Model year record

1998 Hyundai Sonata

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 68 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V314001

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component: Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected: 66,086
Reported to NHTSA: 2000-10-02
Owners notified: 2001-01-15

Defect description

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 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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 AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission	11	42,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	7	117,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	7	43,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	6	80,000 mi
Electrical system	4	43,000 mi
Air bags	3	—
Air bags: frontal	3	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine	2	80,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump	2	—
Structure: body: door	2	—
Unknown or other	2	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)	1	90 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	—
Exterior lighting	1	43,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage	1	99,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting	1	—
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: filling/charging	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	281,884 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	1	—
Seats	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	—
Steering: gear box: shaft pitman	1	—
Steering: rack and pinion: rack	1	90,500 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	—
Visibility: windshield	1	—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor	1	—

The 1997 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1999 model has about a third as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.