NHTSA Complaint #10255080 — 2001 DODGE RAM 1500

THERE IS A FUEL LINE LEAK ON MY TRUCK, 2001 DODGE RAM 1500, 5.9 LITER ENGINE, VIN (REMOVED). THE LINE CONNECTS THE TWO FUEL INJECTOR RAILS. IT IS INSTALLED WITH A BEND AND AT THE APEX IT FAILED . I CAUGHT IT THE FIRST TIME AND PURCHASED SOME HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE AND REPLACED IT. WHEN IT FAILED THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I COULD GET TO A SAFE PLACE I PROBABLY PUMPED GALLONS OF GAS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I DID NOT REALIZE IT WAS THAT BAD UNTIL I GOT OUT AND INSPECTED IT VISUALLY. I JUST HEARD THE HISSING SOUND AND SMELLED GASOLINE. THAT FAILED ABOUT A MONTH LATER. THIS TIME I PURCHASED SOME FUEL LINE TUBING. CUT AND FLARED IT TO ~3 INCH LENGTH. PUT A RADIUS ON IT SO THAT THE ENDS WOULD ALIGN UP WITH THE MALE RAIL BARBED CONNECTORS. PURCHASED NEW HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE AND CONNECTED THE BENT TUBING. I INSTALLED MALE BARBED FITTINGS ON THE TUBING SO THE FLEX TUBING WOULD BE INSTALLED TO COMPLETE THE CONNECTIONS. I'M HOPING TO ELIMINATE THE BEND STRESS ON THE TUBING SO THE FAILURE MECHANISM COULD BE ELIMINATED. I'M STILL CONCERNED THAT THE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING MIGHT PUT STRESS ON THE FLEX TUBING AND CAUSE IT TO FAIL LATER. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 2002 FROM A DEALER. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE FUEL LINE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINAL OR NOT. *TR