Wiring problems of the 2001 Hyundai Elantra

The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. While driving various speeds at night, the headlights and all the warning indicators on the instrument panel intermittently illuminated. In addition, all four windows failed to function. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuse, wiring, and door switch failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

The contact owns a 2001 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the instrument panel indicators were constantly blinking. She was unable to drive the vehicle at night because the fog lights blink as well. The vehicle was taken to the dealer sixteen times and they stated that open wiring at the instrument panel wiring harness was the cause of the failure. The dealer performed a wiring repair in the instrument panel wiring harness, but the failure persists. A report was filed with the manufacturer and advised her to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The contact stated that she would take the vehicle to another dealer. The failure mileage was 55,456 and current mileage was 170,000.

1. Daughter driving car on highway when electrical components such as radio, door locks and interior lights stopped working and door chime rang continuously. On Jan 22, 2005 she started car, driver's side rear window went down by itself and electrical windows and other interior electrical components stopped working. An acrid burning smell then developed as well as wisps of smoke from the door and dash. 2. As a result, and due to safety concerns about possible fire and damage to vehicle, the car was undriveable and had to be towed to repair shop. Overriding concern was that possibility of fire and further damage existed. 3. Inspection and investigation by repair shop indicated that the main electrical harnesses running through both front doors were corroded, shorting out and one had evidence of scoring and melting. Further investigation revealed that the manufacturer, Hyundai, had a technical service bulletin, #03-90-009 (which superseded #01-90-004) that addressed the condition that water could get up into the area of the wiring harnesses and cause corrosion and shorts. Repair required replacement of four wiring harnesses, two on each side, and sealing the area in the car structure where the water could enter in the first place. Repair completed per the manufacturer's TSB. The old wiring harnesses were kept by owner.

Air bag warning light, on dashboard, continues to remain illuminated. The paramus Hyundai dealer has supposedly repaired this problem 4+ times. I was told that while this warning light is on, the airbags would not deploy in the event of an accident. Abl. Pco.

Airbag light keeps turning on. On March 4, 2004 my car was serviced by Hyundai for this problem. The service rep. Told me that the wires that run under the seat have a tendency to become disconnected. This past week, I moved the seat forward to vaccum the interior and the aribag light is back on. I moved the seat back and the light turns off. Also, the same issue seems to be causing an electrical short circuit in the radio's wiring as the radio no longer works. Abl. Pco.

Everytime vehicle has been started engine check light would come on and remain during duration of driving. Been in contact with dealership, and was informed a ground wire in chassis was causing the problem.