1998 Hyundai Elantra Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1998 Hyundai Elantra most often describe the engine stalling, cutting out or losing power, followed by transmission jerking, slipping or losing overdrive. Air bags that did not deploy in crashes, fuel spilling from the filler neck during refueling, and tire tread separation also come up repeatedly. Mileage is rarely recorded in these complaints; where it is given, it ranges from about 20,000 to 96,000 miles, and many engine and transmission reports describe intermittent problems that the dealer could not reproduce.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalls, cuts out, or loses power

   • 16 complaints (29%)
   • median 69,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2007

   Owners describe the engine stumbling, stalling or cutting out, sometimes while slowing for a stop and sometimes at speeds from low to highway. Several complaints mention the check-engine light coming on before or during an episode, and some say the engine recovers on its own after a moment. Some owners say the dealer replaced sensors or the engine computer, or found no fault, and the problem continued. Mileage is rarely recorded (about 65,000 miles where given), and episodes are described at low speeds approaching a stop, at 20 to 40 mph, and on the highway.

   What to check: Ask for repair records for any stalling or power-loss work, including whether sensors or the engine computer were replaced and whether the check-engine light has come on since. On a test drive, note how the engine behaves when slowing to a stop and at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10187849, filed 2007-04, 65,000 miles

   “I have taken my car back to the dealer 8 times. The engine cuts out at all rates of speed. Causing loss of power and power steering. The dealer replaced several parts but the car is still not working properly. When pumping gas, when the tank is full, the pump doesn't shut off. Gas then pours out of my car and down the side of the car. Hyundai has told me that they have a part that can fix it but they haven't made any attempt to fix it at this time.”

   NHTSA complaint #700210, filed 1998-10
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission jerks, slips, or loses overdrive

   • 12 complaints (22%)
   • median 72,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1999–2008

   Owners describe the automatic transmission jerking, shuddering or slipping out of drive, hesitating in traffic, or failing to re-engage overdrive, which leaves the engine at high revs. Some report repeated repairs, including replacements and rebuilds, and some say the dealer found no fault during testing. A shifter that can be moved out of position with little effort is also described. Where mileage is recorded it falls between about 62,000 and 96,000 miles, and some owners describe the jerking as sporadic and without warning, whether or not the check-engine light is on.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission fluid type used matches the owner's manual, since a service bulletin links other fluids to shift quality problems. Ask for records of any transmission rebuild or replacement, and on a test drive check for jerking, slipping, and whether the overdrive engages.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10010597, filed 2003-03, 73,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10135255, filed 2005-09, 96,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Air bags did not deploy in some crashes

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 2.8 yrs old
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2003

   Owners describe collisions, including frontal, rear-end and guardrail impacts, in which the air bags did not deploy. Some complaints describe the opposite, with air bags deploying without any impact or warning. Owners say they reported the problem to the dealer or manufacturer, and some note the dealer had not seen the vehicle. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, which describe collisions at a range of speeds, and some describe the air bags deploying with no impact.

   What to check: Ask the seller whether the air bag warning light has ever come on, and ask for any repair records for the air bag or crash sensors. A pre-purchase inspection can check the restraint system for stored fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving down highway traveling 75 MPH consumer, attempting to avoid hitting vehicle in front, applied brakes suddenly and vehicle swerved, hitting another vehicle in the other lane. Upon impact, neither airbag deployed. Contacted dealer and manufacturer.”

   NHTSA complaint #860101, filed 2000-04

   “Was traveling 35-40mph when another vehicle went through stop sign, and hit consumer's vehicle. Then, Elantra rear ended first vehicle. Upon impact, air bags failed to deploy. Driver hit the steering wheel. Driver received emergency treatment. Vehicle totaled.”

   NHTSA complaint #876175, filed 2000-12
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Fuel spills from filler neck during refueling

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2005

   Owners describe fuel spilling or pouring out of the filler inlet while the tank is being filled, sometimes running down the side of the car. In some complaints the pump shut-off did not stop the flow, and others say they could not fill the tank at all. The dealer or mechanics gave different explanations, and owners say repairs did not resolve it. Where mileage is recorded it is about 70,000 miles, and several complaints describe the spill happening repeatedly rather than once.

   What to check: During an inspection, try refueling to see whether fuel splashes back and whether the pump shut-off works normally. Ask whether any service bulletin covers the filler neck, since some complaints say the dealer had a bulletin on the subject.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10145112, filed 2005-12, 70,000 miles

   “Complained numerous times about engine lights coming on, engine almost stalled at various speeds. Brought to dealer and supposedly fixed. Still get slow downs in engine from time to time. Second big problem was not being able to fill gas tank. Has happened 3 times since I bought car. First time 02/99.”

   NHTSA complaint #736631, filed 2000-11
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Tire tread separation or blowout at speed

   Mentioned in 4 of 41 sampled complaints

   Owners describe tread separating or peeling from tires while driving, including at highway speed, and tires blowing out. In some reports the loose tread damaged the body or wiring, and loss of power was described. Some dealers declined warranty coverage, saying tire maintenance was the reason, and some complaints describe a claim being handled as property damage instead. Mileage is rarely recorded (about 95,000 miles where given), and the failures are described at highway speeds, around 63 to 70 mph in some reports.

   What to check: Check all tires for tread separation, bulges or uneven wear, and look at the date codes to judge each tire's age. Ask whether the tires are the original size and brand, and whether any were replaced under warranty or insurance, since some complaints describe disputes over tire coverage.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10127533, filed 2005-07, 95,000 miles

   “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. (ohio traffic police report)”

   NHTSA complaint #567283, filed 2002-09

Buying note. A buyer considering a 1998 Elantra may want a pre-purchase inspection that covers transmission shifting and overdrive, the engine during slow stops and highway driving, and the air bag system, along with any repair records for those areas. Asking whether the transmission fluid matches the owner's manual, and whether the filler neck and tires were ever repaired or replaced, can help clarify the history.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 41 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.