1998 Hyundai Sonata Problems

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

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

CRACK IN GAS TANK DISCOVERED AFTER SEVERAL REMOVALS OF TANK TO REPLACE HOSES, THEN CLAMPS. REPLACED 1998 TANK WITH USED TANK FROM 1996 MODEL. WITHIN 3 MONTH REPLACEMENT TANK WAS LEAKING FROM CRACK IN SAME AREA AS BEFORE. DISCOVERED RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL DUE TO SERVICE PERFORMED IN 2006 WHERE THEY (SUPPOSEDLY) ADDED CHECK VALVE TO PREVENT GAS TANK CRACKS FROM DEVELOPING. APPEALS TO REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HYUNDAI OFFICES WERE ALSO REJECTED. DEALER SENT ME AWAY WITH SERIOUSLY LEAKING / DANGEROUS TANK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. RECALL # 00V314001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) WAS FOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE GAS TANK AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

DT: THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE. CALLER HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO GET THE DOOR OPENED. FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THE HANDLE HAD A HAIRLINE CRACK IN IT, AND NOW THE HANDLE HAD 4 CRACKS. IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN THE LATCH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURERR HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. ALSO CALLER HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THE WINDOW ROLLWERS. *AK

THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP, IT GOT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM. THE PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING AS WELL AND REPLACING THE FUSE DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *JB

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 DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF THE LATCH (THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK) AND I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THEM AT ONE POINT. THEY ARE $25.00 AT THE JAY MARK HYUNDAI. THEY ARE LISTED BELOW: DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS BROKEN. I WENT DOWN AND NEVER CAME UP AGAIN. I COULD NOT AFFORD REPAIRS THEN AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO PUSH IT UP AND PUT A SCREW SO THAT IT WOULD NOT COME DOWN AGAIN. THE LATCH HAS BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE THIRD TIME I WAS NOT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER LATCH. THE DOOR IS STUCK AND WILL NOT OPEN. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN COMPLETELY. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN IT IS ALSO STUCK AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. I HAD IT REPAIRED AND ABOUT A YEAR LATER IT WOULD NO OPEN AGAIN. THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND STAY UP. IT WILL COME DOWN INCH BY INCH UNTIL A CERTAIN POINT AND NOW I CANNOT GET IT TO GO UP AGAIN. THE LATCH IS ALSO BROKEN ON THAT DOOR AS WELL AND I HAD THAT LATCH REPLACED BUT ONLY ONCE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IN DISREPAIR AGAIN BECAUSE THE TAIL LIGHTS WILL WORK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AT A TIME AND THEN THEY ARE OUT AGAIN OR IT WILL SHORT OUT THE BULBS AND AT NIGHT I MUST SLIGHTLY TOUCH THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING TO HAVE THE TAIL LIGHTS AND AVOID A TICKET. BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THEY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE SYSTEM IS NEVER READY. THE BATTERY WILL SHORT FROM TIME TO TIME AND I MUST REPLACE. *TR

CONSUMER LETTER REQUESTING ALL INFORMATION, INVESTIGATIONS AND RECALLS PERTAINING TO THE 1998 SONATA OR THE Y3 SEAT. *TS *NM

ALTHOUGH AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS PAID FOR AT 900.+ DOLLARS THE BELTS AND WHEELS STILL LOCK-UP. WHEN TAKEN BACK TO HAVE CHECKED THE PROBLEM CAN NEVER BE PRODUCED. AS FOR CLOCK SPRING THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD BE CHECKED EVERY 10 YEARS ABD THIS SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN 2 YEARS. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY NOW. I AM TOLD IF I PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE AIRBAG FIRST I WILL BE REIMBURSED, BUT WHY MUST I PAY FOR A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS BEYOND MY CONTROL AND THAT IS A MAJOR ITEM OF SAFETY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 15 MPH, DRIVER IN FRONT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT WAS REALLY FOGGY OUTSIDE, AND CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKES, AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE'S BUMPER, AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FELT THAT AIRBAGS SHOULDN'T HAVE DEPLOYED. DLR SAID AN AIRBAG SPECIALIST WOULD LOOK AT IT. BUT SOMEONE TAMPERED WITH THE CAR BEFORE SPECIALIST CAME.

