1997 Hyundai Sonata GLS review from Netherlands
"Some sonata's never break down, some fall apart when pointed at"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Light in left-front door broke
Left-front electric window failed
electric mirrors failed
right-back window needed adjustment
automatic gearbox failed nearly immediately after I got it
automatic gearbox failed completely at 84000 kilometers
Too many braking noises
sigarrette lighter jumped out into interior
Vent system of fueltank failed, gave trouble while refilling the car, solved it self
Central locking mechanism didn't always open the locks in one try
exhaust leaked
Everything eventually repaired under warranty.
General comments?
Car is very comfortable and drives great
The 2.0 liter 16V engine is powerfully and smooth. Generally you won't hear it at all, Except when the automatic gearbox is broken.
The car is also economic with fuel for its size.
Hyundai is known to build reliable cars, however if you have bad luck you get a complete nightmare.
So buy this car if you can get a good warranty on it. That way you can dump it if yours turns out to be a nightmare. If your lucky, you'll be very happy to be driving a sonata.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0i 16v Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 5/10 |
| Comfort marks | 8/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 76800 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 86900 kilometres |
| Previous car | Mazda 323 |
| Date of Entry | 21st December, 2002 |