Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Hyundai Sonata submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE FUEL LINE HAS RUSTED UNDER THE THE CAR. THIS IS WHERE A BRACKET WAS HOLDING THE LINES TWO FUEL LINES AND TWO BRAKE LINES UP .THIS IS A MAJOR FUEL LOST AND I CONSIDER VERY DANGEROUS.
WHILE DRIVING OUR 2006 I NOTICED AFTER STOPPING AT A STORE AND GOT BACK IN IT WAS HARD TO START. IT FINALLY DID START, THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THE GAS GAUGE HAD MOVED FROM 3/4 OF A TANK TO 1/2. I THOUGHT MAYBE I JUST LOOKED AT IT WRONG. BUT BY THE NEXT STOP LIGHT I WAS DOWN TO 1/4 TANK. BY THIS TIME I WAS CLOSED TO HOME, SO WHEN GOT HOME AND GOT OF THE CAR I NOTICED A TRAIL OF GAS BEHIND ME. I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND GAS WAS POURING DOWN FROM THE GAS TANK ON TOP OF EXHAUST. HOW IT DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE I HAVE NO IDEA. I FOUND THAT THE GAD LINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE MAIN GAS LINE HAD RUSTED AND UNDER PRESSURE IT BLEW. THANK GOD WE DINT GIVE THIS CAR TO OUR GRANDDAUGHTER AS WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING.
TAKATA RECALL 1)WHEN THE ENGINE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN A SPEED OF 25 MPH OR LOWER WHOLE BODY IS SHAKING AND VIBRATING LIKE PULLING UP AND DOWN CONTINUOUSLY. 2)IN MOTION SOMETIMES ENGINE IS DOING SOME DIFFERENT KIND OF NICE AND IT LOSES ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. 3) AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. 4) OVERALL MY CAR IS GIVING SO LESS MILEAGE THAN EXPECTED BY YOU .
FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN I FILL TO A FULL TANK
I'M HAVING A FEW ISSUES WITH MY CAR. SOME OF THE ISSUES I'M HAVING ARE: MY LIGHTING/HEADLIGHTS, MY FUEL LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND CAUSE GAS TO LEAK FROM MY VEHICLE, IT SOMETIMES WILL NOT START OR TURN ALL THE WAY OVER, AND THE BRAKES ON MY CAR. I HAVE LOOKED UP SOME RECALLS FOR MY SPECIFIC TYPE OF CAR AND SOME OF THEM MATCH THE ISSUES OF WHICH I'M CURRENTLY HAVING. ALL OF THE ISSUES I HAVE ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND WOULD BE DANGEROUS FOR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME.
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK, THE BRAKE AND FUEL LINES WERE SEVERELY RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK, THE BRAKE LINES AND FUEL LINES, AND THE CROSS MEMBERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. DJR
FUEL PUMP FAILED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS REPORTED SCORCH MARKS ON THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY, AND A MELTED/FUSED SCREEN. HE TELLS ME THAT THE FAILURE/SHORT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. *TR
BACK WHEN I PURCHASED THIS 2006 SONATA I WENT BACK IN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON THE CAR WAS IN LESS THAN TEN MINUTES DEALER SAID ALL SET AND I WENT IN TO A LOCAL GARAGE FOR INSPECTION BUT THE CAR LEGALLY SHOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION DUE TO SAID AIRBAG ISSUE AND THE GENTLEMAN PUT IT THROUGH BUT SAID AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY DUE TO THE FUSE WAS PULLED PUT ONE IN BEEN ON SINCE AND IT IS ALL OVER HYUNDAI FORUM SAME PROBLEM/2 MY FRONT SUSPENSION IS RATTLING BAD AND COME TO FIND OUT SAME THING ON HYUNDAI FORUM THEY ALWAYS DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS NOISE IS/3 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CODE SEARCH SAYS EVAP LEAK BUT NEED 2 SAY YES ITS NOT FUEL CAP THIS IS A KNOWN SONATA PROBLEM FUEL TANK IS PLASTIC AND THERE IS A PART IN TOP THAT IS METAL RUST OUT AND CAUSES FUEL TANK TO CRACK THIS PART ALONE IS 1500 PLUS LABOR THESE CARS ARE LEMONS WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER ONE THIS IS ALL IN 2 YRS OF OWNING NOT COUNTING THERE WAS A RECALL I JUST HAD DONE BUT NEVER GOT NOTICE ON ANY PRIOR TO HIS I WANT TO SEE ALL THAT WERE SUPPOSEDLY DONE THANKS VERY DIS SATISFIED CUSTOMER. *TR
