NHTSA Complaint #10291793 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH A 4.0 V6. RECENTLY I WAS FILLING UP WITH GAS AND IT BEGAN CLICKING OFF EVERY 1/2 GALLON. I EVENTUALLY FILLED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I TRIED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, THINKING IT WAS THE PUMP, SAME PROBLEM. ENDED UP TAKING APART THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM LOOKING FOR A CLOG. NO SUCH LUCK. FINALLY DECIDED IT MUST BE THE EVAP/CHARCOAL CANISTER. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE, SO FORD OBVIOUSLY KNOWS ABOUT IT. BUT I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO COME IN, AND HAD NO OTHER VEHICLE TO DRIVE, SO I JUST CONTINUED FILLING UP FOR 30 MINUTES JUST TO GET A FULL TANK. THE WORST PART WAS THAT YOU COULD HEAR THE BUBBLING DOWN THE LINE, SINCE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WOULD NOT PROPERLY RELEASE PRESSURE FROM THE TANK. SOMETIMES THE GAS WOULD EVEN COME BACK OUT THE FILL HOLE AND SPRAY ME WITH GAS (A REAL SAFETY ISSUE). I ENDED UP GETTING THE PART VERY CHEAP OFF OF AN JUNKED EXPLORER. BUT THE PART FROM A DEALER WAS OVER $400. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU. *TR