Hello and thank you for having this forum board! I did a search first and didn't see this particular question and could use some serious advice please. Okay, I have a 2000 Hyundai Sonata and long story short....it fell apart. (lol). Anyways, I started noticing that I had a fuel tank leak about a year ago. Due to replacement cost I've just been keeping only a quarter tank at a time in it (now THATS a hassle however livable) since it will only leak if more than that is put in there.

Then I got the shock of my life when my right front whole stupid wheel just crumbled inward last month while driving! The hubcap went rolling off the road and there I was (thank God it was just me AND I live in a very small town so wasn't in danger of getting smashed by a semi or anything like that!) stuck in an intersection.

Okay, so I have AAA and got it towed to my 'regular' guy (muffler brothers mechanic, been an upstanding guy to me for years) who informed me the whole subcore was rusted through and quoted me a price that floored me so of course I decided not to fix it at all. I know now that had I been taking my car to a Hyundai certified shop then I'd been informed of this recall. So I got it towed back home (now my second tow related to this incident) then I listed it on Craigslist for 500.00 explaining the issues and thank God for honest people because a man phoned me and informed me of the recall.

I got the official number to call, called it and after giving the VIN number was told where to take it for a free repair. I did ask right on the spot if I could get it towed to Jeff Wylers but she declined me. So, I made the appointment at the right place and then got my third tow. They did do the repairs on the subframe and thank God now it drives once again.

Okay, my real questions (sorry for the length of my story) is this: could the rust have caused the leaking gas tank, should they have paid for that tow (and can I do anything about it now?) and shouldn't they replace my hubcap that got destroyed from the right front tire? In a perfect world I'd love to get it back there and have Hyundai to fix my fuel tank, put a new hubcap on that tire (that cost shouldn't be more than 30 dollars) and I'd like a refund for that third tow (AAA couldn't do the third one since I'd done too many). Oh! And I never got a replacement car during the more than one week they had my car either.

So thats it. Can someone please advise me on any of these issues and what I could or should do about any of it? I'll check back here later and will hope and pray for some answers. TIA for any help you can offer me! Lisa

As far as I know Hyundai will not cover a rental car for this Campaign. However I think there may be something you can do for reimbursement on the tow. did you ask the service advisor at the dealership? You may have to call consumer affairs but calling the dealership may be a little simpler.

Rust may cause the tank to leak, or it may have seperated/cracked and the pressing point. Hard to say without checking it out. They will not cover that under warentee.

Thank you so much for replying, I really appreciate it a lot. Okay, so the main thing I am trying to figure out is -the gas tank leaks on its right side- and I'm not sure I completely understood your response. If (and thats a BIG if) the subframe caused the fuel tank leak would it be feasible to see if the Hyundai subframe recall could somehow pay for that fuel tank replacement? I'm getting it replaced no matter what but I thought it was definitely worth at least asking first to see about the gas leak/recall thing.

I am clearly ignorant on the placement underneath my car as far as to where the two items may lay in relation to one another (the subframe and the tank). Maybe all I need really is a diagram of the bottom of my car and I could answer my own questions lol. I looked online but couldn't find one anywhere.

And what about the hubcap that broke and rolled off making it impossible to re-attach to the front right wheel when the whole thing collapsed inward? I guess I'm just curious on how far Hyundai feels they are responsible for this thing crumpling underneath me that day? The hubcap really feels associated to the incident whereas the fuel tank probably has nothing to do with it and I'm just seeking a bit of advice. I understand, too, that calling the dealer will give me my best shot at fast answers but I really wanted to get myself educated a bit first so I don't sound foolish to them. I hate feeling like they're talking over my head all the time plus I just want to have a better understanding of things even before going to him personally or calling Hyundai back.

I wouldn't know how to go about trying to get a refund on that tow, but I will call the dealership today as you stated. I'm betting the dealer and Hyundai would end up passing the buck back and forth so I'll shoot a question but have no plans to push for it too hard...

Thanks again for your help and I'll check back later today/tomorrow and hope for more responses!
Lisa

hate to say this but there is no way you are going to get a free repair on the fuel tank. the suframe that was replaced free of charge for you was subject to a factory recall because the corrosion was being caused by the amount of salt put on the roads during the winter months (mainly in the salt states)

the subframe in question is mounted under the front of the car where as the fuel tank is at the rear end, there is no way that the two could be connected to each other. as the above post states, the problem with your fuel tank may well be caused by corrosion or just gerneral wear and tear.

l would advise you to push for some money back for your towing charges (getting a new hub cap might be pushing it but give it a go)

Thank you once again for your replies. Now I know that one has nothing to do with the other and I appreciate your assistance in that matter.

Let me ask you this, then....if you had to search for a used (like a salvage yard) fuel tank online which one would you recommend? I think I'm going to end up going the route of picking one up online then taking it to my mechanic. Can I ask for a suggestion on which online salvage yards have the best qualifications and reputations? Thanks again, Lisa