VehicleVerdict

1999 Hyundai Elantra transmission problems

The 1999 Hyundai Elantra has 45 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 25% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

45

Transmission complaints

25%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

99V178000TransmissionJuly 7, 1999 · 11,530 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE SEALS DO NOT REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY ELASTIC, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN REDUCED PRESSURE APPLICATION TO THE CLUTCHES, BRAKE, AND KICKDOWN SERVO, ALLOWING THEM TO SLIP.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE.

What owners report

I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. AFTER ABOUT 8 MONTHS THE CAR WOULD GET STUCK IN SECOND GEAR WHEN SLOW DOWN. THE CAR ALSO KICKS VERY HARD WHILE IT DOES THIS. ONE TIME I WAS ROUNDING A TURN AFTER IT RAINED AND AS I SLOWED DOWN AROUND THE CORNER THE CAR KICKED AND THE REAR END OF THE CAR SLID OUT INTO THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · July 15, 2004 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1999 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 45 complaints about the 1999 Hyundai Elantra transmission — 25% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1999 Hyundai Elantra transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 99V178000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.