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 DOOR. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE OF THE LATCH (THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK) AND I HAVE REPLACED ALL OF THEM AT ONE POINT. THEY ARE $25.00 AT THE JAY MARK HYUNDAI. THEY ARE LISTED BELOW: DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS BROKEN. I WENT DOWN AND NEVER CAME UP AGAIN. I COULD NOT AFFORD REPAIRS THEN AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO PUSH IT UP AND PUT A SCREW SO THAT IT WOULD NOT COME DOWN AGAIN. THE LATCH HAS BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE THIRD TIME I WAS NOT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER LATCH. THE DOOR IS STUCK AND WILL NOT OPEN. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN COMPLETELY. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT OPEN IT IS ALSO STUCK AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. I HAD IT REPAIRED AND ABOUT A YEAR LATER IT WOULD NO OPEN AGAIN. THE REAR DRIVER WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND STAY UP. IT WILL COME DOWN INCH BY INCH UNTIL A CERTAIN POINT AND NOW I CANNOT GET IT TO GO UP AGAIN. THE LATCH IS ALSO BROKEN ON THAT DOOR AS WELL AND I HAD THAT LATCH REPLACED BUT ONLY ONCE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE.THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS IN DISREPAIR AGAIN BECAUSE THE TAIL LIGHTS WILL WORK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AT A TIME AND THEN THEY ARE OUT AGAIN OR IT WILL SHORT OUT THE BULBS AND AT NIGHT I MUST SLIGHTLY TOUCH THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING TO HAVE THE TAIL LIGHTS AND AVOID A TICKET. BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THEY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. THE SYSTEM IS NEVER READY. THE BATTERY WILL SHORT FROM TIME TO TIME AND I MUST REPLACE. *TR

CALLER STATED: BROUGHT CAR IN FOR INSPECTION. WHEN THE CAR WAS HOOKED UP THE MONITOR STATUS WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER RED NOT READY ON EVERYTHING. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY FOR 20 MINUTES, THEN DROP DOWN TO 15 MPH FOR 5 MINUTES, AND THEN REPEAT, FOLLOWED BY A REST PERIOD OF 5 HOURS. ALL TO GET THE COMPUTER TO GIVE OUT THE CORRECT READING.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL AND THAT THE THE OBD TO THE SYSTEM IS NOT COMMUNICATING. DUE TO THIS THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM IS NOT READY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT CONFORMING TO THE CLEAN AIR ACT AND CANNOT PASS EMISSIONS.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED EGR LIGHT STAYS ON. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE, AND REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND THE EGR SWITCH. *AK

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

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

PASSENGER WINDOW AND DRIVER'S DOOR INOPERABLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT FORNT DOORS DO NOT UN LOCK.DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

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 RACK AND PINION. THEY ALSO DISCOVERED AT THE SAME TIME THAT TWO OUT OF FOUR ENGINE MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND THE OTHER TWO WERE SAGGING. I'LL BE REPLACING THOSE AS WELL AND HOPING THAT THE CAR DOESN'T CAUSE ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE. I BELIEVE IN MAINTAINING MY CARS, BUT THIS CAR SEEMS TO HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN MOST I HAVE OWNED. THE CAR HAS ALSO OVERHEATED TWICE, ONCE DUE TO A BURST HOSE AND THE SECOND TIME DUE TO A LEAK IN ONE OF THE ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSORS IN THE BLOCK. FOR THE LATTER INCIDENT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING (GRADUALLY INCREASING OPERATING TEMP OVER TIME). IT ALSO HAS THE HARD DOWN SHIFT FROM 3-2 (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) THAT OTHERS HAVE NOTICED. I WON'T BE PURCHASING A HYUNDAI AGAIN AS I FEEL THAT THIS IS WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES ON IT.

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 COMPESATION. MY WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS WERE WITH ME AT THE TIME AND IT REALLY SCARED THEM.*AK

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

ALTHOUGH AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS PAID FOR AT 900.+ DOLLARS THE BELTS AND WHEELS STILL LOCK-UP. WHEN TAKEN BACK TO HAVE CHECKED THE PROBLEM CAN NEVER BE PRODUCED. AS FOR CLOCK SPRING THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD BE CHECKED EVERY 10 YEARS ABD THIS SYSTEM HAS FAILED IN 2 YEARS. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY NOW. I AM TOLD IF I PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE AIRBAG FIRST I WILL BE REIMBURSED, BUT WHY MUST I PAY FOR A SAFETY ITEM THAT IS BEYOND MY CONTROL AND THAT IS A MAJOR ITEM OF SAFETY. *AK