Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 55 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra, most frequently naming the transmission, engine and airbags categories. 51 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1998 | 2 | 2 |
| Oct 1998 | 2 | 4 |
| Jan 1999 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 6 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 7 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 8 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 9 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 11 |
| Jul 1999 | 2 | 13 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 14 |
| Oct 1999 | 5 | 19 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 20 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 21 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 22 |
| Mar 2000 | 3 | 25 |
| Apr 2000 | 2 | 27 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 28 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 29 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 30 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 31 |
| Nov 2000 | 2 | 33 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 34 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 35 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 36 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 37 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 38 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 39 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 40 |
| Jul 2002 | 2 | 42 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 43 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 44 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 45 |
| Jun 2003 | 2 | 47 |
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 49 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 50 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 51 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 52 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 53 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 54 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 55 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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 HAPPENED TO HER TWICE TO A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WHILE SHE WAS HAVING THE TRANSMISSION ON HER ELANTRA CHECKED OUT. I THINK THIS PROBLEM RESULTS FROM THERE BEING NO LOCK ON THE SHIFTER BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND DRIVE. IT TAKES VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO POP THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL (LIKE A COAT SLEEVE) AND I THINK I TOUCHED IT WHILE REACHING FOR MY RADIO.THIS SENT THE ENGINE INTO VERY HIGH REVS WHICH CAUSED THE VACUUM SYSTEM TO FAIL AND THEN CAUSED THE POWER BRAKES TO FALL TO THE FLOOR. *AK
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 SPEEDS AND HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. I HAVE PARKED THE VEHICLE AS IT FRIGHTENS ME TO DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MPH. I USE MY VEHICLE FREQUENTLY FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AND HAVE BEEN RENTING A VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS NOT AS UNCOMMON AS IT APPEARS TO BE. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON HYUNDAI (ACCENT)AND ELANTRAS WHERE THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS THE SAME. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER OF THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, BUT ALSO TO ANYONE WHO MAY BE FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND. I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS DURING THE DOWNSHIFT, BUT LUCKILY NO ACCIDENTS. I HAVE READ ARTICLES WHERE THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AS MANY AS FOUR TIMES IN ONE YEAR AND STILL THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. AS YOU KNOW, TRUST WORTHY AUTO MECHANICS ARE A RARE BREED, AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO GO THROUGH NUMEROUS PARTS REPLACEMENTS WHILE THEY TRY TO DETERMINE THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. ANY INFORMATION AVAILABLE SEEMS TO COST AT LEAST $24.95 TO OBTAIN AND I STILL DON'T KNOW IF I AM GETTING THE INFORMATION I NEED. I KNOW THAT HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HIDE THE DETAILS FROM CONSUMERS. THE LAST TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE, I ARRIVED HOME IN TEARS, SHAKING FROM HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL SO TIGHTLY IN CASE IT DECIDED TO JERK TO A STOP. PLEASE HELP. *JB
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 CONSUMER'S CHILD. ON THE EIGHTH TIRE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE HAD TO SEND THE TIRE AND ALL CLAIM INFORMATION TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE, TO BE TREATED AS A PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM. FIRESTONE, SUPREME SI, P185/ 65 R14 855 M+S. CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT THE LEGAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE INTERVENED AND TOOK OVER THE CLAIM FROM CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE OF THE CHILD INJURY , AND REJECTED THE CLAIM , STATING THEY NOT RESPONSIBLE. THEY TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE TIRE MUST HAVE BEEN UNDER INFLATED, AND IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SERVICING OF THE TIRES, AND THAT TIRES PLUS WAS RESPONSIBLE. THE EIGHTH TIRE WAS REPAIRED BEFORE THIS INCIDENT BY A MANUFACTURER'S REPAIR AT TIRES PLUS. PREVIOUS PROBLEMS FOUND WITH FIRESTONE TIRES HAD CONSUMER FILE COMPLIANT 6365296 WITH THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. *AK
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, I CAN'T EXIT VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS FREEZE. I FEAR AN ACCIDENT MIGHT TRAP ME IN MY CAR. *JB
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 NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. WE HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE INTERIOR DOOR LATCHES ONCE AND NEED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED AGAIN NOW.*AK
CONSUMER STATED REAR VIEW MIRROR POPPED OUT, HITTING THE CONSUMER, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
TIRES
Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard.
POWER TRAIN
Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleâÂÂs ownerâÂÂs manual. ï· Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. ï· Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced durability. Hyundai does not approve the use of any aftermarket ATF or gear oil additives.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT
This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to determine next required steps.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; SERVICE BRAKES
This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 53.0 |
| 2024 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 51.0 |
| 2023 | 92 | 2 | 0 | 55.1 |
| 2022 | 97 | 5 | 1 | 59.8 |
| 2021 | 129 | 6 | 2 | 62.9 |
| 2020 | 242 | 3 | 0 | 60.4 |
| 2019 | 246 | 1 | 0 | 49.9 |
| 2018 | 280 | 0 | 0 | 45.4 |
| 2017 | 762 | 4 | 1 | 58.6 |
| 2016 | 290 | 2 | 1 | 61.8 |
| 2015 | 260 | 3 | 2 | 63.3 |
| 2014 | 381 | 2 | 2 | 60.5 |
| 2013 | 1,310 | 4 | 4 | 63.1 |
| 2012 | 651 | 4 | 4 | 62.5 |
| 2011 | 432 | 5 | 3 | 58.2 |
| 2010 | 379 | 3 | 1 | 61.9 |
| 2009 | 250 | 4 | 1 | 64.6 |
| 2008 | 314 | 7 | 2 | 64.9 |
| 2007 | 266 | 6 | 3 | 63.2 |
| 2006 | 155 | 1 | 0 | 46.1 |
| 2005 | 137 | 4 | 0 | 59.8 |
| 2004 | 182 | 5 | 1 | 60.7 |
| 2003 | 234 | 5 | 2 | 62.5 |
| 2002 | 342 | 6 | 3 | 64.6 |
| 2001 | 315 | 6 | 3 | 67.3 |
| 2000 | 197 | 1 | 0 | 47.4 |
| 1999 | 128 | 2 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 1998Viewing | 55 | 0 | 0 | 40.9 |
| 1997 | 115 | 3 | 1 | 58.8 |
| 1996 | 100 | 3 | 2 | 59.3 |
| 1995 | 112 | 1 | 2 | 56.6 |
| 1994 | 76 | 2 | 2 | 64.1 |
| 1993 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 44.0 |
| 1992 | 29 | 0 | 2 | 46.4 |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.