NHTSA Complaint #10457595 — 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA

THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS/ENGINE FUMES NOTABLE IN THE VEHICLE ON OCCASION. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN CONSISTENTLY, HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME COMMON FACTORS TO WHEN THE SMELL IN NOTICEABLE. THESE FACTORS INCLUDE: 1) THE ENGINE MUST BE HOT, GENERALLY HAVING BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES OR MORE. THE SMELL IS NEVER NOTICEABLE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, SUCH AS AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. 2) THE VEHICLE MUST BE EITHER MOVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS OF <25 M.P.H., OR SITTING STILL. EXAMPLES WOULD INCLUDE DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOTS, SITTING AT AN IDLE FOR A LONG PERIOD AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE AFTER SITTING IN A PARKING LOT FOR AWHILE, ETC. 3) WHEN THE GAS / FUME SMELL IS NOTABLE WITH GREATEST INTENSITY, IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER A HOT ENGINE SOAK OF 15~45 MINUTES AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OF 30 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR ABOVE AND IN CONDITIONS OF MODERATE- TO HIGH-HUMIDITY. EXAMPLES INCLUDE DURING PERIODS OF HEAVY FOG, RAINY DAYS, SNOWSTORMS, ETC. ON OCCASION, THE SMELL IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT IT IS NO LONGER COMFORTABLE TO REMAIN IN THE VEHICLE. ROLLING DOWN A WINDOW AT SPEEDS >25 M.P.H. TO CLEAR OUT THE CABIN AIR, FOLLOWED BY ACTIVATING THE HVAC RECIRCULATION BUTTON WILL LESSENS IMMEDIATE RECURRENCE THE SMELL TO SOME EXTENT. FINDING WAYS TO "MASK" THE SMELL ARE OF LESSER CONCERN THAN DETERMINING WHY THE SMELL EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR THIS CONCERN TWICE, WITH NEITHER TRIP TO THE SERVICE BAY HAVING RESOLVED THE CONCERN. WHILE IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISSUE CAUSING IMMEDIATE DANGER (NO NOTICEABLE FUEL LEAKS OR SIGNS OF FIRE), THE SMELL OF GAS AND ENGINE FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN IS A BIT CONCERNING, BOTH FROM A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IN THE FUTURE, AND/OR EXPOSURE TO CARBON DIOXIDE AND OTHER NOXIOUS FUMES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. I WILL RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR A THIRD VISIT TO RESOLVE THIS CONCERN. *TR