2002 Hyundai Elantra Consumer Reviews

Loving my Elantra

Written by: LAL on 06/14/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This car has been awesome!. I got this used with 8k miles for less than $10K and now it has almost 100k miles. Never had a mechanical problem. Performance and pickup is the best in his class. I love the handling, the exterior design and interior space. Could have more interior features. I went to the dealer this weekend to have a full checkup (just in case I want to sell it) and they found nothing at all. So I'm thinking on keeping it for another 3 or 4 years, it depreciates too much (because the brand and not the quality), now is worth around 3K.

Favorite Features

Performance. Gas mileage for 2.0. ABS in 4 tires. Good trunk for the size. Interior space is well distributed. Nice exterior design. Good handling and stability in highways. Great sound (4 speakers and 2 twitters) Awesome response in stoplights. No parts replacement in 6 years and 98000 miles

Suggested Improvements

OEM headlights are poor quality. After 6 months I bought aftermarker (xtralights) and I still keep those. Better paint job. 2 front seats could be more comfortable. Wind noise when you are over 90mph. Better breaks system. Headlamps design could be better. Feel like it needs sixth gear after 100 Mph

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OK value and practical car

Written by: Doug on 05/07/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GT 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Pros: easy on the eye; very roomy interior for smallish car with nice leather; nice suspension that handles bumps very well, gives impression of heavier and higher end car. Cons: Engine runs very hot, maybe inefficient design since gas mileage below average; sheet metal very soft (thin gauge?) and prone to dings and dents; very uncomfortable front seats for interstate driving; headlights burn out too often; sun roof causes annoying hums and air pressure waves when used. I would not recommend this car although it is average and of OK value for its price. My advice if you buy one is stay well clear of Hyundai dealer who scam you by calling every 3,ooo miles a "service" at $100+

Favorite Features

No question my favorite feature is the roomy interior. The drive quality is very good, and this car truly feels like a heavier car than it is. Doors shut solidly so that fit and finish feel like quality.

Suggested Improvements

Modern cars need an oil change every 3- 5000 miles for the first 30K miles; that's it. Avoid Hyundai's attempt to get service every 3K at $100-300+ per visit. Go for 2nd opinion and you will find 90% of service is unnecessary; actually that's a good idea for any repair you are unsure about!

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Nice Reliable Car

Written by: Yogesh Dhingra on 04/08/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I have owned this car for 2 years now, Bought at 74K miles, currently has 112K Miles on it.2 Repairs apart from regular oil changes 1. O2 Sensor(which is not abnormal) 2. Throttle positioning switch. Through it has performed extremely well , Gives a decent 30-32 MPG.

Favorite Features

Nothing extraordinary still Gas mileage, Dependability, Very Few Mechanical Problems

Suggested Improvements

More light in the cabin in the backseat Plus I have to replace headlight every 7-8 Months or so.Wind noise on Freeway Speeds.

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Stop Thinking about buying this car !!!

Written by: josh on 02/17/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I have been in 3 Major accidents in my 2002 elantra gls the first 2 did nearly $10,000 in damage the third was a total loss where I only received $3,500 for my car from Allstate. This car does not have anti lock breaks (abs) and it has poor traction control. In all 3 accidents none of my airbags deployed. My insurance sky rocketed. After the second accident I never felt safe again. The feeling of sliding and then slamming into something is something I will never forget. Save your self and other people from elantras and avoid them like the plague.

Favorite Features

Comfortable seats make the slide and slam show all the better.

Suggested Improvements

Massive revision of the elantra line

0 out 7 people found this review helpful

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I love my Hyundai!

Written by: Jake on 02/07/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GT 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought this car brand new and have driven 122,000 miles with NO major problems. The suspension, exhaust, and air conditioning are all holding up well and have never been serviced! The ONLY thing I think Hyundai could have done better is increase the time between replacements of the timing belt which is set for every 60k miles. Dealerships want to charge over $1100 for the service, but I can get it done at Midas for $450 - it's a pain because they usually want the car for the entire day. Even with that, the maintenance costs have been super low and all I do is regular oil changes. I hope to keep this car for another 80k at least!

Favorite Features

All the standard equipment with the GT.

Suggested Improvements

Increase the time between timing belt changes. 60k miles is too often!

