NHTSA Complaint #10432620 — 2001 BMW 330I

THE FUEL PUMP/TANK SENDING UNIT BEHIND PASSENGER'S SEAT IS LEAKING FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. STRONG GASOLINE VAPORS ARE PRESENT IN THE CABIN AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW MINUTES AFTER A FILL UP. THESE VAPORS POSE A SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSION/FIRE HAZARD SHOULD SOMEONE BE SMOKING AS THEY ENTER THE VEHICLE OR SHOULD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND BECOME AN IGNITION SOURCE. WHEN THE FUEL PUMP/SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY IS VIEWED FROM THE TOP, THERE IS AN ENCLOSED PLASTIC CYLINDRICAL PIECE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER WITH A BALL SHAPED END, THAT IS LEAKING AT THE TOP. FAILURE OF THE FUEL/PRESSURE RETAINING PLASTIC COMPONENTS ON FUEL PUMPS AND SENDER UNITS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS SIMILAR (UNREPORTED) LEAKING PROBLEMS ARE FOUND WHEN RESEARCHING SIMILAR VEHICLES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB. REFERENCE : ODI 10426736. *TR