1998 HYUNDAI SONATA

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 T

Mileage: 281,884

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 T

Mileage: 281,884

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

Mileage: 120,000

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.

Mileage: 117,000

WE PURCHASED A USED 1998 SONATA GL FOR MY DAUGHTER IN MAY 2006. IN ABOUT JULY 2006 SHE NOTICED THAT SHE SEEMED TO BE USING MORE FUEL THAN USUAL. ALSO THAT HER AND HER FRIENDS NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. CHECKING UNDER THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS WET ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NEAR THE REAR TIRE AND SMELLED OF GASOLINE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC UPON REMOVING THE TANK NOTED THAT ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE TANK (IF YOU WERE FACING THE REAR OF THE CAR) HAD BEEN PATCHED PREVIOUSLY WITH SOME KIND OF EPOXY. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS REPAIR WAS DONE. HE ATTEMPTED AGAIN TO REPAIR IT WITH EPOXY, THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE THEN REPLACED THE TANK WITH A USED FUEL TANK FROM ANOTHER HYUNDAI. THIS WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. HE THEN WELDED THE SPOT ON THE TANK. THIS WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL AS THE TANK STARTED LEAKING AGAIN FROM THE SAME AREA. WE CHECKED WITH A DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AND HAD A FUEL LINED OR HOSE REPLACE ON OR ABOUT MARCH 29, 2001. ACCOR

Mileage: 99,000

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.

Mileage: 80,000

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

Mileage: 42,000

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

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

Mileage: 70,000

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

Mileage: 70,000

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

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 TH

Mileage: 90,500

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

Mileage: 82,000

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

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

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

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

Mileage: 100,000

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

Mileage: 100,000

AFTER CLOSING PASSENGER DOOR IT WILL NOT REOPEN, INSIDE DOOR HANDLE APPEARS NOT TO ENGAGE LINKAGE, PASSENGER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE IN A EMERGENCY, OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON FILE WITH NTSB. *AK

Mileage: 100,000

PASSENGER WINDOW AND DRIVER'S DOOR INOPERABLE. *AK