Used 1998 Hyundai Elantra Consumer Reviews
Used Elantra for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1998 Elantra, so we've included reviews for other years of the Elantra since its last redesign.
I will never purchase another Hyundai!
UNHAPPY, 09/01/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I would not recommend this car to even my worst enemy. The transmission has failed twice. All of the paint (original paint) is chipping off. It makes horrible banging noises when turning and no mechanic (not even Hyundai dealer mechanics)can figure out why. The steering column shakes (another "feature" thank no one can seem to fix). We have done all we can to no avail. I will never EVER buy another.
Very reliable
supgamer, 07/16/2012
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Wagon
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought this Elantra with 76,000 mi. , now I have 172,000 mi. on it. I don't know if the first owner did all the fixing, but this car has been very reliable to me. I use this car for long distance deliveries (courier), therefore, most of the mileage have been highway. Besides regular maintenance (tires, fluids, brakes, tune up, etc), I had to change the crank shaft position sensor, slave cilinder, clutch, the AC fun that was out of balance and making noise, driver's inside door handle (switched with the same side back door, fits perfectly), did change the timming belt and water and that's it. My only complaint are the air vents that are very delicate (all broken). Love this car!!!
Best car I've ever had
elalove, 04/14/2012
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
I've owned my 1997 hyundai for 5 years-- I bought it with 116, 000kms on it and it's at 270, 000 kms right now I originally paid 2500$ for it. This car is manual and I replaced the clutch in the first year because I was a new driver and I burnt it out and it only cost me 600$. In the winter I get through heavy snow that trucks can't even get through. Everyone who calls this car the little tug that could or a trooper is RIGHT! This is the most reliable, sweetest little car of all time. I'm SO SO SO depressed that my baby is at the end of it's life. in 5 years I've had ZERO engine repairs (it's a 15 year old car). I adore this thing!
Great Little Car
Richard135, 07/27/2008
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought the car off of Ebay, (after examining it), and did some repairs as expected. This car is a trooper. It has never failed me and even when it needed something replaced, it STILL got me where I needed to go. When I bought it the windows were darkly tinted and believe that has saves the interior, which is in real good shape as well. I did get the 5-speed, as I love manual transmissions, even in the city. I get an average of 33 mpg to which I am thrilled with. This includes using the a/c half of the time.
Almost my last
CloseCall, 02/12/2010
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car pretty much drove me from high school through the Navy and nearly 6 years of DC area drivers. Its made long trips from Virginia to Texas and back. It spent good stretches just sitting parked for months at a time and nearly daily trips verging on 70 miles both ways. At 130,000 miles I had to finally get the transmission replaced after having let it sit nearly a year without getting the oil changed. I would still be driving it today if that where possible, but alas snow/ice/and a plow truck combined to take it away from me in rough wreck. It was good. not always comfortable or good looking but it served well.
fun little car
mike, 09/14/2005
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car with the idea of getting a couple of years work out of it. I've now owned it 4 1/2 years and 140,000 miles later i plan to keep it until it breathes it's last breath. The car had 20k on it when I bought it. I took it down and had all engine/trans fluids changed to Mobil 1. A great ride, precise handling and enough power to make this car a joy to own. I am teaching my daughter to drive and now she wants one like mine. I think I'll buy her a 2000 Elantra so I will have the warranty. The only problem I've had is a switch in the auto tranny. After that was fixed , no problems. I average 33 mpg hiway and 28 city.
Good all around car
Nathan Toke, 06/12/2007
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this as my first car in graduate school and it has served me well for three years and 20k miles. It has been reliable and easy to drive. The interior is really crappy as was the case with 1990's hyundais... many plastic parts are wearing down on the interior. The window motors start to die at 80k. Some of this could be enhanced because of sitting so long in the desert (phoenix) sun. The outside of the car is nice (although the paint has worn on the grill and the hub caps look pretty poor these days. The visibility in this car is supreme! which makes this car fun and easy to drive. It is better to drive on the highway at speeds between 60-75(33mpg) than the city (21mpg).
good litte cheapie
den, 04/18/2008
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought from an older gentleman 6 yrs ago some just general maint. Both my power Windows had to be fixed the car now has 61k and still works good don't know how long I will keep it the trade value is poor to say the least so as long as I can I will keep it.
Still going
supgamer, 01/04/2014
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Wagon
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car about 6 years ago for $1600 with 76,000 mi, now I have over 213,000 on it and still going like a charm, everything is working properly. Some of the things I had to repair were: 1 clutch, 2 oxygen sensors, 1 crankshaft position sensor, radiator, 1 air blower, driver's side interior door handle ( used the one from the back door as still opens the door with minor difficulty), 3 out of 4 vent louvers, (can't remember anything else), and the usual things: 1 timing belt, 2 batteries, 1 tune up stuff, oil, 2 sets of tires, brakes, bulbs, etc.
