1998 Hyundai Sonata Latches, locks and linkages Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 14%of 49 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the latches, locks and linkages of the 1998 Hyundai Sonata, 14% of the 49 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 90,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10343844, filed 2010-07, 281,884 miles“There are many things that have occurred to my Hyundai Sonata 98 since I got the car as of september 2003. I've had to pay over $700.00 in transmission replacement costs, and fuel injection systems that had previously been fixed at the dealership while warranted (bob ciasulli Hyundai). In addition, the driver's side plastic door handle is no longer working which was supposedly fixed by the dealer service station . Later I found out there has been a recall on most Hyundai 98 Sonata models for the plastic door latch. I am unable to get out of the driver's side. A safety hazard. …”
NHTSA complaint #10068053, filed 2004-04, 80,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10130555, filed 2005-07, 70,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10102430, filed 2004-12, 100,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10118273, filed 2005-04Latches, locks and linkages: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 8 | 2% |
| 2017 | 17 | 2% |
| 2016 | 4 | 1% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% |
| 2014 | 4 | 1% |
| 2013 | 2 | 0% |
| 2012 | 1 | 0% |
| 2011 | 11 | 0% |
| 2010 | 11 | 3% |
| 2009 | 6 | 1% |
| 2008 | 4 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 0% |
| 2006 | 6 | 1% |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 12 | 6% |
| 2003 | 13 | 7% |
| 2002 | 9 | 3% |
| 2001 | 5 | 2% |
| 1998 | 7 | 14% |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% |
| 1996 | 1 | 4% |
| 1992 | 2 | 9% |
| 1990 | 1 | 6% |
| 1989 | 2 | 18% |
Other parts of the 1998 Hyundai Sonata
12 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1998 Hyundai Sonata
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology