RecallMyCar

1998 Hyundai Elantra Recalls, Complaints & Specs

No safety recalls list the 1998 Hyundai Elantra, and owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

0
safety recalls
55
owner complaints to NHTSA
9 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire
22–24
MPG combined (EPA)

No safety recalls on record

NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1998 Hyundai Elantra. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.

55 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Hyundai Elantra have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,667 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 17 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 13, 2008 · 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'”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 14, 2007 · Power train

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Hyundai Elantra (Elantra Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined22–24 mpg
City / Highway19–21 / 27–29
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars, Small Station Wagons
Engine4 cyl, 1.8 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Hyundai Elantra model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Hyundai Elantra model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1992 Hyundai Elantra029
1993 Hyundai Elantra024
1994 Hyundai Elantra276
1995 Hyundai Elantra1112
1996 Hyundai Elantra3100
1997 Hyundai Elantra3115
1998 Hyundai Elantra055
1999 Hyundai Elantra2128
2000 Hyundai Elantra1197
2001 Hyundai Elantra6315
2002 Hyundai Elantra6342
2003 Hyundai Elantra5234
2004 Hyundai Elantra5182
2005 Hyundai Elantra4137
2006 Hyundai Elantra1155
2007 Hyundai Elantra6267
2008 Hyundai Elantra7314
2009 Hyundai Elantra4254
2010 Hyundai Elantra3379
2011 Hyundai Elantra5433
2012 Hyundai Elantra4653
2013 Hyundai Elantra41,314
2014 Hyundai Elantra2384
2015 Hyundai Elantra3262
2016 Hyundai Elantra2293
2017 Hyundai Elantra4767
2018 Hyundai Elantra0283
2019 Hyundai Elantra1251
2020 Hyundai Elantra3252
2021 Hyundai Elantra6131
2022 Hyundai Elantra5101
2023 Hyundai Elantra298
2024 Hyundai Elantra154
2025 Hyundai Elantra022
2026 Hyundai Elantra12

Checking a specific 1998 Hyundai Elantra

How do I know if my 1998 Hyundai Elantra has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Hyundai dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Hyundai models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.