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON SAID SMALL EVAP LEAK ANY WAY WENT TOO DEALER AND MECHANIC SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED ON HUNDREDS OF CARS IT IS A LEAK IN TOP OF FUEL TANK AND SAYS GOTTA REPLACE TANK AND COUPLE OF OTHER PARTS ON TOP OF TANK GONNA COST 1500.00 PLUS FOR TANK AND ALL PARTS AND LABOR REALLY THESE CARS ARE LEMONS WHO CAN AFFORD ALL THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER AS ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW GAS CAP ($200). DID NOT FIX PROBLEM AND WHEN RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK AS IT WAS ROTTED. I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR BUT HOW DOES A 6 YEAR OLD CAR HAVE A ROTTED GAS TANK? DEALERSHIP (BALISE TOYOTA, SPRINGFIELD, MA) CLAIMED "WELL THAT IS NEW ENGLAND FOR YA". I AM OVER 70 YEARS OLD AND HAVE OWNED A NUMBER OF CARS IN NEW ENGLAND OVER THE YEARS, NONE OF WHICH HAVE EVER HAD A ROTTED GAS TANK. *TR
DRIVING FROM BAKERSFIELD, CA TO AUBURN, CA ON 12-20-12. FILLED WITH FUEL ABOUT 15 MILES BEFORE AUBURN. PARKED IN AUBURN, CAR WOULD NOT START ABOUT 3 HRS LATER. TOWED TO GARAGE ON 12-21-12, STARTED AT GARAGE, COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. DROVE FROM BARSTOW, CA TO PAYSON, AZ ON 12-27-12. WOULD NOT START NEXT MORNING. MECHANIC CAME ON 12-30-12, CAR STARTED. HAD MECHANIC COME ON 1-16-13 TO CHECK FUEL PUMP. STARTED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, FOUND THAT THE POWER CONNECTOR FROM THE PUMP TO THE CONNECTOR AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK HAD BURNT, CORRODED. DISCOLORED CONNECTIONS. THIS IS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK! HAVE HAD TO ORDER A NEW PUMP ASSEMBLY FROM HYUNDAI. DON'T IF IT IS AN UPGRADED PART. *TR
2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT . THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START IN THE MORNING AND WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD NO PRESSURE, THAT THE HOUSING WAS MELTED/BURNED AND HAD A FAULTY/WORN CONNECTION. AS SUCH, THE PUMP WAS INOPERABLE CAUSING THE FAILURE. HYUNDAI OF HUNTINGTON, NY STATED BACKORDER OF FUEL PUMPS WITH NO ETA FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND HOUSING WAS ALSO UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AS "NOT COVERED BY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY." INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HAVING DIFFICULTY FINDING SUITABLE REPLACEMENT/NEW PART(S). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. *TR
MY CAR IS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA AND LAST NIGHT MY CARS' HEADLIGHTS DIM OR SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY, THE FAN SPEED SEEMS TO DROP FOR A SECOND ALSO BUT NEVER SHUTS COMPLETELY OFF. I NOTICED LAST NIGHT MY TACHOMETER WOULD ONLY GO TO A 1 AT THE LOWEST. IT WOULD GO HIGHER AS I DROVE BUT NEVER BACK DOWN TOWARDS A 0 OR 1. YOU COULD FEEL THE HARSH VIBRATION AS I SAT AT A STOPLIGHT WHILE IT RESTED AT 1. I ALSO NOTICED THAT IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANS IS SLIPPING OR SOMETHING AS I TAKE OFF OR TRY TO TURN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THIS WITH THIS CAR. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!! WHAT IF THE GAS PEDAL STICKS OR THE LIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING??? I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND YOU BET I WOULD SUE OR MY FAMILY WOULD ON MY BEHALF IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO US AS A RESULT OF HYUNDAI NOT ISSUING SOME KIND OF RECALL. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ASAP AS TO AVOID ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CORRECTED BY A SIMPLE RECALL. