1997 Hyundai Accent GT

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD 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 COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.

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

Remedy. DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 SONATA FUEL TANKS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRACKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE FOR THE CRACKING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN AFTER HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE.

I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK FOR WHICH THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $99 TO INSPECT A CRACKED FUEL TANK PER RECALL IN WHICH POSSIBLY 66,086 VEHICLES OF MY TYPE ARE INVOLVED. I HAVE THE FEELING THAT THE DEALER WILL TRY NOT TO COVER THIS REPAIR. SEE MY DETAILS BELOW. RECALL CAMPAIGN: 00V314001. SHOULD THE DEALER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR? THIS CAR IS IN PERFECT SHAPE DESPITE THE MILEAGE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN HIT, TOWED OR IMPROPERLY JACKED. I HAVE A 1997 ACCENT GT ( MFG 04/16/97). I WAS NOTIFIED BY MAIL SOME MONTHS BACK THAT THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO PREVENT EXCESS PRESSURE BUILDUP IN THE TANK THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE TANK CRACKING. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, EARNHARDT HYUNDAI IN GILBERT, AZ, AND THEY REPLACED THE CAP AS SPECIFIED AND SUPPOSEDLY PRESSURE TESTED THE TANK. NOT LONG AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO SMELL FUMES WHENEVER I FILLED UP AND THE SMELL CONTINUED FOR 50 TO 75 MILES BEFORE ABATING. I DROPPED THE TANK AND CHECKED EVERYTHING I COULD FIND, REINSTALLED, AND STILL HAD THE PROBLEM. TODAY I DROPPED THE TANK AGAIN AND UPON CLOSE INSPECTION I FOUND A SMALL CRACK (ABOUT 1/2 INCH) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOP OF THE TANK. CLEARLY THE TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT "IS THERE IS AN IMPROVED TANK?" AND "WILL IT BE COVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE GAS CAP RECALL?" SINCE CAUSE AND EFFECT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT COOPERATING WITH THIS REPAIR. IT IS MY COMPLAINT AND DEMAND THAT HYUNDAI MUST PROVIDE FULL, PROMPT REMEDY FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS (FLAM