Post-crash fuel tank leak

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Hyundai vehicles. Closed 13 July 2004.

Investigation
PE04041
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
16 April 2004
Closed
13 July 2004

What NHTSA investigated

PE04-041 was opened to investigate a fuel leak incident that occurred during an insurance institute for highway safety (iihs) frontal crash offset test on the subject vehicle.this investigation revealed that the vapor tube hose clamp ear was mispositioned and facing toward the fuel tank, which enabled the vapor tube hose clamp ear to puncture the fuel tank and the fuel tank to leak stoddard fluid during the iihs crash test.on april 30, 2004, hyundai motor company (hyundai) notified NHTSA of a safety defect in certain my 2004 elantra vehicles produced from september 1, 2003 through april 14, 2004.THE notification identified the mispositioning of the vapor tube hose clamp, which resulted from an early september manufacturing change at the supplier that installed the hose clamp on the vapor tube hose, as the factor contributing to this defect.if the vapor tube hose clamp is mispositioned so that one of its ears is facing the fuel tank and that vehicle is involved in high speed crash, the clamp may puncture the fuel tank resulting in fuel leakage.fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.hyundai will instruct owners to bring their vehicles to a dealer to have the position of the vapor tube hose clamp inspected and correctly repositioned, if necessary.

Recalls that followed

  1. Hyundai — Fuel System, Gasoline: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings04V37000030 July 2004582 vehicles
  2. Hyundai — Fuel System, Gasoline: Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings04V2080003 May 200444,530 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
HyundaiELANTRA2004

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.