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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 →
49Owner complaints

Model-year median: 161

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
66
199523
199649
199749
1998124
1999276
2000205
2001
Compare all Sonata years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
12Fuel System, Gasoline
10Visibility
9Latches/locks/linkages
7Air Bags
6
All reported categories
Electrical System
4Engine And Engine Cooling
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
2Structure
2Unknown Or Other
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Seats
1

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
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 · 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 · Mar 17, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNIG, THE TRANMISSION DROPS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO GO FORWARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD GO IN REVERSE. ALSO, BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN CONSUMER LETS HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH …

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WHILE COMING TO A STOP SIGN, WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNIG, THE TRANMISSION DROPS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO GO FORWARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD GO IN REVERSE. ALSO, BRAKES ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN CONSUMER LETS HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKES THERE IS A SQEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING BELT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835911

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.