Hyundai recalls Sonata 1.6T over purge valve wear and fuel leaks
B. Naumkin
Hyundai recalls Sonata 1.6-liter turbo for purge valve wear that can deform fuel tank and cause leaks. Dealers will fit a new valve and add pressure software.
Hyundai has announced a recall of Sonata sedans equipped with the 1.6-liter turbo engine due to the risk of premature wear of the purge system valve. According to the company, the defect can deform the fuel tank and, in some cases, damage it through contact with hot exhaust components. The manufacturer has officially recorded seven fuel-leak incidents in the United States and Canada between 2023 and 2025.
Owners will be notified by mail by January 16, 2026. Dealers will install an updated valve, inspect the fuel tank, and repair or replace it if necessary. They will also add software that monitors internal tank pressure, which may rise because of backflow from the turbocharger. This combination of hardware updates and pressure control looks like a practical way to address wear while adding an extra safeguard.
The issue concerns cars built before the 2024 facelift, when Hyundai dropped the 1.6T from the Sonata lineup. The sedan now supplied to the U.S. comes from South Korea and is offered with gasoline and hybrid powertrains, including an HTRAC AWD version.
The recall does not cover higher-output versions such as the Sonata N Line, and it underscores how closely fuel and vapor systems need to be monitored even on relatively recent models.