Fun Car/Reliable
vinney, 12/18/2002
1998 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new in 1998 and my wife loves it. She would rather keep it than give it up. This car has the 5 speed that gives it some extra pep. I enjoy driving it so I can race some of the teenagers that think there civics are fast. I usually blow there doors off and I have nothing but stock.. The only issue that I had was regular maintanance. Battery, brakes, wipers and tires.
Been a great car
Bingo, 11/14/2005
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
So pleasantly surprised by this car since we bought it for a runaround localy. Has been just great and has done several 3-5 hour trips one way. Overall, can't beat the value and fun to drive experience of this car. (42mpg on turnpike speeds!!!) Would advise anyone to pick one of these up for everyday transportation.
This car sucks...I'd rather have a Geo
Sweetlou014, 08/08/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the worst car I have ever driven. I bought the car with 80,000 miles on it and since then have had nothing but trouble with it. The oxygen sensors went, and they are the most expensive I have ever seen. Diagnostic tests say that the oxygen sensor was the only thing wrong, but the car runs terrible. It skips in gears, revs incredibly high when idling sometimes. Overall, the only good thing I can say about this car is... umm... well... wait... nope, there's nothing good! K I'm done.
Gets me there
Runabout, 10/03/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has transported me to and fro and never broken down on me. Its got responsive trans (manual) goes pretty fast and gets good mileage. Too bad it depreciates quickly. Only problems were with a recall for fuel tank vacuum pressure that took the dealer a while to diagnose/fix properly.
Strong little car
Slick, 10/23/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car after I crashed my previous car as a quick fix,The price was right and I figured it was a nice enough looking car. After a few days of driving it, I must say its a very nice car. I look alot better in this than I did in my old car. It gets good milage and has enough power to get and go if you need it.
best of the best
KENJI, 10/25/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
best of the best
first owner
vivand, 01/01/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has been a good reliable car so far....definitely under valued in the market simply because it is new...
Little Tug That Could
Kao, 01/09/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It's second hand and WAS in great condition. Great value. I highly recommend Hyundai's 1997+ Elantra and Tiburon- no experiences with their other cars. Even got 35mpg cruising at 75-80mph. The alignment was slightly off due to my brother's excellent driving into a truck. DEFINETLY NOT a mountain racer- sad to say, even my mom's 1992 AUTOMATIC Corolla handles better overall! I've tried emergency lane changes at 40mph. The rear kicks too hard; damn physics and weight transfer! Now if the car was lowered 1.25" with stiffer springs and anti- sways, slap some 16"x7" wheels . . . Just a great car, really!
Nice for the Price
Phredd in CT, 02/02/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It's the SE edition, with driving lights, spoiler, alloy rims...Bought my car in 2000 with 23k on it. Was just declared a total loss due to a hit and run on Christmas eve... The car now has 67,000 miles on it, and, besides a shorted out wire harness 3 weeks after I bought it, I have had no problems with it.
Piece of Junk
dksm, 08/13/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car back in Apr of 02 and it seemed like a good deal for the price. Everything worked great at first but then I started having some problems. First I had to replace the water pump in Jun-02, then a few months later I had to replace the radiator because the original one leaked in about 4 different places. For about the next 7 months I had no problems so I was thinking that everything would be ok, but then in Apr-03 one of the radiator fans went out. About 3 months later the AC stopped working because of a leak in one of the hoses. The AC worked for about month and now it has stopped working again. There is leak somewhere else in the AC system.
Excellent Car
cdbluejr, 10/08/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the best car I have ever had (I have had a few). Lasted 6 years without any major repairs. Needs engine work now (93,100). Heater quit working last year (summer, 2002).
Great Little Car!
ckn, 11/03/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my 1st car right after college. I have driven the hell out of it (93,400 mi). I have lots of money to buy a new car but don't because this baby has never given me any real problems. Past problems have been a cracked gasket, broken door hinge, and the CD player laser sometimes messed up. Just now I broke my inside door handle and a fuse keeps blowing so I can't shift out of park (but you can override that). All these things are minor. I replace brakes every 40k mi. Gas mileage is between 25-29 mpg. Yearly maintenance/repair costs (for everything) are approx $500. Can't go wrong there! I saved lots of money w/ this car!
Happy
TMiller, 12/13/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car new. I had a problem with the overflow leaking. I think that it was the dealers b.s. though. Their has always been a problem when I fill the gas tank; it puts out a strong gas odor. I have brought it in and of course they don't know what it is. I have had 4/5 new gas caps. I too have a problem with the door handle. The car has been from NY to FL a dozen times and to GA a few too. I have another car now; (due to a growing family, it doesn't hold more than 2 car seats) but the elantra still bails me out in any snow storm. Or any other time I need it and is now driven on a more part time basis by my other half.
