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1998 Hyundai Elantra

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Elantra.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1998 Hyundai Elantra is a passenger car equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine that utilizes 4.2 quarts of 20W-40, 20W-50, or 10W-30 API oil to reach an EPA-rated 20/27/22 mpg. Reliability for this model year is characterized by zero recalls and 60 total owner complaints, with the power train serving as the top complaint area. This represents a relatively stable period in the model's 1992-2026 history, particularly when compared to the peak of 1,325 complaints recorded in 2013.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 1998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy20/27/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI N/A · 600 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI N/A · 600 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnTAILOEM · verified

Tire sizeP175-65R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5-J, 5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	174 in
Overall width	66.9 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	100.4 in
Curb weight	2522 lb
Track (front / rear)	57.5 / 57.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	20 / 27 / 22 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	93 cu ft
Cargo volume	12 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Elantra of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.9–10.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.90 sec — 2007 SE Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2000	GLS Sedan 2.0L I-4	8.30 sec	16.60 sec	140 hp	FWD
2001	GLS Sedan 2.0L I-4	8.40 sec	16.50 sec	140 hp	FWD
2002	GT 5-door Hatchback 2.0L I-4	8.00 sec	16.30 sec	135 hp	FWD
2002	GLS Sedan 2.0L I-4	8.50 sec	16.70 sec	138 hp	FWD
2007	SE Sedan 2.0L I-4	7.90 sec	16.30 sec	138 hp	FWD
2007	SE Sedan 2.0L I-4	10.00 sec	17.50 sec	138 hp	FWD
2007	SE Sedan 2.0L I-4	10.20 sec	17.50 sec	138 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0-33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	10-11 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	37-39 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	88-98 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	25.0-33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	9-11 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	148-192 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	158 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.45-.55 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	10,300-13,900 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	NGK
Spark Plug Gap	0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	15.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.50-1.61 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.74-6.41 oz
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	12-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	191 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	37.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	43.3 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	15.55-16.25 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Oil Pressure	24.2 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	Idle rpm

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Torque to Knuckle	16-23 ft-lbs / 65-80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	49-63 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.039 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.394 in / 0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.394 in / 0.866 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

125-133 ft. lbs., step 2: 170-180

125–133 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M10 bolts

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	60 degrees	60 degrees
3	60 degrees; M12 bolts	60 degrees
1	26 ft. lbs.	26 ft. lbs
2	60 degrees	60 degrees
3	60 degrees	60 degrees

Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

35 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60-65

35 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 37,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 52,500 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1998 Hyundai Elantra presents a notably different profile within its generation's federal record: complaints dropped sharply to 60 from 155 in 1997, and the year recorded zero recalls and zero NHTSA investigations—compared to three recalls in 1997 and two in 1999. This anomaly coincides with a lower TSB count (59) than both surrounding years, suggesting a temporary reprieve in documented technical issues before complaints resumed their upward trajectory beginning in 1999 (148) and peaking in 2002 (349). The top complaint areas were Power Train (12), Engine & Engine Cooling (6), and Air Bags (6), with nine crash-related complaints and zero fire complaints recorded. The data does not specify why 1998 was comparatively quieter, but it falls between two higher-complaint years within an overall generation trend of increasing issues through the early 2000s. This makes the 1998 model year relatively attractive within this generation, as it shows the lowest complaint burden of the entire 1992-2006 span while maintaining zero recalls and investigations—though buyers should still verify maintenance records given the Power Train remains the primary documented concern.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97’98’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 60 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train12

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Air Bags6

Engine & Engine Cooling,Unknown Or Other5

Latches/Locks/Linkages3

Fuel System, Gasoline2

Tires2

Visibility2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 59 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
23-BD-002H	2023-01-30	Visibility	This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
22-EM-010H	2022-07-28	Engine And Engine Cooling	Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain…
22-GI-006H	2022-07-14	Tires	Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established…
21-AT-006H	2021-05-21	Power Train	Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the…
21-EM-004H	2021-03-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Elantra. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group N battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Elantra take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SM, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Elantra have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Elantra get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 27 highway / 22 combined mpg.