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED HOME. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR; ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD STARTING; THIS IS 3.3L V6 ENGINE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THIS WAS ON AND BEFORE 22 SEP 2009 WITH ABOUT 48,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. GAS SMELL GETTING STRONGER AND PERSONAL MECHANIC FOUND RIGHT FRONT FUEL INJECTOR LEAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN COLD. ALSO MILEAGE HAS DROPPED ABOUT 10 MPG DURING LONG ROAD TRIP. MECHANIC RECOMMENDS CHANGE OF FUEL INJECTOR O-RING SEAL(S) ON THE LEAKING INJECTOR AND ALL OTHERS (5 MORE). I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A WARRANTY REPAIR. STILL WAITING TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY/FIRE ISSUE WITH RAW FUEL BEING SPRAYED ON THE HOT ENGINE. *TR
DRIVER OF 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA, MAKING UPHILL TURN INTO A FLAT PARKING SPACE EXPERIENCES ENGINE POWER SURGE THAT PROPELS VEHICLE OVER SIGN STANDARD, FLATTENING SIGN AND REQUIRING TOW TRUCK TO EXTRICATE VEHICLE. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN SYNDICATED REPORTER JAMES R. HEALEY OF USATODAY NOTED SAME DANGEROUS POWER SURGE IN TEST VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2005. OWNER OF INCIDENT VEHICLE HAD SAME COMPLAINT AND ASKED DEALER TO CHECK DEFECT ON PRIOR OCCASION. DEALER SERVICE REPORTED NO PROBLEMS. IN THIS INCIDENT VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER FOR SAFETY AND DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, AGAIN DEALER SERVICE REPORTS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL. *TR
THIS ISSUE INVOLVES THE COMBUSTION OF A PLASTIC FUEL PUMP POWER SUPPLY CONNECTOR INSIDE THE FUEL TANK OF A 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA. A PIN ON THE OUTER CONNECTOR WAS ALSO BURNT. THE PUMP ACTUALLY STILL WORKS - IT ONLY QUIT BECAUSE THE CONNECTORS BURNT - INCLUDING THE CONNECTOR INSIDE THE TANK TO THE POINT THAT AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION COULD NOT BE MADE. IF THE FUEL PUMP MOTOR WORE OUT AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES (USUALLY WELL OVER 100K IN MOST CARS - NOT 68K) THEN I MAY UNDERSTAND AN ARGUMENT FOR THE HYUNDAI SERVICE MANAGER'S CONTENTION THAT THIS IS "NORMAL WEAR". I BELIEVE THAT A CONNECTOR BURNING INSIDE A FUEL TANK IS NOT "NORMAL WEAR" AND IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD. HYUNDAI MOTORS AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE BOTH BEEN NOTIFIED OF MY CONCERNS AND THEY SHOW NO INDICATION OF DOING ANYTHING TO CORRECT IT OTHER THAN TO REPLACE THE PUMP AT MY EXPENSE - UNDOUBTEDLY WITH ONE OF THE SAME DESIGN. I TOOK THE OLD PUMP FROM THEIR SHOP AND I AM KEEPING IT FOR FUTURE EVIDENCE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN TRYING TO RE-START THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED. I DON'T PLAN ON KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER 68K MILES BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED THAT WE MAY NEED AN UNDERTAKER INSTEAD OF A TOW TRUCK THE NEXT TIME. *TR
THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO A 2007 HYUNDAI SONATA LIMITED (NO OPTION FOR 2007 WAS AVAILABLE IN DROP DOWN MENU) (ISSUE 1) AT OR AROUND THE INITIAL FEW DAYS AFTER TAKING DELIVERY I BEGAN TO NOTICE ABRUPT VIBRATION AND SHAKING COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL; SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO FEEL IN THE SEAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED THE VEHICLE TO BE IN MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATION. NONETHELESS, DEALER ATTEMPTED WHEEL BALANCE AND RADIAL FORCE BALANCE AS A "GOOD WILL GESTURE." PROBLEM IS NOW MORE ARTICULATED AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. (ISSUE 2) ENGINE EMITS A RATTLE NOISE SIMILAR TO LIFTER CLATTER UPON START AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT OPERATION; PARTICULARLY IN COLDER WEATHER. TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER WAS REPLACED AND ONE NOISE WAS RESOLVED BUT THE CONTINUAL NATURE OF THE LIFTER CLATTER REMAINS. DEALERSHIP AND HYUNDAI REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. (ISSUE 3) FUEL SLOSHING COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CLAIMS THIS TO BE NORMAL AND NOT A SAFETY RISK. SOUND IS MORE PRONOUNCED AT OR AROUND 3/4 TANK. BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *NM
