NHTSA Complaint #10292740 — 2003 SATURN VUE

LEAK IN 2003 SATURN VUE GAS TANK. I OWN A 2003 SATURN VUE WHICH HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY ABOUT 52,000 EASY HIGHWAY MILES. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH, NEVER ABUSED OR OFF-ROADED, IT HAS NEVER BEEN TOWED AND HAS HAD ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, THERE WAS A SMELL OF GAS IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, AND TO FILL IT UP AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED. WE DID THIS, AND THERE WAS A STRONG GAS SMELL IN AND OUT OF THE CAR WITH A SMALL GAS PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. WE TOOK THIS BACK TO THE MECHANIC, AND THEY FOUND A CRACK IN THE TANK/FILLER NECK. I AM ATTEMPTING TO GET THIS FIXED. I CALLED GM, BUT THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF HELPING WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A LIGHTLY USED VEHICLE, AND THAT A PART FAILED. AS THIS IS NOT A PART THAT BEARS ANY WEIGHT, DOES NOT WEAR OR SEE ANY STRESS OTHER THAN THE GAS, THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR A PLASTIC TANK TO FAIL, UNLESS IT WERE MADE OR DESIGNED POORLY. I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. IT IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. GAS TANKS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHOUT CAUSE UNLESS POORLY DESIGNED OR MANUFACTURED. *TR