Complaints
75
Crashes
10
Fires
0
Injuries
6
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Hyundai Elantra Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
#210 complaints
Automatic Transmission
Avg mileage:75,400 mi
#36 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:5
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 10 | — | — | 75,400 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 | 5 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Controls | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,400
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Controls
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Hyundai Elantra Years
1998 Hyundai Elantra — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1998 Hyundai Elantra has 75 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Hyundai Elantra?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (14 complaints); Automatic Transmission (10 complaints, avg 75,400 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (6 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Hyundai Elantra?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 75,400 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Hyundai Elantra?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra include 10 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 6 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Hyundai Elantra have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Hyundai Elantra?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Hyundai Elantra reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Hyundai Elantra
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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