NHTSA Complaint #10329969 — 2002 APRILIA MILLE

2002 APRILIA RSV MILLE MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK DEVELOPS A LEAK AROUND FUEL PUMP BASE PLATE DUE TO WARPING OF THE GAS TANK MATERIAL. ON THIS MODEL GAS TANK IS MADE FROM PLASTIC COMPOSITE WITH EMBEDDED METAL BOLT NUTS FOR ATTACHING THE FUEL PUMP. AREA BETWEEN BOLT MOUNTS WARPS FROM EXPOSURE TO ETHANOL PRESENT IN GASOLINE (INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM APRILIA DEALER). THIS CAUSES FUEL LEAKS AND CAN RESULT IN FIRE SINCE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED ON TOP OF REAR CYLINDER (2 CYLINDER ENGINE) EXHAUST HEADER. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT I MAYBE ABLE TO GRIND DOWN OUTSIDE OF THE GAS TANK TO FLATTEN THE AREA WHERE PUMP MOUNTS, HOWEVER THEY WARNED ME THAT IT WOULD DEVELOP A LEAK IN THE FUTURE AND I CAN ONLY DO THIS PROCEDURE ONE TIME. DEALER OFFERED TO DO IT FOR ME IF I CONSENTED TO PAYING FOR LABOR. I CONTACTED APRILIA USA, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS. *TR