The 2000 Hyundai Elantra has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission and shifter malfunction.” Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2000 Hyundai Elantra.
POWER TRAIN
17 NHTSA complaints · 2000-08 → 2008-07
“IN DECEMBER, 2000, WITH ONLY 5000 MILES ON THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER”
“WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS WITH A THUMPING NOISE AND THE CAR JERKS VIOLENTLY”
“VEHICLE DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT AN INTERSECTION AND PICKING UP SPEED AGAIN”
SEAT BELTS
8 NHTSA complaints · 2000-11 → 2006-09
“REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART WHEN THE CONSUMER TIGHTENED CAR SEAT IN PLACE”
“FRON/TLEFT RESTRAINT BELT RETRACTOR WOULD LOCK UP DURING ALL BRAKING MANEUVERS, AND WILL NOT RELEASE TO ALLOW MOVEMENT OF DRIVER”
“AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE LOCKS UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON”
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5 NHTSA complaints · 2007-05 → 2012-08
“MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED”
“THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED DUE TO IT BEING CRACKED”
“THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ATTACHED CATALYTIC CONVERTER”
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
4 NHTSA complaints · 2003-03 → 2007-01
“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH THE HOOD LATCH FAILED AND THE HOOD BLEW OFF (SHEARING THE HINGES) INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR”
“WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD RELEASED FROM THE HOOD LATCH AND FLIPPED OPEN BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT”
“WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH THE HOOD OPENED SUDDENLY RESULTING IN DAMAGE”
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
42 NHTSA complaints · 2000-08 → 2018-08
“THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V259001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING) BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED”
“THREE WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE MAF SENSOR CONNECTOR WIRING HARNESS RECALL PERFORMED THE VEHICLE STALLED”
“VEHICLE KEEPS HESITATING, THEN STALLS AT 5-25 MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 7 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM”
VISIBILITY
24 NHTSA complaints · 2001-10 → 2021-02
“THE REGULATORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN ALL 4 WINDOWS AND NEEDS REPLACED IN THREE WINDOWS NOW (ALL HAPPENED WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER). WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN NOR WILL THEY STAY UP”
“CONSUMER STATES THIS IS THE 5TH TIME THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED DO TO WINDOW NOT RAISING OR LOWERING”
“TWO POWER WINDOWS HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME, THE DRIVER'S WINDOW FELL WHILE DRIVING, STARTLING THE DRIVER, ALMOST CAUSING A REAR-END COLLISION”
AIR BAGS
28 NHTSA complaints · 2000-10 → 2015-06
“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY”
“THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS A FRONT END COLLISION”
“WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH, AND BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$195–$235
Shop
~$135–$165
DIY
~$20–$50
DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
240 crashes 1990–2024
How the 240 occupant deaths break down
176
driver deaths
63
passenger deaths
1
not recorded by seat
240
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 1999 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
37
complaints mentioning a crash
2
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2000 Hyundai Elantra reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.