NHTSA Complaint #10230119 — 2002 SATURN LS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SATURN L-SERIES SEDAN. WHEN THE CONTACT DRIVES THE VEHICLE AND PARKS, HE SMELLS GASOLINE. HE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY LEAKS. HE WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INTENSIFIED. HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE ANY LEAKS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING 20 MILES IF THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT HE COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BOUNDS AUTOPLEX. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED, THE MECHANIC COULD SMELL THE GASOLINE; HOWEVER, HE COULD NOT LOCATE ANY LEAKS UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANAGER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A LEAK ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THE CONTACT DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AMERICAN AUTO, WHERE THEY REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND IDENTIFIED THE LOCATION OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WOULD COST $800 TO REPLACE THE TANK. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THEY INSTRUCTED HIM TO HAVE THE TANK REASSEMBLED AND THEN BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000.