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1998 Hyundai Elantra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra are lower than the model-year median of 182.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 55 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

55 reports
73,000 miles · Mar 17, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AFTER 77,000.00. THE CAR HESITATES OR GETS STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT HAD A 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. IT TURNED OUT IT ONLY HAD A FIVE…

Read full complaint

TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AFTER 77,000.00. THE CAR HESITATES OR GETS STUCK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHICH POSES A SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT IT HAD A 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. IT TURNED OUT IT ONLY HAD A FIVE YEAR 60,000.00 MILE WARRANTY. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010597

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2003
Service Brakes, AirCrash

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

NHTSA ODI #10002067

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
Tires

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 63 MPH WHEN THE RUBBER STARTED PEELING AWAY FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT, THE RUBBER PEELED AWAY AND CAUSED SOME DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER AND SIDE MOLDING ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *SCC (OHIO TRAFFIC POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ODI #567283

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED.TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #8014950

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #8014941

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2002
Latches/locks/linkages

DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO OPEN VEHICLE FROM OUTSIDE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8008173

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Power Train

OVERDRIVE WAS COMPLETELY GONE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT FOUR TIMES, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #896092

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLED 7 TIMES AT 20 - 40 MPH. NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET. FELT LIKE BRAKES WERE APPLIED VERY HARD WHEN VEHICLE STALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #893275

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2001
Air BagsCrash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 15-20 MPH IMPACT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #889087

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2001
Structure

DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE. DRIVER HAD TO ROLL WINDOWN DOWN TO EXIT VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882507

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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