1998 Model Year

Hyundai Elantra

NHTSA Complaints & Reliability Data

Compare
Complaints
56
Recalls
0
Crashes
9
Severe
13

Recent Complaints

Latest owner reports

Power Train
Oct 2008

CAR DOWNSHIFTS END ENGINE REVS. IF PUT INTO REVERSE, FORWARD TRANSMISSION CAN THEN USUALLY BE SELECTED. CAN PUT FOOT ON GAS AND ENGINE/TRANSMISSION W...

Power Train
Apr 2007

AFTER ENTERING A HIGHWAY MY ELANTRA CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY FROM 65 MPH AND THE ENGINE DIED. I LATER HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES A...

Fuel System
Dec 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD PROBLEMS FILLING THE GAS TANK. WHEN HE TRIED TO FILL THE GAS TANK THE GAS IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SPILL OUT. THE VE...

Latches/Locks
Jul 2005

DOOR LATCH INSIDE HAS BROKEN SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE TO ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN TO EXIT CAR. I HAVE HAD THE HANDLE REPLACE 5 TIMES. WHEN WEATHER IS COLD,...

Tires
May 2005

DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED TWO SETS OF FIRESTONE SUPREME TIRES FOR TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES. ALL EIGHT TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION, EACH OCCURRED AT DIFFE...

Power Train
Mar 2005

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1998 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS SPORADIC AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISS...

Visibility Crash
Nov 2003

CONSUMER STATED REAR VIEW MIRROR POPPED OUT, HITTING THE CONSUMER, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Latches/Locks
Aug 2003

THE INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES ARE OF POOR CONSTRUCTION AND BREAK EASILY AND INHIBIT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT N...

Power Train
Jun 2003

TRANSMISSION DIED AT 74,000 MILES. NO REVERSE, SLIPS OUT OF FIRST. 8JB

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR Crash
Jun 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE APPLING BRAKES VEHICLE KEEP MOVING FOWARD AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. P...

VS

Vehicle Safety Research Team

Automotive Data Analysts

Independent researchers analyzing NHTSA data to help consumers make informed vehicle decisions.

Data updated: March 4, 2026

Summary

The 1998 Hyundai Elantra has 56 complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most commonly reported issue is Power Train. 9 crash-related incidents have been reported.

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