NHTSA Complaint #10462455 — 2002 CHEVROLET S10

MYSELF AND TWO FRIENDS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BAD GASONLINE CAPS AT APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS OF VEHICLE LIFE. THE WEAR AND TEAR OVER 10 YEARS HAS DIMINISHED THE SEAL CAPACITY OF THE GASOLINE CAP. THE GASOLINE CAP DEFECT OR NORMAL WEAR/TEAR SEEMS TO RESULT IN EVAP CANNISTERS BECOMING SATURATED, WHICH RESULTS IN AN IDENTIFIED SMALL LEAK IN THE SYSTEM DURING SMOG CHECK IN CA. PERHAPS, THE COINCIDENCE OF GAS CAPS SEALS WORN AND EVAP CANNISTER NEEDING REPLACEMENT AT THE SAME TIME WITH A FEW PEOPLE IS STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT, BUT THE COST TO REPLACE A GAS CAP ~$30.00 AND EVAP CANNISTER ~$300.00 IS SIGNIFICANT. WHAT ADVISORIES OR IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE MADE IN THIS AREA? I RECOMMEND THREE SOLUTIONS: 1. REPLACEMENT GASOLINE CAP SCHEDULE BY MANUFACTURER; 2. NOTIFICATION TO CAR OWNER TO REGULARLY CHECK GASOLINE CAP SEALS AFTER 7 YEARS BY MANUFACTURER; AND/OR 3. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT MANUFACTURERS TO IMPROVE THE DESIGN OF GASOLINE CAPS TO LAST LONGER. *JS