My vehicle had a very strong gas smell inside and outside of the car. I found a gas puddle under the car coming from the back of the vehicle. Car was hesitating when I stepped on the gas. I was afraid it may stall. I drove the vehicle to my regular service station. Vehicle has an active fuel leak and this is a fire hazard. I was very concerned whether the vehicle would stall and cause an accident. Warranty coverage was denied.
Hyundai Santa Fe fuel smell problems
57 of the 7,720 owner complaints about the Hyundai Santa Fe describe gas smell in the cabin, most of them for the 2007 model year.
- owner complaints
- 57
- worst model year
- 2007
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,000
- typical mileage
- 96,000
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel leak 15Fuel gauge 10Check engine light 10Stalling 5Fuel pump 5Fire or smoke 4Engine failure 3Shudder 2
Trouble codes mentioned
P2A03 1P0088 1P0018 1
What owners say
Auto had a very strong gas smell after arriving at work. Check the engine and underneath the car for leaks but no fluids on the ground or my garage. Smell persisted while out of town and made appointment for inspection. The dealer service man said it was suffering numerous leaks and we’re awaiting parts. Latest info was still leaks present and would advise after making certain no leaks persist.
Vehicle began running sluggish, gas smell noticed. Vehicle was due for oil change, took car in for oil change to AAA and mentioned gas smell. AAA identified gas leaking from fuel pump posing immediate safety issue that needed to be resolved.
Over the past month, on two occasions my vehicle has emitted gasoline fumes filling my garage, and today my interior cabin smelled like gasoline. Additionally, after warming up, my vehicle experiences acceleration drop/stuttering when accelerating after idling. This happens every day. I took the car to two dealerships (San Tan Hyundai and Chapman Hyundai Scottsdale) and they weren’t able to diagnose the issue.
Engine light for car read codes PO 304 303 420 prior to sale of car per code read out taken when engine light went off shortly after my purchase. Not addressed prior to sale. Codes read and called to dealership. Car taken for service. Reported fuel smell, exceleration issues, short stallings. Same codes. Stated car was " fine." Drivable. Asked for brakes/ rotors to be checked. No documented brake service given. Stated they were "fine." Taken to local brake place next day that confirmed brake rotors needed repair. Car returned after began sputtering. Reported as fuel injector failure. A known issue with this makr and model that shown codes point to that were given to, and read at service center by mechanic at dealership twice. They did not mention replacing catalytic converter, that is damaged from injectors and an emissions issue at time of call regarding repair report. No brake report or inspection requested multiple times to be checked. Did not follow correct protocol to ensure engine was clear of fuel sprayed by injectors into pistons, intake valves, ect. They placed my self at risk for engine fire, sudden car failure. Consistently mislead and failed to do proper reseach and care regarding car issues and hazards it presented. Being a known issue with this make and model it was a failure to inspect for issue. An emissions failure and violation to allow a damaged catalytic converter to be on road. This issue with the car is in class actionable suit. It is not on the recall list. As it damages the whole car systemi including emissions, it should be forced to be on the recall list so dealerships cannot allow potential harm to their customers as well as violating emission laws.
This vehicle has experienced: • Multiple roadside breakdowns • Three fuel injector system failures • 2 complete transmission failures and replacements • Loss of propulsion • Fuel and chemical odor safety risks • A cumulative total of over 60 days out of service, currently at dealer since 4-15-26. SUMMARY OF SAFETY-RELATED FAILURES AND REPAIR HISTORY Incident #1 — May 20, 2022 (Mileage In: 4,899 | Mileage Out: 4,909) Vehicle broke down roadside in an unsafe, unlit area, requiring towing. Failure attributed to fuel injector defect. Vehicle remained in repair until May 24, 2022. Incident #2 — July 19, 2022 (Mileage In: 9,316 | Mileage Out: 9,321) Vehicle emitted strong gasoline odor, creating a potential fire and safety hazard. Vehicle was not drivable and required towing. Released July 26, 2022. During a recorded phone call, Hyundai Case Manager provided a verbal assurance that this failure would not recur. Incident #3 — September 9, 2025 (Mileage In/Out: 65,232) Vehicle exhibited engine shuddering, suspected fuel injector failure, and transmission shifting defects. Dealer released vehicle without resolving the defect on September 9, 2025. Incident #4 — January 13, 2026 (Mileage In: 72,089 | Mileage Out: 72,098) Vehicle lost power and broke down, requiring towing. Dealer determined full transmission replacement was required. All four fuel injectors were replaced again, marking the third injector-related failure. Released January 23, 2026. Incident #5 — January 30, 2026 (Mileage In: 72,467 | Mileage Out: 72,487) Vehicle overheated, lost power, and emitted chemical odors, requiring towing. Dealer confirmed cooler hose failure and fluid leakage. Released February 5, 2026. Incident #6: 4-15-26 - Sent back to dealer. Dealer still has car in shop. Advising needing new transmission. Still no confirmation as of 5-16-26 if car is repairable.
