NHTSA Complaint #10241931 — 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

I HAVE A 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE WITH 79,000 MILES ON IT. THE FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL SAYS THE FUEL FILTER NEVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I DEVELOPED A SERIOUS LEAK ON THE OUTLET CONNECTION ON THE FILTER. IT HAPPENED AFTER I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND THERE WAS NO MORE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. GAS JUST POURED OUT AND RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK, SOME DRIPPED ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONNECTION THEY USE APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. I AM A MEMBER OF THE CORVETTE FORUM AND A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD FUEL PUMP LEAKS ALSO. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR A PRESSURIZED FUEL SYSTEM TO LEAK LIKE THIS. I WAS LUCKY THE CAR DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE OR EVEN EXPLODE. THE GAS TANK APPEARS TO BE MADE OF SOME KIND OF PLASTIC. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE REGARDING THIS FUEL FILTER. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN O-RING INSIDE THE FILTER TO PROVIDE A SEAL. *TR