The AC/heating blower motor circuit on my 2020 Hyundai Sonata failed intermittently due to extreme electrical resistance overheating and melting the terminal pins inside the engine fuse box. I took it to the dealership and they inspected it said it was out of warranty but it needed part number 18980-09910-FFF and wiring kit 91300L1000-FF to repair at a cost of 780.00 including parts, tax, and labor. This matches the severe design defect acknowledged in Hyundai TSB #25-EE-002H or alternative TSB-24-EEOO-1H. I filed case number 43138757 with Hyundai corporate. For now this just affects my air conditioning. However, the root failure is a known design defect that presents a severe vehicle fire hazard and potential loss of windshield defrosting capability, lights, etc. if the whole electrical system should fail. As you should know the engine bay fuse box (which currently has melted parts) is the "brain" for the car's electrical distribution. It doesn't just power my AC fan; it holds the fuses and relays for the cars fuel pump, engine control module (ECM), headlights, and electronic power steering. If left unfixed and over time as the plastic melts, copper wires will cross and touch each other, causing a massive short circuit. My engine could suddenly cut out and stall while I am traveling at 70 mph on the highway, instantly killing my power steering and power brakes and putting me in extreme danger. Again not to mention the fire hazard this situation is likely to cause. This should be addressed via a mandatory safety recall, so that I don’t have to pay for a known engineering design defect and in case the TBS bulletin fails or further unknown damage has already occurred.
2020 Hyundai Sonata: fuel pump failure
8 of the 183 complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata describe fuel pump failure.
- owner complaints
- 8
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- recalls
- 1
Fuel pump failure by model year
What owners say
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the family inside the vehicle, a strong gasoline odor was inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the fuel gauge was lowering quickly. Upon exiting the vehicle, the contact became aware of gasoline gushing heavily out of the vehicle onto the ground. Two months prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer due to an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V796000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the recall repair was not performed because the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was determined that the gas valve was not properly fixed. The abnormal sound in the rear of the vehicle was due to the fuel expansion, which caused the tank to rupture and melt. The melting caused the fuel pump to expand and melt, causing structural damage to the body of the vehicle. The structural expansion caused the rear passenger seats to raise up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
Something went wrong in the fuel tank that caused it to become so pressurized that the tank expanded up and out so far that it pushed the exhaust pipe down and my back seat of out place. The only issue I had was the car was accelerating slower than usual but it wasn’t even enough of a difference for someone who didn’t drive it every day to be able to tell. It did this for two days then the check engine light came on and it just read “powertrain”. Began slow acceleration on 06.08.2025. Check engine light came on the night of 06.09.2025. I took it to the dealership 06.10.2025. I immediately took it into the dealership and they told me the car could have exploded. There was a previous recall for the fuel pump that I had replaced at the dealership. After seeing my car, they said their techs and the techs at HMA have never seen one this bad and that maybe after replacing the recall part the system update failed in my vehicle and the issue was never actually resolved.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle made a booming sound. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact then started to hear the sound outside the vehicle and noticed that the vehicle was losing gasoline very quickly. The vehicle started to stall, and the gas tank was almost empty when the contact arrived home. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with floor damage, and the floor damage showed deformation on the rear passenger’s seat, and the fuel cover had popped off due to the deformation, which caused the noise in the cabin. The vehicle was towed to another dealer where the vehicle was repaired, with a new fuel pump cover, and the rear seats were replaced. On another occasion, the fuel pump failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,524.
The component that failed is the fuel tank system. While driving, the fuel tank expanded, causing significant damage to the rear section of the vehicle. This issue resulted in the rear seat rising up, and the bottom rear seat cushion detaching from its securing clamps. The check engine light came on, and gas started leaking from the fuel cap. The fuel tank has moved upward by about 3 to 5 inches, no longer resting on the factory fuel tank straps. The sheet metal underneath the rear seat was crumpled, and the fuel pump access cover bent. The vehicle is currently at College Park Hyundai and is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of my children were significantly compromised. The loud popping noise startled us, and the fact that the rear seat lifted and detached posed a serious risk to the passengers in the back seat. Additionally, the gas leak created a fire and explosion hazard, putting all occupants of the vehicle and other drivers on the road at serious risk. This incident potentially violates the Fuel System Integrity (49 CFR 571.301) regulation, which ensures that a vehicle's fuel system is designed to prevent leaks and fire hazards. Moreover, the unexpected movement and detachment of the rear seat could be a breach of Occupant Protection (49 CFR 571.207 and 571.208), which govern the safety of seating systems and occupant crash protection. The issue has been confirmed by the service center at College Park Hyundai, where the vehicle is currently being inspected and evaluated. The vehicle is being inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized service center at College Park Hyundai. It has not yet been inspected by police or insurance representatives at this time. The check engine light came on immediately after the loud popping noise and the detachment of the rear seat cushion. Additionally, the gas gauge suddenly dropped to empty after the incident, even though the tank was not empty prior to the malfunction.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle, after which the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway, moved the rear seat, and observed that the fuel pump was protruding upwards. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the purge valve, resulting in damages to the fuel pump and fuel tank. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Sonata. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle. The contact then heard a loud pop and pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway. After a visual inspection, the contact observed gasoline leaking from the fuel tank filler neck, even though the access door and gas cap were both securely closed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the canister purge valve, causing the fuel tank to swell, resulting in damages to the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 47,000.
I have a 2020 Hyundai Sonata SEL Plus. For the past month I been dealing with my CEL regarding Fuel Tank Pressure sensor and I end up replacing one from hyundai itself. After doing that I notice my fuel tank has expanded and I’m currently dealing with Hyundai & the dealership to see if they can make a recall regarding this issue or just fix it period since it’s a big safety concern. This been happening since mid April. My back seat lifts up from time to time and my fuel pump cover is bent. Below I’ll add some pictures so you guys can see how my tank straps are actually bent which is very uncommon for it to happen. I recently took it to the dealer last week after reaching out to hyundai corporate and they took pictures and send it for prior approval to see if hyundai is willing to replace this. I can’t fill up my gas tank, I constantly have to out between $15-$25 the most due to fuel mileage issue since the tank has expanded I get fuel mileage inconsistency
Service bulletins that may apply
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the check valve. The fuel tank assembly will be inspected for damage and replaced if necessary. Additionally, dealers will inspect and update the engine control unit software. All repairs will be performed as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 286. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on November 19, 2025.
Recall number 25V796000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata fuel pump
Is fuel pump failure a common problem on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
8 of 183 owner complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Sonata (4%) mention fuel pump failure. The model year with the most reports is 2011.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata?
There is 1 recall and 4 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2020 Hyundai Sonata
Check engine light 32Stalling 11Fuel gauge 10Fuel smell 9Jerking 8Overheating 7Loss of power 6Fuel leak 5Hesitation 5Screen failure 5Warning lights 5
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