NHTSA Complaint #10464196 — 1993 CADILLAC ELDORADO

A RODENT PRESUMABLY A SQUIRREL BIT 2 TINY HOLES IN THE PLASTIC HIGH PRESSURE (35 PSI) FUEL LINE. INITIALLY UNDETECTED, THE CAR WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES SPRAYING GASOLINE THE WHOLE TIME. WHEN PARKED IT PRODUCED A LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE CAR. LAST WEEK THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ONLY MUCH LARGER HOLES. THE LARGE PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE CAR WAS WARNING ENOUGH NOT TO START IT. THE FUEL SPRAYS SEVERAL FEET AND HAD THE ANGLE OF THE PUNCTURES BEEN SLIGHTLY HIGHER IT WOULD HAVE SPRAYED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THE ENSUING FIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC AND AN UNAWARE DRIVER WOULDN'T HAVE ESCAPED WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY AS THE FUEL BEGINS TO SPRAY JUST BEFORE STARTING, AND CONTINUES AS LONG AS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE LINE HAS SEVERAL INCHES EXPOSED AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO A SQUIRREL. I HAVE THE PIECE OF LINE THAT WAS PUNCTURED. I INSTALLED A RABBIT CAGE WIRE GUARD AROUND THE EXPOSED LINE. THIS I BELIEVE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS INCIDENT IS NOT ISOLATED. I POSTED ON THE CADILLAC DISCUSSION BOARD AND RECEIVED OTHER REPLIES OF THE SAME TYPE OF INCIDENT. *JS