1999 Hyundai SONATA GLS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 46 complaints (60.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 15.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 28 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Suspension:Front | 6 |
| Structure | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 28; Suspension: 6; Suspension:Front: 6; Structure: 5; Air Bags: 4; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Driveline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 7; 2008: 20; 2009: 7; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10214772 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
ON 1/7/08 WHILE DRIVING '99 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS TO WORK, PULLED RIGHT PROCEEDING DOWN ROAD. POSSIBLE LEAK FROM BRAKE CYLINDERS/ BRAKE LINES, NOTHING. RETURN TRIP, VEHICLE EXTREMELY ERRATIC STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER OF PURCHASE (BB HYUNDAI, SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ). DELIVERED ON 1/07/08 BY DRIVING VEHICLE. VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER/ CONTROL, DRIVING SPEED 25-30 MPH. VEHICLE DELIVERED TO BB W/96062 MILES. SERVICE MGR (LC) TOOK INFORMATION REGARDING PROBLEM - DIAGNOSTIC COST OF $95 +TAX. AGREEMENT MADE TO DETERMINE FAILURE. INFORMED BY SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,048 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227072 · 2008-05-08 (May 8, 2008)
CAR #1--PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED CREATING A FIST SIZED HOLE CAUSING VEHICLE TO STEER AIMLESSLY DUE TO INSTABILITY OF STEERING STRUCTURE: CAR #2--PASSENGER SIDE FRAME RUSTED CAUSING WHEELS TO BECOME INOPERABLE AND UNABLE TO STEER CAR IN APRIL 2008. SAME MODEL OF HYUNDAI, 2 DIFFERENT CARS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191164 · 2007-05-18 (May 18, 2007)
THE ENGINE WILL INTERMITTENTLY RACE INCREASING RPMS WITHOUT NOTICE, VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAPPENED WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. IF MY FOOT WAS NOT PUSHED DOWN ON THE BRAKE I WOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT, IT WILL ALSO OCCUR WHILE IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RPMS GOING UP TO 3200 AND DOWN TO 1500 LIKE IT WAS A HUNT LASTING SEVERAL MINUTES. IT WILL STOP ,BUT I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW OR WHY. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN DRIVING AT SUSTAINED HIGHER SPEEDS ON INTERSTATE, THEN GETTING OFF THE EXIT. I DO NOTICE THAT WHEN I ACCELERATE AWAY FROM A LIGHT WHILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213249 · 2007-12-31 (December 31, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA GLS. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. SHE COULD NOT REMEMBER IF SHE WAS ACCELERATING OR BRAKING AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AS IF AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE FRAME UNDER THE VEHICLE ROTTED AND CAUSED THE AXLE TO SLIP. THE SHOP REPAIRED THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FRAME RAIL, REASSEMBLED THE SUSPENSION, AND RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075241 · 2004-06-11 (June 11, 2004)
I HAVE A 1999 HYUNDA SONATA. I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEM WITH MY WIRING ON MY DOORS AND ALSO WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT. I DID GET A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN. THEY FIXED IT, BUT THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITH IN A FEW WEEKS. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT AGAIN WITHOUT CHARGING ME. I STILL HAVE THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD LIKE IT FIXED, BUT DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL DIFFERENT RESPONSES FROM THE PEOPLE AT HYUNDAI. SOME OF THE PEOPLE SAY THAT MY AIR BAGS WILL STILL WO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161529 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)
I RECEIVED A RECALL ON MY 1999 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER ON AUGUST 02 2002. THEY INSTALLED A SIDE AIR BAG WIRING HARNESS. LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK IN APRIL 13 2004, THEY RESET THE CODES, TURNED THE AIR BAG LIGHT OFF AND ADVISED ME NOT TO PUT ANYTHING UNDER THE SEATS. ON 6/14/2004 THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I CALLED THE OFFICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD LOOK AT IT BUT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NOT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY T…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016967 · 2003-05-03 (May 3, 2003)
PURCHASED CAR AUGUST 16TH 2001 SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE PLACE OF WHICH I PURCHASED IT WYATT JOHNSON HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN CLARKSVILLE TN . AT THAT TIME THE O2 SENSOR HAD WENT BAD SO THAT WAS REPLACED AND WE WERE ALSO ADVISED THAT IT WAS WAY PAST DUE ON TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH WAS THEIR FAULT SO THEY REPLACED THAT AS WELL. A FEW MONTHS WENT BY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THESE WERE ONCE REPLACED AGAIN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR. ALSO ABOUT 4 TO 5 MONTHS LATER…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016967 at NHTSA ↗