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1998 Hyundai Sonata

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Hyundai Sonata are lower than the model-year median of 161.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 49 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

12 reports
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42,000 miles · Mar 12, 2006
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING OUT OF MY PARKING LOT, TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT FELL OFF OF MY VEHICLE. ONE LOOKED LIKE A BELT AND THE OTHER A SMALL DRUM. MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION AND I WAS FORCED TO COAST INTO A PARKING SPOT IN THE LOT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152507

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2005
Power Train

1998 HYUNDAI SONATA 4 CYLINDER WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPEATEDLY WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS LIKE FREEWAY MERGE. ONLY WAY TO ENGAGE DRIVE AGAIN WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND RE-SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION HAD TO FIND WAY OFF ROAD AND SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GET INTO G…

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1998 HYUNDAI SONATA 4 CYLINDER WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. REPEATEDLY WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS LIKE FREEWAY MERGE. ONLY WAY TO ENGAGE DRIVE AGAIN WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND RE-SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION HAD TO FIND WAY OFF ROAD AND SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTART IN ORDER TO GET INTO GEAR. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX AND STATED ALL WERE LIKE THIS. COULD HAVE KILLED ME. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE EVEN WHEN REPORTED UNDER THE FULL WARRANTY. UNPREDICTABLE. INCIDENT COUND APPROXIMATE. DATE APPROXIMATE

NHTSA ODI #10127878

100,000 miles · Dec 30, 2004
Latches/locks/linkagesPower Train

FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINT #10102430, PASENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE/OUTSIDE, AFTER REMOVING INSIDE DOOR PANEL FISHED OUT A BROKEN SPRING RUSTED THROUGH, WAS ABLE TO REPAIR WITH $.50 SPRING FROM LOCAL HARDWARE STORE, CHECKED DRIVERS SIDE AND FOUND SAME SPRING ABOUT TO RUST THROUGH, IF HYUNDAI USED STAINLESS SPRING WOULD HAV…

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FOLLOW UP TO COMPLAINT #10102430, PASENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE/OUTSIDE, AFTER REMOVING INSIDE DOOR PANEL FISHED OUT A BROKEN SPRING RUSTED THROUGH, WAS ABLE TO REPAIR WITH $.50 SPRING FROM LOCAL HARDWARE STORE, CHECKED DRIVERS SIDE AND FOUND SAME SPRING ABOUT TO RUST THROUGH, IF HYUNDAI USED STAINLESS SPRING WOULD HAVE PREVENTED PROBLEM, FELL SORRY FOR THAT PERSON TRYING TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP AT A EMERGENCY ROOM ENTRANCE WHEN DOOR WON,T OPEN, TRANSMISSION ALSO GOES OUT OF GEAR WHEN AFTER SLOWING FOR EZ PASS THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10104805

39,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Power Train

WITH 39,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10045382

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Power Train

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM BUDGET CAR SALES, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, EARNHARDTS REPLACED WITH A SO CALLED REBUILT ONE, LESS THAN TWO YEARS ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND IT WENT OUT. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST FAILURE THE MILAGE WAS ABOUT 27,700, WHEN EARNHARDT'S REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THEY DID IT WIT…

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I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM BUDGET CAR SALES, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, EARNHARDTS REPLACED WITH A SO CALLED REBUILT ONE, LESS THAN TWO YEARS ON THIS TRANSMISSION AND IT WENT OUT. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST FAILURE THE MILAGE WAS ABOUT 27,700, WHEN EARNHARDT'S REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION THEY DID IT WITH A REBUILT ONE. THE SERVICE AGENT SAID AT THE TIME THAT I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT THE GUARANTEE WOULD BE 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES AND WHEN IT WENT OUT IT HAD AROUND 42,200 MILES ON IT. WHEN I HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED, THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN. SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO COTTMANS TRANSMISSION IN MESA, AZ. WHERE IT SITS BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO THIS TRANSMISSION. IT IS A FAULTY REBUILT TRANSMISSION THAT WAS PUT INTO THE CAR. I FEEL I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A LOUSY REBUILT ONE ANYWAY. ACCORDING TO THE TSB'S THERE HAVE BEEN THREE DIFFERENT ITEMS LISTED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM HYUNDAI. THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION FROM THEM AT ALL. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM A SINGLE MOM. I NEED THIS CAR FOR WORK. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. I HADN'T EVEN OWNED THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 2 YRS. AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT NEEDS A 3RD TRANSMISSION. THERE DEFINITELY IS A PROBLEM AND HYUNDAI AND EARNHARDT DOESN'T WANT; TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BUT YET THEY WANT TO TAKE MY MONEY FOR WHICH I DON'T HAVE. I CAN'T EVEN FIND A CONSUMER ADDRESS FOR THEM ON THE INTERNET. THANK-YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747179

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2000
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TRANSMISSION BOTH TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. 1ST TIME UNDER WARRANTY, THIS TIME IT'S NOT AND APPARENTLY IT IS OKAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER BEING REPLACED, BRAKES WERE SERVICED AND FIXED, WINDOWS FIXED NOT UNDER WARRANTY,ALSO MY GAS COVER BECAME LOOSE & FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND …

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TRANSMISSION BOTH TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. 1ST TIME UNDER WARRANTY, THIS TIME IT'S NOT AND APPARENTLY IT IS OKAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER BEING REPLACED, BRAKES WERE SERVICED AND FIXED, WINDOWS FIXED NOT UNDER WARRANTY,ALSO MY GAS COVER BECAME LOOSE & FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE STRIP ON MY DOOR IS COMING OFF

NHTSA ODI #732524

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2000
Power Train

OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR GETTING JAMMED IN THE PARKING GEAR. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM SINCE AUGUST OF 1999. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #865077

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALER WITH NO FRONT BRAKES AND TRANSMISSION THAT FAILD THE NEXT DAY.

NHTSA ODI #718678

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH OR BE REAR ENDED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #849666

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Power Train

WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO DRIVE THERE IS A REVING OF THE TACHOMETER SOMETIMES UP TO 4,000 RPM BEFORE THE SHIFT IS COMPLETED AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A BANGING NOISE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #548505

Official recalls

1

00V314001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.