FaultScore

1998 Hyundai Sonata fuel system problems

13 of the 68 complaints about the 1998 Hyundai Sonata are about the fuel system — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 108,000 miles.

B

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Tank Assembly 7 53.8%
Fuel Pump 2 15.4%
Mounting 1 7.7%
Storage 1 7.7%
Filler Pipe AND CAP 1 7.7%
Filling/Charging 1 7.7%

Fuel & Propulsion across every Hyundai Sonata year

1997 19 1.8%
1998 13 1.2%
2002 26 2.5%
2003 19 1.8%
2006 23 2.2%
2009 23 2.2%
2010 12 1.2%
2011 135 13.0%
2012 118 11.3%
2013 210 20.2%
2014 88 8.5%
2015 84 8.1%
2016 35 3.4%
2017 33 3.2%
2018 32 3.1%
2019 11 1.1%
2020 58 5.6%
2021 31 3.0%
2022 27 2.6%
2023 44 4.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 120,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CRACK IN GAS TANK DISCOVERED AFTER SEVERAL REMOVALS OF TANK TO REPLACE HOSES, THEN CLAMPS. REPLACED 1998 TANK WITH USED TANK FROM 1996 MODEL. WITHIN 3 MONTH REPLACEMENT TANK WAS LEAKING FROM CRACK IN SAME AREA AS BEFORE. DISCOVERED RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL DUE TO SERVICE PERFORMED IN 2006 WHERE THEY (SUPPOSEDLY) ADDED CHECK VALVE TO PREVENT GAS TANK CRACKS FROM DEVELOPING. APPEALS TO REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HYUNDAI OFFICES WERE ALSO REJECTED. DEALER SENT ME AWAY WITH SERIOUSLY LEAKING / DANGEROUS TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10211434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. RECALL # 00V314001 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) WAS FOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR IT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FELT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE GAS TANK AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Kearns, UT

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

WE PURCHASED A USED 1998 SONATA GL FOR MY DAUGHTER IN MAY 2006. IN ABOUT JULY 2006 SHE NOTICED THAT SHE SEEMED TO BE USING MORE FUEL THAN USUAL. ALSO THAT HER AND HER FRIENDS NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. CHECKING UNDER THE VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS WET ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NEAR THE REAR TIRE AND SMELLED OF GASOLINE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC UPON REMOVING THE TANK NOTED THAT ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE TANK (IF YOU WERE FACING THE REAR OF THE CAR) HAD BEEN PATCHED PREVIOUSLY WITH SOME KIND OF EPOXY. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS REPAIR WAS DONE. HE ATTEMPTED AGAIN TO REPAIR IT WITH EPOXY, THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE THEN REPLACED THE TANK WITH A USED FUEL TANK FROM ANOTHER HYUNDAI. THIS WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. HE THEN WELDED THE SPOT ON THE TANK. THIS WAS ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL AS THE TANK STARTED LEAKING AGAIN FROM THE SAME AREA. WE CHECKED WITH A DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AND HAD A FUEL LINED OR HOSE REPLACE ON OR ABOUT MARCH 29, 2001. ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V314001 A NOTE: THIS WAS SIX YEARS AGO IN 2000-2001. THIS CRACKING AND LEAKING OF FUEL IS STILL AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE AS NOTED IN THE NOTE: WHAT HAS BEEN DONE? WHAT IS THE UPDATE? IT HAS BEEN SIX YEARS. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM OF THIS FUEL TANK AND HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF IT. THEY HAVE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO RESEARCH AND COME UP WITH A SAFE RESOLUTION TO THIS DANGEROUS CRACKING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED AND MUST BE SOON. THE FOLLOWING IS THE NOTE FROM CAMPAIGN 00314001: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V314001 MAKE / MODELS : MODEL/BUILD YEARS: HYUNDAI / SONATA 1997-1998 **NOTE: THE 1997-1998 SONATA FUEL TANKS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRACKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE FOR THE CRACKING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN AFTER HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE.

NHTSA complaint #10174592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 60,000 miles Aurora, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK CRACKED. A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THIS MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10055594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eminence, IN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

A CRACK ON THE GAS TANK. ALSO, DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.

NHTSA complaint #10021914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

WE HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL LETTER FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE GAS TANK ON THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD IT HAD A CRACK IN IT AT THE TIME WE TOOK IT FOR THE FIRST RECALL LETTER FOR THIS VEHICLE,WE CAN ONLY FILL THE FUEL TANK TO 3/4 HASH MARK AND BELOW THAT PIONT IN ORDER NOT TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10002907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

WE HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL LETTER FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE GAS TANK ON THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD IT HAD A CRACK IN IT AT THE TIME WE TOOK IT FOR THE FIRST RECALL LETTER FOR THIS VEHICLE,WE CAN ONLY FILL THE FUEL TANK TO 3/4 HASH MARK AND BELOW THAT PIONT IN ORDER NOT TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10002907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLING/CHARGING

WE HAD GOTTEN THE RECALL LETTER FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE GAS TANK ON THE VEHICLE WE WERE TOLD IT HAD A CRACK IN IT AT THE TIME WE TOOK IT FOR THE FIRST RECALL LETTER FOR THIS VEHICLE,WE CAN ONLY FILL THE FUEL TANK TO 3/4 HASH MARK AND BELOW THAT PIONT IN ORDER NOT TO LEAK.

NHTSA complaint #10002907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belmar, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP LEAKED FUEL INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO SEIZE.

NHTSA complaint #750146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belmar, NJ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP LEAKED FUEL INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED ENGINE TO SEIZE.

NHTSA complaint #750146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Juan, PR

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, 00V-314, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SINCE HE LIVES IN PR THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE RECALL SERVICE ON THE ISLAND. NLM

NHTSA complaint #560849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bedford, TX

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tucson, AZ

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 1999. ON 2/26/99 I SENT THE VEHICLE TO JIM CLICK (520-292-3790) TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED BECAUSE OF GASOLINE LEAKING. THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A CRACKED FUEL TANK. ON 11/29/99 TOOK THE CAR BACK TO JIM CLICK BECAUSE GAS WAS LEAKING OUT. THEY DETERMINED AGAIN THAT THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED. ON 7/15/00 ONCE AGAIN, GAS IN LEAKING AND MAKING A PUDDLE. TOOK IT TO JIM CLICK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY CAN PUT ANOTHER GAS TANK ON THE CAR BUT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #725558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Hyundai Sonata problems

← Full 1998 Hyundai Sonata report