1996 Hyundai Elantra GLS Wagon
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Unverified
All photo credits
- Photo: Hyundai station wagon (5110900537) by dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 1999 Hyundai Elantra GL in Ebony Black, front left, 07-05-2026 by Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 98-00 Hyundai Elantra GLS wagon by IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS Wagon, rear left, 09-27-2022 by MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: 1999 Hyundai Elantra GL in Ebony Black, rear left, 07-05-2026 by Cutlass, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 1996 Hyundai Elantra GLS Wagon is a 1.8-liter inline-4 wagon with a manual 5-speed and front-wheel drive. It starts at $14,214 MSRP and is rated at 24 mpg combined.
EPA fuel-economy estimates are 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway (24 mpg combined).
The Elantra measures 175.2 inches long on a 100.4-inch wheelbase and has a curb weight of 2,619 lb.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | |
| Body Type | Wagon |
| Powertrain | Gas |
| Price | |
| MSRP | $14,214 ($29,443 *) |
| Engine | |
| Engine Type | 1.8L inline-4 multi-point fuel injection |
| Displacement | 1.8 L |
| Injection Type | Multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) |
| Drivetrain | |
| Drive Type | FWD |
| Transmission | |
| Transmission | Manual 5-speed |
| Fuel Economy | |
| City | 21 MPG |
| Highway | 29 MPG |
| Combined | 24 MPG |
| Recommended Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
| Tank Capacity | 14 gal |
| Tires & Wheels | |
| Wheels Front | 14-in. |
| Wheels Rear | 14-in. |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Length | 175.2 in |
| Width | 66.9 in |
| Height | 57.4 in |
| Wheelbase | 100.4 in |
| Curb Weight | 2,619 lbs |
| Interior | |
| Headroom Front | 38.6 in |
| Headroom Rear | 38.9 in |
| Legroom Front | 43.2 in |
| Legroom Rear | 34.8 in |
| Shoulder Room Front | 54.7 in |
| Shoulder Room Rear | 53.5 in |
| Hip Room Front | 52.4 in |
| Hip Room Rear | 52.4 in |
Similar cars
Rivals to the 1996 Hyundai Elantra GLS Wagon with similar size, power and price from around the same years.
Safety & Recalls
NCAP safety ratings
| Overall | Not rated |
| Frontal crash | Not rated |
| Frontal – driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal – passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | Not rated |
| Rollover | Not rated |
Recalls
3 recalls on file with NHTSA for the 1996 Hyundai ELANTRA. Not every recall applies to every trim or VIN — check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Jul 21, 2000 · 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. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
NHTSA campaign 00V095002
Mar 28, 2000 · 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. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.
NHTSA campaign 00V095001
Feb 26, 1997 · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
NHTSA campaign 97V026000
101 owner complaints to NHTSA for the 1996 Hyundai ELANTRA
Owner Complaints
101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Hyundai ELANTRA (11 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 2 an injury). See all on nhtsa.gov
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 20 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Fuel System | 13 |
| Visibility | 13 |
Complaints are unverified reports submitted to NHTSA by owners. They cover the whole model year, not a specific trim, and a count alone doesn't show how common a problem is.
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov), matched as 1996 HYUNDAI ELANTRA. US-market vehicles only; data cached for up to 7 days.