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1998 Hyundai Sonata

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1998 Sonata.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1998 Hyundai Sonata is a passenger‑car model that entered the market as part of the early generation of the line. It is built on a dedicated platform and uses an engine that requires 4.2 quarts of oil and is approved for viscosities of 20W‑40, 20W‑50, or 10W‑30 API. In its first year the model recorded 51 total owner complaints, most often concerning the fuel system, and it carries a single recall. Compared with the model’s complaint history — peaking at 3368 complaints in 2011 and dropping to just two in 2026 — the 1998 year represents a relatively low‑complaint period within the overall timeline.

Model year2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 1998

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 25 · 420 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 25 · 420 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP195-70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	185 in
Overall width	69.7 in
Overall height	55.5 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Curb weight	2853 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 59.1 in

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Sonata of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–10.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2002 GLS V6

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2000	GLS V6 2.5L V6	10.30 sec	17.50 sec	170 hp	FWD
2002	GLS V6 2.7L V6	8.50 sec	16.40 sec	170 hp	FWD
2002	GLS V6 2.7L V6	8.80 sec	16.70 sec	170 hp	FWD
2003	GLS V6 2.7L V6	8.60 sec	16.70 sec	170 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 20W-40 / 20W-50 / 10W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4.2 qt
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	14-15 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	36-38 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Steps	3
Engine Flywheel Bolts	94-101 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	11-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	32-40 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	11-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	11-14 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	148-192 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	167 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.77-.95 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	10,300-13,900 ohms

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.60 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	7.09-7.76 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	25
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	420 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	24

Service checks

Pressure Test	21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	12-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	190 °F
Pressure Test	21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	12-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	190 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	37.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	43.3 psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle	16-23 ft-lbs / 65-80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket	51-63 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.039 in
Drum Runout Limit	0.006 in
Drum Nominal Diameter	9 in / 8.858 in
Drum Discard at-or-over	9.079 / 8.936
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0039 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

14-22 ft. lbs., step 2: 20-29, small ft. lbs., step 3: 80-94 ft. lbs., step 4: 110-130, large

14–22 ft. lbs

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

108-116 ft. lbs., step 2: 147-157

108–116 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep M10 bolts

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	60 degrees	60 degrees
3	60 degrees; M12 bolts	60 degrees
1	26 ft. lbs.	26 ft. lbs
2	60 degrees	60 degrees
3	60 degrees	60 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

Every 6,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 52,500 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the 1998 Hyundai Sonata, complaints totaled 51 and recalls were just one, a sharp drop from the 78 complaints and two recalls seen in 1995, and far below the 135 complaints and three recalls that surged in 1999. The trend over the 1990‑2000 period shows a modest spike around 1999‑2000, with 282 complaints and four recalls in 2000, after which complaints fall steadily to 223 in 2001 and 325 in 2002, indicating a volatility rather than a steady rise. The 1998 model sits near the lower end of this arc, suggesting relative reliability compared to the surrounding years. However, the top complaint areas—fuel system (9 complaints) and powertrain (8 complaints)—highlight specific concerns that still exist. Overall, 1998 is a comparatively better year within its generation, but potential buyers should be mindful of fuel system and powertrain issues when evaluating a used unit.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97’98’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22 ’23 ’24 ’25 ’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 51 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline9

Power Train8

Air Bags5

Visibility4

Engine & Engine Cooling3

Electrical System,Latches/Locks/Linkages2

Visibility,Latches/Locks/Linkages2

Steering2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V314001Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank AssemblyReported 02/10/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997… Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 44 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
23-BD-002H	2023-01-30	Visibility	This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
22-EM-010H	2022-07-28	Engine And Engine Cooling	Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain…
22-GI-006H	2022-07-14	Tires	Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established…
21-AT-006H	2021-05-21	Power Train	Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the…
21-EM-004H	2021-03-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Sonata. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 25 battery Vehicles taking 4.2 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1998 Sonata take?

4.2 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SM, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 OR 5W-40 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1998 Sonata have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.