NHTSA Complaint #10239704 — 1999 DODGE CARAVAN

1999 DODGE CARAVAN WITH APPROX 195,000 MILES. PLASTIC FUEL LINE ATTACHED TO GAS TANK EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS RUPTURE AND SPEWED GASOLINE ONTO MUFFLER. I NOTED A TRAIL OF LIQUID COMING FROM VEHICLE WHEN BACKED OUT OF DRIVE. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE TO SEE GASOLINE POURING OUT AND ONTO HOT MUFFLER. CAR TURNED OFF IN MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND EMERGENCY EXITED VEHICLE TO BEGIN REMOVING CONTENTS IN FEAR OF EXPLOSION. DODGE REPORTS NO RECALL AND TO REPLACE FUEL LINE ENTIRE GAS TANK NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $530 FOR JUST THE PART. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC INCIDENT IF I HAD NOT NOTED THE LIQUID TRAILS BEFORE THE MUFFLER HEATED UP MORE. WHEN MOVING THE CAR OUT OF THE STREET, THE DRIVER DOOR WAS DAMAGED AS THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT. *TR