VehicleVerdict

1997 Hyundai Elantra fuel system problems

The 1997 Hyundai Elantra has 20 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

20

Fuel System complaints

10%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Elantra fuel system complaints by model year49 complaints1992: 1 complaints1993: 1 complaints1994: 1 complaints1995: 4 complaints1996: 14 complaints1997: 20 complaints1998: 4 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 7 complaints2001: 14 complaints2002: 33 complaints2003: 19 complaints2004: 4 complaints2005: 4 complaints2006: 3 complaints2007: 6 complaints2008: 49 complaints2009: 2 complaints2010: 6 complaints2011: 8 complaints2012: 18 complaints2013: 32 complaints2014: 24 complaints2015: 10 complaints2016: 19 complaints2017: 30 complaints2018: 23 complaints2019: 4 complaints2020: 10 complaints2022: 1 complaints2023: 4 complaints2024: 1 complaints2025: 1 complaints
Elantra fuel system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

00V095002Fuel SystemJuly 21, 2000 · 7,111 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. IF EXCESSIVE VACUUM IS APPLIED, MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION CAN 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 MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.

Consequence

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

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.

00V095001Fuel SystemMarch 28, 2000 · 84,020 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS CAN APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. IF EXCESSIVE VACUUM IS APPLIED, MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION CAN 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 MAY NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.

Consequence

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

Remedy

DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF THE FUEL TANK HAS CRACKED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.

What owners report

“SAFETY RECALL ON THE 1997 HYUNDAI ELANTRA WAGON REGARDING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE IN THE GAS TANK WAS INITIATED IN 2001. AS AN OWNER OF SUCH VEHICLE, I RESPONDED AND RECEIVED IN THE MAIL A NEW GAS CAP.........AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS THE FIX. THE TANK WAS NEVER CHECKED FOR CRACKS OR EVEN IF THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · April 27, 2000

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 1997 Hyundai Elantra have?

NHTSA has 20 complaints about the 1997 Hyundai Elantra fuel system — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Hyundai Elantra fuel system?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the fuel system: 00V095001, 00V095002.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.