Most common 1996 Hyundai Elantra problems
Share of the 100 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Elantra complaints by model year
Best Elantra years: 2025. Years to avoid: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018, 2011. Compare all years →
1996 Hyundai Elantra recalls (3)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface.
Remedy: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If the fuel tank has cracked, it will be replaced.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The evaporative emission control systems can apply excessive vacuum to the fuel tanks during the canister purge cycle. If excessive vacuum is applied, minor fuel tank distortion can result. A small crack could develop on the upper fuel tank surface.
Remedy: Dealers will pressure check the vehicle's fuel tank to determine if it has cracked. If the fuel tank has cracked, it will be replaced.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.
Remedy: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Hyundai Elantra:
Fuel cap replacement campaign 36
There is no summary currently available
Windshield wiper failure
In its letter dated February 14, 1997, Hyundai stated that approximately 75,000 Hyundai vehicles (certain model year 1996-97 elantra, accent, sonata and tiburon models built through October 18, 1996 -- see NHTSA recall no. 97v-026 for details) will be recalled for a defect in the windshield wiper motor.Hyundai stated that the windshield wiper motor May not operate in cold weather conditions due to contamination of…
What 1996 Hyundai Elantra owners say
Engine & cooling all 20 →
The engine check light is on while vehicle is in motion. The vehicle caught fire prior to this incident . The vehicle has been into the dealer several times. The dealer has not been able to pinpoint the problem.
Engine lights comes on,surges,misses,jerks,dies,tapping noise,loses power,these things have happened repeatedly. Other repairs 9-26-98 alternator,generator mileage 24662: 10-29-98 missing and rough idle couldn't find problem, mileage 25350; 3-22-99 plug and cable set changed again, mileage 29167; 4-12-99 replaced transmission part, mileage 29760; have talked to consumer assistant center,the dm,all I am told is to keep taking it in . Am very unhappy with this car and am afraid to drive it on the highways because it lost all power when driving on I- 65.was towed in 2 times because of no power.they offered for me to trade it in on a new car, that would mean another 5 yr. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 20 →
Trans. Slips. When you release gas pedal at high speeds and attempt to regain acceleration transmission does not respond immediately,there is at least a 5 sec. Pause. I am now going in to a shop for a diagnoses due to the loss of power and no reverse gear present.
When starting the ignition transmission locked up, causing the vehicle to cut off. It would be hard for the consumer to restart vehicle. Dealership/mechanic informed the consumer of the transmission failure, but was unable to resolve the problem.
Electrical system
Engine lights comes on,surges,misses,jerks,dies,tapping noise,loses power,these things have happened repeatedly. Other repairs 9-26-98 alternator,generator mileage 24662: 10-29-98 missing and rough idle couldn't find problem, mileage 25350; 3-22-99 plug and cable set changed again, mileage 29167; 4-12-99 replaced transmission part, mileage 29760; have talked to consumer assistant center,the dm,all I am told is to keep taking it in . Am very unhappy with this car and am afraid to drive it on the highways because it lost all power when driving on I- 65.was towed in 2 times because of no power.they offered for me to trade it in on a new car, that would mean another 5 yr. …
I reported this information given to you to the main company in the month of August on several occasions; however, I have not received a response. In my opinion, this is totally unfair because I am making payments on an automobile that is literally falling apart. I feel that it Hyundai motor finance company should have made some preparation to satisfy their customer,one who has an excellent paying history. I am very dissatified with this product and would like a better automobile, one in which I would feel comfortable driving and paying for in the remainder years. Please help! Thanks, carolyn b. Thomas. Not air bag complaint (e.g., seat belt, trailer suspension air bag, etc.) added on 09-07-1999.
1996 Hyundai Elantra engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Hyundai Elantra a good car?
Based on 100 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Elantra rates better than average: 52% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Elantra at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Hyundai Elantra?
The engine & cooling — 20 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (20) and electrical system (14).
How many recalls does the 1996 Hyundai Elantra have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1996 Hyundai Elantra, the most recent from July 21, 2000 (tank assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Elantra?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2017, 2012, 2018 and 2011. See the full Hyundai Elantra years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Hyundai Elantra problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 92,000 miles; 22% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.