NHTSA Complaint #10349272 — 2003 CHEVROLET EXPRESS 2500

SINCE APPROXIMATELY JANUARY OF 2010, FAMILY MEMBERS NOTICED AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND DURING FUELING. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED IT ORIGINATED FROM THE FUEL FILLER TUBE WHICH ALLOWS THE GAS TO TRAVEL FROM THE GAS CAP TO THE GAS STORAGE TANK. AUGUST 2010, THE LEAKAGE BECAME SO SEVERE FROM THE FUEL FILLER TUBE I FEARED SOMEONE COULD IGNITE (I.E. CIGARETTE, CELL PHONE, STATIC CHARGE) THE 1 TO 2 GALLONS OF FUEL LEAKED AT THE PUMP. MY EXPRESS WAS ONLY OUT-OF-COMMISSION AT DEALERSHIP FOR 2 DAYS TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE. DROPPING A AT THE TIME OF FILL UP. THE REPAIR COST $167.00 AND THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPAIRED MY 2003 CHEVY PASSENGER EXPRESS VAN SAID, "... THE CAUSE WAS A PARK BRAKE CABLE RUBBING ON THE TUBE." AS A CONSUMER AND AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER, I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESIGN DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP SIMPLY INDICATED THEY NEVER SEEN THIS ON THE EXPRESS. IT APPEARS THIS IS MORE THAN AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE. *TR