1998 Hyundai SONATA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 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 10033666 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT FORNT DOORS DO NOT UN LOCK.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033666 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 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 10055594 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
FUEL TANK CRACKED. A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061246 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED EGR LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE, AND REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND THE EGR SWITCH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061246 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V314001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD 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 COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 SONATA FUEL TANKS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRACKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE FOR THE CRACKING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN AFTER HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