NHTSA Complaint #10351092 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

NOTICED A LEAKING GAS TANK ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS CAR THAT PERTAIN TO ISSUES WITH THE FUEL LINE, GAS TANK CAP, HEAT SHIELD AND GAS TANK. AFTER NOTICING THIS LEAK, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR INTO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF GAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR END OF THE CAR WAS FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL AND ENOUGH TO EASILY CAUSE A SERIOUS FIRE. ONCE AT THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE GAS CAP/NOZZLE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE GAS TANK. THIS NOZZLE IS VERY SMALL AND SEEMS TO BE VERY BRITTLE, EASY TO BREAK OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THESE CARS ON THE ROAD THAT SPONTANEOUSLY SEEM TO START LEAKING GASOLINE FROM THEIR FUEL TANKS. AS I WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, NEVER WENT DOWN A DIRT ROAD OR EVEN HIT A SPEED BUMP ALL OF WHICH MIGHT (IN A REMOTE CIRCUMSTANCE) CAUSE THE NOZZLE TO BREAK. *TR