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Unsatisfied

Written by: Unsatisfied on 01/07/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GT 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I keep up with my cars maintenance as I should yet I have had multiple problems and my car is only at 60,000 miles. At 30 my power steering pump blew. At 40 my driver door sensor broke. At 50 my radiator and my thermostat blew literally. Despite the readings of my coolant level. It was perfect and all of a sudden smoke was coming from my hood. I do admit that the handling is good yet I had a Toyota and didn't have my first problem until I was at 120,000. Plus the problems I have had are pretty irregular, my mechanics at the dealership even were to admit. Plus Hyundai put a lock on the oil filter so that only they are able to change your oil filter. They say its to protect me but we know why.

Favorite Features

None. Another problem is that if the road is bumpy no matter how careful I drive the cd player will start switching between radio and cd player of turns off and on and there doesn't need to be any cd in the cd player. That has been a problem since I have had the vehicle.

Suggested Improvements

Hyundai needs to use higher quality products in their vehicles to prevent these problems. If they did just that I would not see any problems. Plus I cannot find any chiltons manual or any manual for my car. I would have to go into the dealership and pay $80!

1 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Best car ever

Written by: Angry Bald Man on 01/06/2009

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GT 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Bought this as my first brand new vehicle, had plenty of used ones. This car was the bargain of the century. I got the loaded GT hatch in black and the ONLY complaint I have is that the paint wasn't the absolute best, but I never has any rust or paint loss. With plenty of pep I could pass at 60MPH with the AC on no problem. Tons and Tons of cargo space with the seats folded flat. I drove this car freaking everywhere in every climate at every altitude this country has to offer and had zero problems with performance or build quality. Anyone complaining about this vehicle either bought it used from someone who didn't care for it, or bought it high mileage. BEST.CAR.EVER.

Favorite Features

Leather everywhere. Alloy wheels. Cargo and passenger space. A/C, engine, suspension tuning. Had 107k with only ONE issue (thermostat failed). This car was rock freaking solid.

Suggested Improvements

AM reception sucks, but that's nit picking. Oh, and please add a feature that prevents jerks from totaling my car on a bridge so that I still have it...please? LOVE this car.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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198,000 km and still rolling

Written by: Nick on 12/29/2008

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought this car 4 months ago had to change the radiator, the battery and the head light now have to change the exhaust, the alternator and the spark plugs despite of this... Man I love my car! Nice plastic wood finish, engine not hard on oil and engine very peppy for a 2.0l 4 cyl. Only paid 1500$ and I knew I had to put money in it but I didn't mind cause Hyundai is a very reliable brand and that my car will last for another 198,00 km ; )

Favorite Features

great sound system

Suggested Improvements

cruise control ( put it somewhere else lol) seats uncomfortable on long distance, head lights

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Few Repairs until Engine Failure 150k

Written by: PG on 11/16/2008

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Bought new in 2002. It had only two very minor repairs during the 150,000 miles I had the car 1)coolant thermostat (replaced myself for $30. 2)Headlight bulbs - replaced nearly 3 times...not very expensive but a little inconvenient. The car was extremely dependable on a daily basis and very fuel efficient. However, at 150k miles, the thrust bearing went out in the engine, meaning I needed a new engine. The replacement cost would have been about what the car was worth..$3000. I would highly recommend the car but would suggest calling a dealer first to see if the 02 models are known for this particular engine problem.

Favorite Features

Gas mileage, Dependability, Very Few Mechanical Problems

Suggested Improvements

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Never buy someone elses problems

Written by: gshokesr on 11/02/2008

Vehicle

2002 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Bought this car used when it had 66,532 miles on it. It now has 69,880 miles on it I cannot drive it due to a cracked high pressure power steering hose that can only be purchashed as a dealer part. Cost of hose is excessive (I priced them so far at 189.00 to 205.00 dollars) while at the mechanics that the car dealership I purchased the car at told me to take it they found 5 other things wrong with the evap system when they did a computer diagnostic (the check engine light came on just before the power steering hose blew) just 3 weeks before these problems occured I had to replace both headlamp bulbs just 3 days apart at a cost of $36.89. Overall I am very unhappy with this car so far.

Favorite Features

None.

Suggested Improvements

The c.d. player even stopped working.The paint is cheap and the headlight lenses are foggy.The molding around the doors is also coming loose.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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