VehicleVerdict

2003 Hyundai Elantra brakes problems

The 2003 Hyundai Elantra has 28 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 9% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

28

Brakes complaints

9%

Share of year

9

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Elantra brakes complaints by model year282 complaints1992: 3 complaints1993: 7 complaints1994: 6 complaints1995: 16 complaints1996: 6 complaints1997: 15 complaints1998: 5 complaints1999: 14 complaints2000: 11 complaints2001: 30 complaints2002: 36 complaints2003: 28 complaints2004: 9 complaints2005: 11 complaints2006: 32 complaints2007: 39 complaints2008: 53 complaints2009: 25 complaints2010: 38 complaints2011: 45 complaints2012: 98 complaints2013: 282 complaints2014: 86 complaints2015: 55 complaints2016: 15 complaints2017: 47 complaints2018: 15 complaints2019: 6 complaints2020: 14 complaints2021: 8 complaints2022: 6 complaints2023: 8 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 2 complaints
Elantra brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V496000BrakesDecember 3, 2003 · 1,993 units

Defect

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

Consequence

CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR BRAKE TUBES AND THE STEERING GEARBOX MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY RESULT IN REAR BRAKE TUBE WEAR AND CORROSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE REAR BRAKE TUBES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-633-5151.

03V257000BrakesJuly 22, 2003 · 312,292 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

FLUID LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE REAR BRAKE TUBES SO THEY DO NOT CONTACT THE MOUNTING BRACKETS, INSTALL BRAKE TUBE CLIPS TO CONTROL THE LOCATION OF THE REAR BRAKE TUBES, AND APPLY ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL TO THE TUBES IN THE AREAS WHERE CONTACT WITH THE MOUNTING BRACKETS MAY HAVE OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE CONSUMER SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THEY FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A REAR END COLLISION. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE BRAKE SQUEAKED. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT HER DAMAGED VEHICLE. *CB *JB”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · crash

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 2003 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 28 complaints about the 2003 Hyundai Elantra brakes — 9% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Hyundai Elantra brakes?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the brakes: 03V257000, 03V496000.

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.