1998 Hyundai SONATA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 38 complaints (18.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 23.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 21.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 10.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 7 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 7; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 6; Electrical System: 4; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 6; 2002: 1; 2003: 6; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10045382 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
WITH 39,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068053 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED TO MY HYUNDAI SONATA 98 SINCE I GOT THE CAR AS OF SEPTEMBER 2003. I'VE HAD TO PAY OVER $700.00 IN TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT COSTS, AND FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHILE WARRANTED (BOB CIASULLI HYUNDAI). IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE IS NO LONGER WORKING WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED BY THE "DEALER SERVICE STATION". LATER I FOUND OUT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON MOST HYUNDAI 98 SONATA MODELS FOR THE PLASTIC DOOR LATCH. I AM UNABLE TO GET OU…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068053 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002907 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
WE HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL LETTER FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE GAS TANK ON THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD IT HAD A CRACK IN IT AT THE TIME WE TOOK IT FOR THE FIRST RECALL LETTER FOR THIS VEHICLE,WE CAN ONLY FILL THE FUEL TANK TO 3/4 HASH MARK AND BELOW THAT PIONT IN ORDER NOT TO LEAK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002907 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021914 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
A CRACK ON THE GAS TANK. ALSO, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343844 · 2010-07-18 (July 18, 2010)
I BOUGHT MY HYUNDAI IN 2004. MY 1998 HYUNDAI SONATA VEHICLE DRIVER AND PASSENGER INTERIOR PART OF DOORS ARE STUCK. I HAD THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR REPAIRED THE SAME YEAR. IT STUCK AGAIN IN 2006 AND HAS BEEN THAT WAY TO THIS DAY. MY PROBLEM NOW IS THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS NOW STUCK AS OF JULY 10 2010. I CANNOT AFFORD REPAIRS AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THE CAR JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2010 AND HOPEFULLY I CAN AFFORD THE REPAIRS TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN. I MUST CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO THE BACK AND GO OUT OF THE REAR PASSENGER D…
Owner-reported narrative. 281,884 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718678 · 2000-02-12 (February 12, 2000)
I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER WITH NO FRONT BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION THAT FAILD THE NEXT DAY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020830 · 2003-06-01 (June 1, 2003)
TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARDS FAILED. ALL FUSES, CONTROL BOX, AND WIRING WERE CHECKED AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. IN ADDITION, ELECTRIC WINDOW ASSEMBLY PLASTIC PULLEYS HAVE BROKEN IN 3 OF 4 DOORS. CAUSING WINDOWS TO REMAIN IN EITHER UP OR DOWN POSITION. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043092 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
SAME AS ODI ID NUMBER: 1003666 . FRONT DOORS DO NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE AND MUST CRAWL THROUGH BACK SEAT TO GET IN TO THE FRONT SEAT. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR STUCK FIRST AND PASSENGER HAD TO GET OUT THE WINDOW. TWO WEEKS LATER DRIVERS SIDE STUCK. TWO WEEKS LATER PARKING LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON AT WORK AND DOORS WERE LOCKED... BATTERY DIED ...DOOR LOCKS ARE ELECTRIC... FRONT DOOR KEY ONLY UNLOCKS BACK DOORS IF YOU HAVE A GOOD BATTERY! COULDN'T GET IN CAR TO OPEN HOOD TO JUMP BATTERY...HAD TO LEAVE CAR AT WORK FOR DAYS TRYING TO GET HOOD OPEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123919 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
MY 1998 HYUNDAI SONATA HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE TO MAINTAIN. TWICE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR SPRING HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED. THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT WAS A FORTUNATE STOP IN THE CAR SHOP TO CHECK SOMETHING ELSE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE RACK AND PINION UNIT WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID. I HAD BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE MECHANIC THAT THE CAR "CLUNKED" IN THE FRONT END GOING OVER A BUMP. THIS DESPITE REPLACING THE BALL JOINTS, STRUTS AND ONE TIE ROD. IT SEEMS THAT THE CLUNKING NOISE MUST HAVE BEEN COMING FROM THE RAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 752755 · 2001-09-30 (September 30, 2001)
I HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY (70MPH), PULLE OFF ONTO EXIT RAMP. WHEN I CAME TO THE STOP SIGN MY STEERING WHEEL "FREE SPUN" AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT TIRE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE CAR SPUN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED SECONDS BEFORE WE COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. THE FRONT END HAD A SLIGHT VIBRATION A BIT BEFORE BUT WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. HYUNDAI CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE READ, ONLINE. OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED "VIBRATION" IN THE FRONT END. I AM AT THIS POINT TRYING TO GET SOME COMPESATIO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752755 at NHTSA ↗