1998 Hyundai Elantra

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

75/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Hyundai Elantra, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	12	20%
Engine and engine cooling	6	10%
Air bags	6	10%
Engine and engine cooling	5	8%
Latches/locks/linkages	3	5%
Fuel system	2	3%
Tires	2	3%
Visibility	2	3%
Service brakes	2	3%
Unknown or other	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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
NHTSA complaint: Power train

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 WHA
NHTSA complaint: Power train

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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

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 STO
NHTSA complaint: Power train

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 TIR
NHTSA complaint: Tires

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
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

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 DOO
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER STATED REAR VIEW MIRROR POPPED OUT, HITTING THE CONSUMER, AND CAUSING A COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	76	good
Performance	43	below average
Efficiency	45	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 43% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 63% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 73% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 78% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1998 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 87: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1998 Hyundai Elantra?

Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 12 of them (20%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1998 Hyundai Elantra reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1998 Hyundai Elantra last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1998 Hyundai Elantra?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.