1998 Hyundai Sonata Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 12about this part
- Share
- 24%of 49 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 12 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1998 Hyundai Sonata, 24% of the 49 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,000 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.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10152507, filed 2006-03, 42,000 miles“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 complaint #732524, filed 2000-09“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #747179, filed 2001-06“While coming to a stop sign, without any prior warnig, the tranmission drops, causing the vehicle not to go forward and the vehicle would go in reverse. Also, brakes are working intermittently, and when consumer lets his foot off the brakes there is a sqeaking noise coming from the brakes. In addition, there is a problem with the timing belt.”
NHTSA complaint #835911, filed 1999-03“Owner has experienced problems with the gear shift indicator getting jammed in the parking gear. This has been an intermittent problem since august of 1999. Vehicle was taken to the dealership 3 times for this problem. There has been no problem with the vehicle in the last 3 months. Please provide any further information.”
NHTSA complaint #865077, filed 2000-07Related service bulletins
- 10196546May 21, 2021Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicleâÂÂs ownerâÂÂs manual. ï· Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or…
- 10174807Apr 17, 2020The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:
- 10082725Sep 2, 2016This bulletin provides information on components, attributes, and precautions of the 7-speed dry-type dual clutch transmission (dct).
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 18% |
| 2024 | 6 | 13% |
| 2023 | 17 | 19% |
| 2022 | 24 | 25% |
| 2021 | 25 | 19% |
| 2020 | 24 | 13% |
| 2019 | 8 | 5% |
| 2018 | 40 | 11% |
| 2017 | 56 | 7% |
| 2016 | 59 | 8% |
| 2015 | 135 | 12% |
| 2014 | 55 | 7% |
| 2013 | 94 | 5% |
| 2012 | 97 | 6% |
| 2011 | 173 | 5% |
| 2010 | 21 | 6% |
| 2009 | 41 | 9% |
| 2008 | 14 | 3% |
| 2007 | 9 | 1% |
| 2006 | 22 | 2% |
| 2005 | 5 | 3% |
| 2004 | 10 | 5% |
| 2003 | 10 | 5% |
| 2002 | 11 | 3% |
| 2001 | 18 | 9% |
| 2000 | 19 | 7% |
| 1999 | 14 | 11% |
| 1998 | 12 | 24% |
| 1997 | 9 | 18% |
| 1996 | 5 | 22% |
| 1995 | 15 | 23% |
| 1993 | 9 | 35% |
| 1992 | 5 | 23% |
| 1991 | 7 | 24% |
| 1990 | 7 | 44% |
| 1989 | 2 | 18% |
Other parts of the 1998 Hyundai Sonata
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
9 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
7 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