1998 Hyundai Elantra Problems, Recalls & Reliability
75 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 4/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1998 Hyundai Elantra has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1998 sits among all Elantra years
What owners report
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra.
Technical service bulletins
51 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1998 Elantra TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1998 Hyundai Elantra reliable?
The 1998 Hyundai Elantra drew 75 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 4/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 1998 Hyundai Elantra problems?
The top reported problems for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra are engine (16 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (13), and other (10).
Does the 1998 Hyundai Elantra have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.