Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Hyundai Elantra problems
Owners filed 56 complaints about the 1998 Hyundai Elantra with NHTSA between Sep 1998 and Oct 2008. The most-cited component is power train (13).
Complaints
56
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train13
- Engine and engine cooling13
- Air bags7
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Tires3
- Latches/locks/linkages3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Suspension3
- Visibility2
- Electrical system2
- Seat belts2
- Service brakes, air1
- Structure1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
18
13
5
4
6
0
4
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 18 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
13 reports
“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”
Engine and engine cooling
13 reports
“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.*AK”
Air bags
7 reports5 crashes
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 15-20 MPH IMPACT, AND BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK”
Fuel system, gasoline
4 reports
“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”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports1 crash
“CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED.TS *JB”
Tires
3 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.