1998 Hyundai ELANTRA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
72,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 34 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 23.5% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 17.6% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 17.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 25 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2000: 13; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 6; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002067 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010597 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021019 · 2003-06-04 (June 4, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN 1998 HYUNDAI ELANTRA FAILED AT 72,000 MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023235 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)
TRANSMISSION DIED AT 74,000 MILES. NO REVERSE, SLIPS OUT OF FIRST. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033606 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED REAR VIEW MIRROR POPPED OUT, HITTING THE CONSUMER, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036956 · 2003-08-31 (August 31, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109981 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127533 · 2005-07-05 (July 5, 2005)
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 WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127533 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.