RoadVitals

1998 Hyundai Sonata Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jul 29, 2005
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 49 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jul 29, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10130555
Incident
Jan 8, 2005
Mileage
70,000 mi
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Apr 22, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10118273
Incident
Apr 21, 2005
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Nov 20, 2004

PASSENGER WINDOW AND DRIVER'S DOOR INOPERABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100266
Incident
Nov 16, 2004
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 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

NHTSA ID
10020830
Incident
Jun 18, 2002
Mileage
43,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 20, 2002

MARCH 25, 2002 MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 1998. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER, BURLINGTON AUTO MART, IN BURLINGTON, NJ, TO BE REPAIRED. I CHECKED MY CONTRACT AND THOUGHT THIS PART, 83403-34011 REGULATOR, WOULD BE COVERED. THEY SAID IT WASN'T. I CONTACTED THE HYUNDAI PROTECTION PLAN ADMINISTRATORS AT HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA IN FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA AND RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DENISE LOWRIE, ADMIN. ASSURANCE PROD. DEPT., THAT SAID IT WASN'T COVERED. I WAS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET THIS PROBLEM STRAIGHTENED OUT WHEN ON JULY 19TH MY DRIVER SIDE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR ALSO BROKE. I SPOKE TO JASON TAYLOR, ANOTHER ADMINISTRATOR IN THE ASSURANCE PROD. DEPT., WHO SAID HE GETS SEVERAL CALLS A WEEK QUESTIONING WHETHER THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE 1997 & 1998 SONATAS ARE COVERED UNDER THE PLAN. HE SAID THAT THE PLAN WAS CHANGED IN 1999 AND THE REGULATOR IS NOW CONSIDERED PART OF THE WINDOW MOTOR AND SO IT IS COVERED ON THE 1999 AND NEWER SONATAS. MY EXTENDED CONTRACT STATES THAT THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS AND GEARS ARE COVERED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE NOT MENTIONED UNDER EXCLUSIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, BUT I REALLY FEEL THAT THE REGULATOR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE EXAMINED, AS IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY REGULATORS FAILING IN THE 1997 & 1998 SONATAS.

NHTSA ID
764494
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Visibility
Filed Apr 4, 2001

WINDSHIELD MAKES A WHISTLING SOUND WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO CANNOT FIND A REMEDY. *AK

NHTSA ID
885065
Incident
Apr 1, 2000
Visibility
Filed Dec 8, 2000

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN/CLOSE POWER WINDOW, WINDOW WILL NOT WORK. PROBLEM HAD STARTED WITH DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FIRST. THEN, OTHER TWO WINDOWS ON PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR DID NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID
876223
Incident
Dec 8, 2000
Visibility
Filed Sep 28, 2000

FRONT PASSENGER'S WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN ,IT IS STUCK POSSIBLY DUE TO WINDOW REGULATOR OR WINDOW TAPE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
871748
BrakesFuel systemTransmission+1 more
Filed Sep 26, 2000

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 ID
732524
Incident
Nov 17, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .