILE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IT WOULD GO AWAY FOR MONTHS, THEN RETURN, USUALLY AFTER SOME MAINTENANCE EVENT SUCH AS A TIRE ROTATION. INTERNET SEARCHES REVEAL THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED ALL SORTS OF PARTS; WHEEL BEARING, SUSPENSION PARTS ETC., USUALLY WITH NO FIX. I FOUND THE CAUSE, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL !! ON OUR MODEL, THE WHEEL NUTS ARE "CLOSED", MEANING THAT THEY ARE NOT DRILLED AND TAPPED ALL THE WAY THOUGH. ON OUR CAR, SOME OF THE WHEEL NUTS BOTTOM OUT ON THE WHEEL STUDS BEFORE THE BRAKE DRUM IS SECURED. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE RESULTING LOOSE BRAKE DRUM CAN "WOBBLE" ON THE STUDS, MAKING THE SOUND,. ANOTHER ISSUE CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM: THERE IS ONE PHILLIPS SCREW WHICH SECURES THE BRAKE DRUM TO THE HUB. IN MY CASE THIS SCREW WAS MISSING, PROBABLY HAVING BEEN LEFT OFF DURING A SAFETY INSPECTION. HOWEVER, IF THE NUTS WERE NOT BOTTOMED OUT, THE DRUM WOULD BE SECURE EVEN IF THE SCREW IS MISSING. IT WOULD SEEM THAT THIS CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO STUD FAILURE. AT THE VERY LEAST, IT IS A SERIOUS AGGRAVATION. PROBABLY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO FIX THIS WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE WHEEL NUTS WITH ONES THAT ARE DEEPER, ALLOWING MORE CLEARANCE FOR THE END OF THE WHEEL STUD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 03V257000 ( SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). AFTER THE REPAIR, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINES HAD HOLES IN THEM WHICH CAUSED BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION IN THE BRAKE LINE , SO THE PEDAL FELL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR DURING APPLICATION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AIR BAG WAS REPLACED IN 2004. THE DAY AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED AN AIR BAG SAFETY RECALL ONLINE, BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALL WAS AVAILABLE. IN 2004, THE CONTACT ALSO INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THE WEATHER STRIPPING ON THE BACK DOOR FRAME WAS TOO SMALL. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER PUSHED THE WEATHER STRIPPING BACK ON THE DOOR. IN 2005, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE STALLED IN HOT WEATHER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. WHILE AT THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED OF A BRAKE LINE RECALL AND CLIPS WERE APPLIED. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEAKING WHEN SHE APPLIED AND RELEASED THE BRAKES. THE RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,448 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. ABL.PCO

ABS SYSTEM FAILED DURING BRAKING, CAUSING REAR END COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

10/28/05 CAR DID NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY WHILE PARKING, WENT THROUGH FENCE AND HIT DECK. BRAKES DID NOT HOLD IN SAND. CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED, NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE RECALL ON BRAKES FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRA 2001 WAS REMEDIED BY THEM. BRAKES STILL DO NOT HOLD WELL, ADVISED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT BRAKE SHOES ARE FINE. STILL DO NOT HAVE A GOOD COMFORT LEVEL WITH BRAKES. AIR BAG LIGHT ON, RECALL ON FILE FOR MODEL AND YEAR, DEALER ADVISED NOT FOR MY CAR. WILL FIX AT COST OF APPROXIMATELY $700.00. *NM

BRAKES FAILED. UNABLE TO STOP. HAD TO INITIATE EMERGENCY MEASURES--EMERGENCY BRAKE, PUT CAR INTO PARK.

2001 ELANTRA REGARDING REAR BRAKE TUBES RECALL NOTICE.*MR IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED ON THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE REPAIRS MADE, HOWEVER WHEN THE CONSUMER SHOWED UP, THE DEALER WAS CLOSED, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP HAD CHANGED OWNERSHIP AND TO CALL BACK. THE CONSUMER CALLED BACK TWICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE STILL CLOSED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE BOOKED DESPITE HAVING AN APPOINTMENT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD TAKE MOST OF THE DAY, BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE, THE INVOICE STATED THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY VIBRATED.*AK

CONSUMER HAD TO CONSTANTLY PUT BRAKE FLUID IN VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES WHILE DRIVING 25-30 MPH VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE WAS BEING RECALLED FOR BRAKE MALFUNCTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO OPERATE, SO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WAS NECESSARY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. VEHICLE TOOK LONGER TO STOP,AND IT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER TO VERIFY IF NHTSA RECALL 03V25700 CONCERNING ABS FAILURE APPLIED TO HER VEHICLE. DEALER DENIED IT. THREE WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE ABS SYSTEM.*AK

BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS 70 DOWN TO 50 RESULTS IN SERIOUS VIBRATION AND PULSATION DUE TO OUT OF ROUND DISC BRAKE ROTORS. FEELS LIKE POSSIBLE LOSS OF BRAKING CONTROL. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW AND CORRECTED ONLY BY MACHINING THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. ORIGINAL ROTORS MACHINED 3 TIMES IN 65000 MILES. ORIGINAL ROTORS RECENTLY REPLACED WITH NEW OEM PARTS AND PROBLEM OCCURED AGAIN WITHIN 5K MILES. COMPLAINED TO DEALER AND HYUNDAI REGIONAL MANAGER. EXPLANATION WAS THAT ROTORS ARE NOT DEFECTIVE IF OUT OF ROUND AND CONDITION CAN BE CORRECTED BY MACHINING. APPEARS ROTORS ARE UNABLE TO WITHSTAND BRAKING TEMPERATURES AND WARP AS RESULT. QUALITY OF STEEL MATERIAL USED IN MANUFACTURING THE ROTORS APPEARS POOR. HYUNDAI DOES NOT SEEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM WITH FLAW IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS.*AK