we took it in to be looked at after it had a o2 sensor go bad I changed the sensor and checked fluids I noticed the oil was a touch low and it had metal on the dipstick. I took in to dealership for repair / replacement and Hyundai denied the claim. Even after I have video proof from the dealer technician saying there is metal and bearing material in the oil. I took it to another dealership and they found metal in the oil control valve and still denied it. We got the car back because we were not provided a loaner or a rental. I called back in with concern that the car had a weird burning smell and the car would die. Then it started sounding weird as well. Then called again Saturday because I checked oil and it had fuel smell in the oil. Now today it left my family stranded on the highway. I have th 100,000 mile ten year warranty and the car is only at 83480 miles now when this all started it was at 82000. I have expressed my concern of safety before it finally left my family vernable to be injured in the lane that it died in This afternoon. Many denied claims and now very dangerous situation that was preventable and could have cause fire or death. I brought to manufactures attention early to prevent a accident happening. I was denied all the way through the process .
Was driving at 10 MPH on highway car began to cut out run rough and produce an extremely pungent smell of gasoline.. then stalled.. vehicle serviced and low pressure fuel injector had a leak causing fuel to spill onto the vehicles starter causing it to fail as well.. both were replaced under warranty by dealer. Highly concerned about fuel leaking from injector system onto a hot engine and electrical components and the aerosolized fuel. Police advised not to start vehicle due to fuel leaking and smell.
The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a fuel odor entering the vehicle. The contact stated she drove the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and exited the vehicle. The contact stated she noticed a leak under the hood on the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated she restarted the vehicle and the vehicle caught fire. The contact stated that a neighbor used a garden hose to extinguish the fire. A police or fire report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel line that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact then received a call from the dealer to inform her that the vehicle was still leaking fuel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.
My kids and I were going to town one afternoon and I started to smell gas coming from the air vents the gas smell was very strong I opened the hood and could see that it was wet I touched the spot and smelled it and it was fuel.i was worried about driving home with my children in the car so I called my brother he came looked and tracked down the issue and the fuel leak was coming from the front fuel rail.i had never heard of a fuel rail going out on a vehicle before so calling around to parts stores and auto parts recycling places to get it fixed and no one will sale me one they have all told me to take it to dealership.please help it's the only vehicle my children and i have.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe and Sonata vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
- Risk
- A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 207.
Recall number 21V524000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre Turbo engines. The fuel pipe connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not have been tightened properly.
- Risk
- An insufficiently tightened fuel pipe may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers inspected and tightened the fuel pipe connection, free of charge. The affected vehicles have been repaired and therefore no owner notification letters will be sent. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 206.
Recall number 21V308000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, the wall thickness of the right forward baffle of the fuel tank may be below specifications.
- Risk
- Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and, if necessary, replace them. All vehicles are either still at the manufacturing plant or in dealerships. No vehicles have been sold to consumers.
Recall number 06V317000 · Recall details
Questions about the Hyundai Santa Fe fuel smell
Which Hyundai Santa Fe years have gas smell in the cabin problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2007 (8 complaints), 2004 (7 complaints) and 2005 (6 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix gas smell in the cabin on the Hyundai Santa Fe?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,000 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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