NHTSA Complaint #10213328 — 2000 KIA SPORTAGE

VEHICLE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL, PROBABLY FOR QUITE SOME TIME BEFORE IT BECAME VISUALLY APPARENT. I COULD SEE GASOLINE DRIPPING ON THE PAVEMENT IN MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK. THE KIA DEALER TOLD ME THE GAS TANK HAD RUSTED THROUGH ON THE BOTTOM, AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE BOTTOM OF THE GAS TANK HOLDER HAS HOLES IN IT FOR VENTILATION. THESE HOLES ALLOW ROAD DEBRIS TO LODGE BETWEEN THE HOLDER AND THE TANK, EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE CORROSION. DEALER ALSO TOLD ME THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED, BEFORE THEY EVEN DROPPED THE TANK. DEALER TOLD ME THE ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, THERE WAS NO RECALL AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CHARGES. *TR