HyundaiElantra1995Overview/hyundai/elantra/1995/base/

1995 Hyundai Elantra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1995 Hyundai Elantra is a compact passenger car that carries a modest 4.2‑quart oil capacity and accepts a range of viscosities—including 20W‑40, 20W‑50 and 10W‑30—reflecting its straightforward engine design. Across the model’s 1992‑2026 run, this year logged 151 owner complaints, with air‑bag issues emerging as the most frequent concern and only a single recall recorded, positioning it well below the program’s 2013 peak of 1,325 complaints and far above the 2025 low of 21. Consequently, the 1995 iteration sits in a relatively stable portion of the Elantra’s reliability timeline, suggesting a generally dependable foundation for researchers examining early‑generation durability.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920181995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 25 U.S. · 435 U.S. CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 25 U.S. · 435 U.S. CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP175-70HR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.8 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height54.7 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight2474 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 55.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.0–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.00 sec — 2002 GT 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2000GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.60 sec140 hpFWD
2001GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.40 sec16.50 sec140 hpFWD
2002GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-48.00 sec16.30 sec135 hpFWD
2002GLS Sedan 2.0L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec138 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Engine OilABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs15-20 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs10-11 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings24-26 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings37-39 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Steps2
Engine Flywheel Bolts89-96 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts88-95 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18-22 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-21.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-21.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing9, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.45-1.50 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.75-5.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number25 U.S.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance435 U.S. cca
Optional BCI Group Number24 Canada or Optional

Service checks

Pressure Test10.7-14.9 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief10.7-14.9 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Engine Oil Pressure11 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Torque to Knuckle16-23 ft-lbs / 44-63 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC
Rotor Runout Limit0.0039 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.472 in / 0.866 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M10 bolts

122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
260 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees; M12 bolts60 degrees
126 ft. lbs.26 ft. lbs
260 degrees60 degrees
360 degrees60 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
135 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60-6535 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Rack & Pinion Assembly (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Elantra closed out its generation with a sharp escalation in owner complaints, reaching 151—nearly four times the 38 recorded for the 1992 model and a 56% increase over 1994. While recalls remained steady at one, matching the prior year, the complaint volume far outpaced earlier years, with air bag issues (35 complaints) and 29 crash-related reports standing out. This upward trend within the generation suggests unresolved problems accumulating as the design aged, and the subsequent 1996 redesign brought a higher recall count (3) despite a temporary dip in complaints. The data does not specify root causes, but the 1995 model’s peak complaint rate and its position at the end of a generation with rising owner dissatisfaction imply it carries more risk than earlier years. Based on the federal record, the 1995 Elantra is a less reliable choice within its generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
13
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
151
Owner complaints
29 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 151 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags35
Engine & Engine Cooling16
Power Train15
Electrical System14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic13
Visibility8
Suspension7
Seat Belts7

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V101000Air Bags:FrontalReported 24/05/1995

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED AND COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE FROM INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO DETERMINE IF IT CONTAINS A TERMINAL HOLDER. IF IT DOES NOT, ONE WILL BE INSTALLED.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-BD-002H2023-01-30VisibilityThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
21-EM-003H2021-03-10Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain…
20-BR-002H2020-11-30Service BrakesThis bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear…
20-SS-004H2020-11-19WheelsThis bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize…
20-EE-003H2020-04-23EquipmentThis bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: •…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SM, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.