No Complaints Here
T-S, 02/19/2004
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this car brand new in December of 1997. Car has run well and has 133,000 miles and still runs fine. The drivers side door handle broke at about 90K, and the windows fog very easily. The inserts for closing the door on both rear doors pop out often. Mechanically it has held up very well. Change the oil every 3,000 and other maintainance as needed. Overall I am very pleased.
Very Happy
MHnwd, 04/14/2004
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased the SE model new in May of 97, and have been very happy with the overall performance. It's great on gas and very dependable. I have 85,000 miles and it still runs great. It has a strong little 4 cyl and the 5 spd makes it fun to drive. No major problems, only routine maint. It has exceeded my expectations and I have got my money out it!
Good Car
Ech, 07/22/2004
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had VERY VERY FEW problems with this car. It still runs well. It is a steal for the price.
Good for a while...
Abner11, 04/07/2005
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car used in January 2003 with 36,750 for mileage. Had no problems at all for the first year - plus, and I drive A LOT. In August 2004 I had to replace the pulse generator and oil temperature sensor because the check engine light was coming on and the car was racing a little bit off the line. Cost about $400 at the dealership. Then came Christmas 2004 and all hell broke loose. Brought it to the dealer because A) the engine started racing again and B) the exhaust was awfully throaty. Dealership told me I needed a new transmission, a new front pipe and a new manifold because the existing exhaust pieces were rusted. Also, oil pan rusted through and let go, and head gasket blew.
Cheap to Buy, Expensive to Fix
autumn, 03/18/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Car is comfortable and responsive, rides well, and looks good, but when it got to 70K it seemed to start falling apart piece by piece. Trans was replaced at 8,000 miles, then rebuilt at 83K. New battery: 68K. Starter replaced at 70K. Door handle replaced at 75K. Put on new tires after old ones wore out after 30,000 miles, new ignition cylinder at 85K. Speedometer cable and assembly now need replacing, too. Also, the trim surrounding the rear window is starting to fall off. I have been very diligent about maintaining this car as required, yet it still seems to need excessive repairs. I should have bought the manual trans version.
Elantra
ceceipe, 05/27/2003
1997 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Clutch had to be replaced after 60000 miles. Speedometer broke after 60000 miles. Seats are not comfortable. Fuel Economy is ok.
Good...could be better.
Pepe, 03/30/2002
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought my 1997 Elantra in 1996. New model, was skeptacle but have learned to love it. Good reliable car for the money. Definitely not Honda quality, but getting there. Great price for what you get.
If only I had done some research
tueyjr, 05/29/2002
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
When I bought my Elantra, I was in need of a cheap vehicle fast. I wish I could go back and choose a bike, a three-legged blind mule, or a good pair of shoes. This was the worst buy. I began to think the check engine light was supposed to be on all the time. It was ok, though, because of Hyundai's warranty...right??? Well not if the warranty department claims nothing is wrong. It also liked to shift in and out of gears at constant speed and elevation, but according to the warranty department this was normal too. HMMM!!! I will never buy a Hundai product again.
Utilitarian Plus
SmallWagonDriver, 11/07/2009
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Wagon
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this in '99 w/30,000 and it's still used daily in-town and on long trips. At 158,000 total miles it has suffered a couple problems, the worst a cracked exhaust manifold at 124,000. Clutches do wear out, and that was replaced at 152,000. Otherwise, it's very solid and has been very reliable, however we do keep it well-maintained (the secret to car longevity). It has seen some pretty tough duty in the mountains and in hot, dry desert-like conditions and never left us stranded. It's never had any electrical problems, no leakage from underneath, does not use oil (we've always run synthetic), heater and AC still works great, and to top it off, a tree fell on it but it just pushed back!
If you can spend the money...upgrade
Warren Burton, 06/14/2002
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car is 4 years old with 70K miles and wont pass smog by a large margin...this is a warning to you all. Of course the "great" new Hyundai warranty does not cover emissions at this point. The car accelerates so badly you almost get killed every time you have to merge on to the freeway. Using the airconditioning cuts what little power you have in half. Stay away from Romero Motors in Ontario California as they are a bunch of crooks and do not back up the products they sell.
it has been a good car
george, 01/11/2010
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
this car has gave me better service than the gm s i have owned they r crap this car is cheaper and was more reliable than my saturn and cavalier but don't get the automatic model the trans r crap and if you change the timing belt when you should you will have no problems with the engine the worse design is the front rotors the r a bad design but i updated them to 2000 spindles which spindles r better but all car have so flaws and this one has a lot less than the others have been a mechanic 4 30 years have worked on everything and this is one of the better cars maintenance is the key to a lot of them but transmission problems is a problem with all the automakers right now
Great Car
Derek Benoit, 07/17/2002
1998 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this vehicle new andI was weary of Hyundai's reputation but decided to take my chances after a surprising test drive. This was also before they offered the great warranty. I have never regretted my decision. My Elantra now has 135,000 miles on it w/o any problems at all! The only items I have had to replace in over 4 years are considered normal maintanence such as wiper blades, tires, brakes, and a battery. The car has never failed to start, and has driven flawlessly in a number of extreme conditions as I live in the northeast. I just passed the strict Massachusetts emissions test w/o a problem at all.
