1999 Hyundai Sonata GL 2.5 from North America
Summary:
A great car for the price, but you get what you pay for in the service area
Faults:
Recall on the mass-air sensor.
Fuel injector leaking.
Front brakes.
Faulty battery.
Engine is getting noisy.
Brakes are getting noisy.
General Comments:
The performance of this car is great overall. The 170 hp seems like a lot more. Acceleration, handling, braking are all acceptable or better.
The problems I have had seem typical of Hyundai. The dealer told me that the noise in the brakes is normal as the car gets older (that is not normal). There have been a few recalls, nothing serious.
My biggest complaint is with the dealer. They seem to feel that getting service is not a big rush. While the warranty is 10/100, it can sometimes be a pain to get the car in for a service in a reasonable timeframe.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 9th August, 2001
25th Jul 2003, 10:28
I am the one who placed the original comment here. Like I said, the 170 HP felt like a lot more, and I was always satisfied with the performance. I'd like to add another VERY important thing...SAFETY. Last week, someone ran a stop sign, and hit the passenger side of my Sonata at 55 mph. The airbag and side impact door beam saved my life. I walked out of the car with some cuts and bruises, mostly from glass and banging around. Everyone that has seen the car is amazed I lived... the entire car was destroyed. It the resale value was not HORRIBLE, we'd be buying a new one to replace it...
At the time of the accident, the car had 72,200 miles... and we hadn't had any problems other than what I listed initially. Overall, a solid car. The dealer just needed some help!!
5th May 2003, 04:43
I purchased two identical 1999 Sonata's from a local Hyundai dealership. Each had about 10,000 miles. At 18,000 miles my wife's car had to have the front brake rotor's turned because they were rusty. The dealership said that the car was not being driven enough and that rust had collected. At the time wife was driving between Cincinnati and Columbus in preparation for our daughter's wedding on a weekly basis. At 34,000 miles the car went in to the dealership's service department because of a grinding noise. The car had a dragging sensation also. The Service Department rep said that they had never seen that before and claimed user error. We were told that the car was being driven with the emergency brake in the "on" position. It would cost over four hundred dollars to repair with new pads and and rotors.
At 45,000 miles my car is now making a dragging sensation too. I would like to know if this is a coincidence or if there are other 1999 Sonata owners with similar complaints.