2020 Hyundai Sonata fuel system problems
59 of the 194 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata name the fuel system (NHTSA’s “Fuel/Propulsion System” heading — fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the fuel system
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 59 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2024: 28 · 2025: 15 · 2026: 15
Half of the 12 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the fuel system problem between 47,000 and 89,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
194 complaints in all about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, 15 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Fuel/Propulsion System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Sonata fuel system problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the fuel system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a booming sound heard and suddenly there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced a fuel sensor.
Riding down the road June 30, 2024 and heard a loud boom coming from the back of my car. I pulled to the side of the road and walked around but saw no damage to outside of car. When I was approximately 30 miles from home my gas started dropping tremendously.
A week before my gas tank expanding I heard a loud popping noise. When driving from NC to DC, my gas tank refused to take gas and my car immediately went to empty. I was stranding on the highway and has my 2020 Hyundai towed to the Hyundai dealership in Chesterfield, VA.
I was on my way back home from Alexandria LA on when I heard like the sound of an blow out tire but wasn’t happen to look in back of car and seen back seat was blown off the area of the car and proceeded to see that the gas tank was expanded like you would see a balloon and the me car started running funny and.
It looks like the fuel tank has expanded. My back seats are now lifted & will not push down
What is on file about the fuel system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 25V796000 CriticalNov 17, 2025 · 85,043 vehicles
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Sonata vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0451 P14EE
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre fuel system problems common on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 59 owner complaints naming the fuel system on this model year (30% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the fuel system on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 25V796000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do fuel system problems show up on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 80,000 miles; half of them between 47,000 and 89,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Fuel/Propulsion System" heading cover?
Fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.