NHTSA Complaint #10174124 — 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS

ON TUESDAY NOV. 22, 2006 I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN MY GARAGE WHERE MY 2002 BUICK RENDEZVOUS WAS PARKED. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE THE FILLER PIPE MEETS THE TANK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED BUICK TO SEE IF I COULD BRING THE CAR IN AND WAS TOLD YES. I WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE TANK IS PLASTIC IT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1100. PARTS AND LABOR. I ALSO ASKED IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER RENDEZVOUS AND WAS TOLD YES AND WAS ALSO TOLD THIS HAPPENS TO THE CHEVY ENVOY. I THEN ASKED IF BUICK WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS IF THIS IS AN APPARENTLY DEFECTIVE TANK AND WAS TOLD THAT A GM KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL I MUST ABSORB THE REPAIR COST. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY CAR WAS PARKED IN DOORS AND I SMELLED THE GAS LEAKING. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE POOR SOUL WHO PARKS OUT DOORS AND DOES NOT KNOW HIS TANK IS LEAKING. DOES IT TAKE FIRE OR DEATH FOR THE PEOPLE AT GM TO REALIZE THEIR MISTAKE AND FIX THESE TANKS BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW I CAN GET THE INFORMATION AS TO HOW MANY OF THESE TANKS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HOW MANY WERE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND HOW MANY REPLACED ATT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. I HAD AN EXTENDED 75,000 MILE WARRANTY THAT JUST EXPIRED LAST MONTH OR I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO ENDURE AN $1112.06 REPAIR BILL TO ENSURE MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE, A DISSATISFIED GM CUSTOMER. *JB