NHTSA Complaint #10463500 — 2003 FOREST RIVER SUNSEEKER

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL RV WITH UNLEADED GASOLINE, THE GAS LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND AND CAUSED A SPILL OF APPROXIMATELY 2 GALLONS OF GAS. SUBSEQUENTLY, WE TOOK THE MOTORHOME TO A MECHANIC AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FILTER HOSE LEAKED GAS FROM HOLES IN IT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. HE HAS NEVER SEEN A LEAK LIKE THIS ONE, EVEN ON 40-50 YEAR OLD VEHICLES. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO REPAIR, BECAUSE A HOLDING TANK MUST BE REMOVED TO ACCESS THE HOSE AND THE REPAIR WAS TOO EXTENSIVE FOR MY FAMILY WHILE TRAVELING. THE MECHANIC DROVE THE RV TO A GAS STATION AND FILLED IT WITH GAS, SO WE COULD TRAVEL HOME, APPROXIMATELY 140 MILES. THE MECHANIC ASSURED ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE THE EXHAUST WAS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE GAS WOULD NOT LEAK AFTER IT REACHED THE FUEL TANK. I WILL FIND A LOCAL MECHANIC OR RV REPAIR SHOP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE. THE MECHANIC ESTIMATED THAT THE NEW HOSE WOULD COST ABOUT $30.00, BUT REMOVING THE HOLDING TANK TO ACCESS THE HOSE WOULD REQUIRE EXTENSIVE MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC CHARGED $108.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IF THE MANUFACTURER HADN'T ROUTED THE HOSE BEHIND THE TANK, THE MECHANIC WOULD HAVE REPAIRED IT IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES. *TR