NHTSA Complaint #10093926 — 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER

CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS IN WARM AND HOT WEATHER, SMELL COMES IN THROUGH THE VENT SYSTEM. CHEVY MED-VED IN ARVADA COLORADO CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE EXHAUST GAS CANISTER, STATING IT WAS SATURATED WITH GAS, CAR STILL HAS THE SAME SMELL AFTER THIS REPLACEMENT. MANY OTHER REPAIR SHOPS REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I TOOK THE CAR TO. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IF FUMES OF GAS ARE EXISTENT-THIS IS MY CONCERN, NOT TO MENTION THE SMELL THAT COMES IN THE CAR IS NOT OF CLEAN AIR-MY SECOND CONCERN. SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY: THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTICED SINCE SUMMER 2000. AIR CONDITIONING AND REPAIR SHOP REFERS ME TO DEALERSHIP, ADVISES ME TO STOP DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. IN 2000 AND 2001, FAILURE TO DUPLICATE GAS LEAK SMELL WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. IN SUMMER 2004, GAS LEAK EVIDENT AT DEALERSHIP, REPLACED E-VAC CANISTER, GIVES ADVICE NOT TO "TOP OFF THE TANK WHEN FILLING UP WITH GAS." OCTOBER 2004, SMELL IS STILL EVIDENT. *NM