1998 HYUNDAI SONATA Complaints

WE HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL LETTER FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE GAS TANK ON THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD IT HAD A CRACK IN IT AT THE TIME WE TOOK IT FOR THE FIRST RECALL LETTER FOR THIS VEHICLE,WE CAN ONLY FILL THE FUEL TANK TO 3/4 HASH MARK AND BELOW THAT PIONT IN ORDER NOT TO LEAK.

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.

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

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

THE VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, 00V-314, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SINCE HE LIVES IN PR THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RECALL SERVICE ON THE ISLAND. NLM

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

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 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

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