WHEN FUEL TANK IS FULL AND CAR IS STOPPING AND ACCELERATING, BUBBLING SOUND COMES FROM THE FUEL TANK. I WENT DEALER BUT THEY SAID IT IS NORMAL AND THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I CALLED HYUNDAI CONSUMER SERVICE, THEY SAID FUEL TANK MAKES SOUND BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHANGED MATERIAL OF THE TANK. THEY ALSO SAID OTHER CAR'S FUEL TANK MAKE SAME SOUND.*JB
I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 HYUNDAI SONATA IN JUNE 2006. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I NOTICED UPON FILLING UP THE TANK WITH GAS I COULD HEAR A LOT OF NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. IT IS A LOUD SLOSHING OF THE GAS THAT CAN BE HEARD INSIDE THE CAR. IT SPLASHES BACK AND FORTH UPON STOPPING AND ACCELERATING AND IS LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD OVER THE RADIO. IT ALSO CREATES SUCH A NOISE THAT MAKES IT SEEM LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE. IT SOUNDS AT TIMES AS IF I AM DRAGGING SOMETHING WHEN STOPPING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES INQUIRING ABOUT THIS AND HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP. ON OCTOBER 16, 2006 I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO HYUNDAI TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM INSPECTED, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD SUPER SENSITIVE HEARING AND THAT IT IS A AND I QUOTE "A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I FEEL THAT I PURCHASED A NEW CAR AND I SHOULD NOT HEAR A PEEP OUT OF IT. THIS GREATLY CONCERNS ME BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT WITH THE CAR AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS WHEN I AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH HYUNDAI MYSELF. I AM ALSO CONCERNED SAFETY WISE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS DEALING WITH FUEL. ALTHOUGH THE NOISE STOPS WHEN THE TANK FALLS BELOW 1/2 I SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO FILL MY GAS TANK UP FOR FEAR OF WHAT COULD GO WRONG. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. THANK YOU. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED TO THE OR FULL MARK, THERE WAS A CREAKING NOISE HEARD WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOOSE AND THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE DEALERSHIP TIGHTENED THE SPARE TIRE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. THE THIRD AND LAST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE THE GAS TANK WAS MADE OF PLASTIC, THE TANK MAY BE EXPANDING RESULTING IN THE CREAKING NOISE.
1. REAR PASSENGER SIDE REPEAT RATTLING THUMPING NOISE IN SUSPENSION AT SPEEDS BELOW 40 MPH CAUSING DISTURBANCE AND AGITATION TO CABIN DRIVER OR PASSENGERS 2. REAR PASSENGER SIDE DRONING-HUMMING ECHO NOISE MORE NOTICEABLE OVER 40 MPH AND AT STEADY MAINTAINED SPEED CAUSING DISTURBANCE AND AGITATION TO CABIN DRIVER OR PASSENGERS 3. SLOSHING NOISE OF GASOLINE IN GAS TANK AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED AND A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED IN AND AROUND THE GAS TANK AREA AFTER THE GAS TANK IS FILLED CAUSING DISTURBANCE AND AGITATION TO CABIN DRIVER OR PASSENGERS. *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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