ABS WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY FLASHES ON AND STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD RESULT IN EITHER NONE DEPLOYMENT OR PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM UNDETERMINED. *AK ABL.PCO

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE EVEN AFTER (4) ATTEMPTS BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE ACTUAL CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. MR ALSO THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS. PH *JB ABL.PCO

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HE APPLY HIS BRAKES TO STOP. BUT IN THE PROCESS HE A ATTACK AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

THE BRAKE ROTOR OVERHEATED, WHICH CAUSED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR *TT *JB

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES, THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER MCCONNELL, SHE HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BIG 10 TO CHECK THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE AND A PASSENGER WERE AT A RED LIGHT WHEN THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, NO STOPPING OCCURED AND RAN THROUGH THE LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER STRUCK THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. *SCC

THE NEXT DAY AFTER PURCHASE AND THE FIRST TIME I USED THE AUTO IN REVERSE THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAKES. IT SOUND LIKE THE BRAKE SHOES WERE LOOSE AND THE RETAINING SPRINGS PULLED THE SHOES INTO PROPER ALIGNMENT WHEN THE SELF ADJUSTING BRAKES CAME INTO OPERATION. I WAS ON AN APPROCH RAMP AT 55 MILES AN HOUR TO MERGE AT 65 TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS LOOKING BACK FOR ON COMING TRAFFIC, I LOOK UP AND A CAR WAS STOPPED, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR FINALLY STOP INCHES FROM THE AUTO AHEAD. NO SKID MARK. THE WHEELS DIDNT LOCKUP. I BROUGT THE CAR IN. ON ADVISE OF THE FACTORU THE CLEAND UP THE ROTORS, REPLACED THE FRONT PADS. THIS A POSITIVE INDICATION THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF SUCH A PROBLEM. UPON A TEST DRIVE ON MY OWN I FOUND I COULD NOT LOCK UP THE BRAKES. LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND HAD THE SERVICE MANAGER TEST DRIVE THE CAR WITH ME. HE ALSO COULD NOT LOCK UP THE BRAKES. HE SAID HE TEST DROVE 2 OTHER ELANTRAS AND THEY REACTED THE SAME. POLICE MEASURE SPEED AT AN ACCIDENT BY THE SKID MARKS LEFT. IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT THEY WOULD FIND NO SKID AN ASSUME I DIDNT EVEN APPLY THE BRAKES!!! THESE ARE NOT ANTI LOCK. I'M WORRIED. I NEED HELP BEFORE I'M KILLED AND THE ACCIDENT REPORT SAYS, HE DIDNT EVEN APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE WERE NOT SKID MARKS AND THE POLICE COULD ONLY SPECULATE AT WHAT SPEED HE MUST HAVE BEEN TRAVELING. H E MUST HAVE BEEN DRUNK, HAD A HEART ATTACK OR PASSED OUT.*AK

CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AT 30-35 MPH, VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER PUMPED BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES, NO BRAKING ACTION, VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUFFERED INJURIES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT. *JG

BRAKES ENGAGING AND OVERHEATING ON THE FREEWAY, INTERMITTENTLY; THIS MAY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO STOP QUICKLY ENOUGH IN AN EMERGENCY. DETAILS: SINCE THE BRAKES WERE FIRST SERVICED AT JUST UNDER 4,000 MILES, THERE IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES RANDOMLY ENGAGING BY THEMSELVES ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ITS NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP, BUT THE CAR AT TIMES WILL LABOR TO MAINTAIN SPEED. THE CAR ALSO PRODUCES A LOW PITCH HUMMING SOUND AND A STIFF VIBRATION (SHIMMY) IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES WHEN BARELY TOUCHED (AT THE TIME THIS PHENOMENON IS OCCURRING). AFTER A NUMBER OF MILES THE SYMPTOMS DISAPPEAR. THE FREQUENCY OF THIS EVENT IS ABOUT ONCE EVERY 100 TO 200 MILES. I BELIEVE THE HUMMING, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION, AND PULSATING FEELING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE IN AN OVERHEATED STATE DUE TO THE CALIPERS DRAGGING. HYUNDAI SERVICE IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILURE TO SUFFICIENTLY ROAD TEST THE VEHICLE; I.E., THEY MAY HAVE TO ROAD TEST THE VEHICLE FOR 2 HOURS IN VARYING CONDITIONS, HOT WEATHER, MOSTLY FREEWAY TO REPLICATE. HYUNDAI, AFTER BEING GIVEN THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEMS ON TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE CALLS, HAS NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE (OF COURSE, MEANING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM REMAINS A MYSTERY). I HAVE VIDEOTAPED THIS PHENOMENON, WHICH HAPPENS ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO THE VIDEOTAPING SESSION. I AM WILLING TO MAKE COPIES AND SEND TO THOSE WHO FEEL VIEWING THE TAPE WOULD BE HELPFUL IN DETERMINING THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION. PLEASE ADVISE IF YOUD LIKE A COPY OF THE VIDEOTAPE, AND IF SO, WHERE IT SHOULD BE SENT. PLEASE E-MAIL AT: JKUNST@SWIFTCOR.COM. *AK