1998 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Elantra years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 29th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Hyundai Elantra. That ranks 29th out of 32 Elantra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (13 complaints, 24%), typically at around 72,500 miles. Complaints mention 9 crashes, 6 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 55owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 9complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 Hyundai Elantra problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 13 | 24% | 72,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 12 | 22% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 7 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 7% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 5% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 5% | 95,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Hyundai Elantra recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Car downshifts end engine revs. If put into reverse, forward transmission can then usually be selected. Can put foot on gas and engine/transmission will "idle/rev". *tr
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 and wheel bearings on the side i swerved into and i'm sure that is what caused the problem. I heard a woman complain about this same situation that…
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 vehicle was taken to various mechanics, each mechanic gave a different reason for the problem. No solution has been successful in correcting the defect.*ak
I recently purchased a 1998 hyundai elantra. The problem i have is sporadic and without warning. The vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission. At any given time the vehicle will jerk to almost a complete stop as if someone has pulled the emergency brake on. This will happen at various…
Dt: consumer purchased two sets of firestone supreme tires for two different vehicles. All eight tires had tread separation, each occurred at different times. Dealer only honored the warranty for the first seven tires. The last tread separation caused the vehicle to be totaled, causing injury to…
Other Hyundai Elantra years
← 1997 Elantra · 1999 Elantra →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Elantra | 2 | 1 |
| 2025 Elantra | 22 | 0 |
| 2024 Elantra | 54 | 1 |
| 2023 Elantra | 99 | 2 |
| 2022 Elantra | 102 | 5 |
| 2021 Elantra | 132 | 6 |
| 2020 Elantra | 254 | 3 |
| 2019 Elantra | 251 | 1 |
| 2018 Elantra | 283 | 0 |
| 2017 Elantra | 768 | 4 |
| 2016 Elantra | 293 | 2 |
| 2015 Elantra | 262 | 3 |
| 2014 Elantra | 386 | 2 |
| 2013 Elantra | 1,314 | 4 |
| 2012 Elantra | 653 | 4 |
| 2011 Elantra | 433 | 5 |
| 2010 Elantra | 380 | 3 |
| 2009 Elantra | 254 | 4 |
| 2008 Elantra | 314 | 7 |
| 2007 Elantra | 267 | 6 |
| 2006 Elantra | 155 | 1 |
| 2005 Elantra | 137 | 4 |
| 2004 Elantra | 182 | 5 |
| 2003 Elantra | 234 | 5 |
| 2002 Elantra | 342 | 6 |
| 2001 Elantra | 315 | 6 |
| 2000 Elantra | 197 | 1 |
| 1999 Elantra | 128 | 2 |
| 1998 | 55 | 0 |
| 1997 Elantra | 115 | 3 |
| 1996 Elantra | 100 | 3 |
| 1995 Elantra | 112 | 1 |
See all Hyundai Elantra problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
Embed this 1998 Hyundai Elantra badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Hyundai Elantra?
Owners most often report power train, engine and engine cooling, air bags problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Hyundai Elantra?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 Hyundai Elantra a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Elantra model years, the 1998 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.