At first we were afraid
AprilW, 09/18/2003
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
At first we had a lot of problems with this car. I think a lot of it had to do with the dealership more than anything--we had to take it back 4-5 times before they fixed what was wrong. Ever since it was fixed, though, we haven't had a problem with anything except the usual maintenance. We had to have a tune-up pretty early, plus other things that would typically last a little bit longer.
Great for the money
HAC, 12/05/2003
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The car is reliable, economical, sound and safe. Have performed routine maintenance and the car still performs almost like new. Was involved in a collission (was rear- ended) and damage to the car was very limited, while the other car was severely damaged. Extremely safe car.
98 Elantra
Treebeard5, 12/07/2003
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has been a reliable vehicle. It lacks the comforts of more expensive vehicles, but for the money its not a bad buy. No mechanical problems, just general maintenance including belts, hoses, battery, tires, etc. Would buy Hyundai again.
Had1
had1, 02/24/2004
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Got this car with 59000 miles on it for my daughter. Based on reviews I thought it should hold up for ok for a first car. The car has 80000 miles now with no mechanical problems! We just went shopping for her second car, she wanted to "move up" a little. After driving four other manufactures cars guess what she bought... 2002 Elantra!
elantra best economy car
bluedragon, 04/12/2004
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
its fun to drive easy on the wallet has the power when needed.
Not bad for the buck!
fce, 05/01/2004
1998 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Not a bad little car. I bought it for commuting with 105000 miles. It had a bad auto transmission. As far as I know this is the major downfall of this car. I have junk yard connections so I put the trans. in myself. It is only a 2 hour job at most. Bam! I got a decent little car. The car drives solid, no rattles, it even handles pretty good.
Amazed by this car
Jim D, 02/09/2005
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the car in 2000 with 24K on it. Other then normal wear and tear parts, I have spent less then $300 on repairs to this car. It has over 90,000 miles on it now and has been through the hard New England winters and still runs great. I will be looking to get a new one whenever this one dies.
Serves its Purpose
to dust, 06/05/2005
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the car(new) because I was saving for a house. Now 3 children later, I use it to commute 70 miles a day. It now has 110,000 miles and it is a perfect car for my needs. It does not handle great, it is not the most comfortable car, and over 70 mph it sounds like the rubberband is going to snap. Overall, it has been very reliable and I still get better then 33 miles to the gallon. I have been very satified with the decision to buy this car.
Got a spare Tranny?
BoyDestructo, 12/18/2005
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We bought this car used a bit over a year ago with 60K on it. It has proven to be more cheap than inexpensive. Everything about this car feels cheap. Now, with 71K on the odometer it's in need of a new transmission. Not inexpensive, definately cheap.
Good mountain car
MtnDriver, 05/26/2006
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great mountain car, handles good on snow/ice/solid snow floor. Put 10K miles on it in 6 months. Has good get up and go, especially on steep mountain grades- can go 65 in 4th gear up a big grade (5 speed). No major problems until now (wheel bearing replacement, exhaust system problem, oil pan leak) and the paint scratches really easily. Overall great experience aside from the mechanic visits.
To Dust Revisited
to_dust, 04/12/2011
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I wrote a review of my elantra in 2005 (look at earlier reviews). It is now 2011 and I am still driving the car I bought 13 years ago. I now have 191,000 miles. To date I have replaced the timing belt, Break pads, and shocks. Otherwise the car is original. Including the original clutch. I am now on a quest to see how far it will go.
Decent
Lindsay, 11/06/2010
1998 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 3 people found this review helpful
Well up to a couple of months ago I would rant and rave about this car. I've had it for 7 years and for 6.5 of those years I also put no money into it, just the usual tires, brakes, battery, etc. I loved it so much and found it was so reliable I even named it. However the past few months have not been great, had to replace the spark plug kit and then last week the transmission completely stopped functioning (automatic transmission). 115,000 miles on it, but too expensive to fix so it's getting sold for parts :(
Comment
agliettipc, 04/14/2006
1997 Hyundai Elantra GLS 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
The car is exelent. It runs very well, confortable, economic, cheap parts
Horrible car
Jennifer, 07/29/2007
1998 Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sedan
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
This car was a mistake to purchase, but I have had it for a year and a half. Between transmission issues and constant problems. Do not buy any hyundai.