NHTSA Complaint #10467137 — 2006 NISSAN MURANO

THE VEHICLE GAS GAUGE BEHAVIOR BECAME ERRATIC OVER THE LAST YEAR. AT THE MID POINT OF 1/2 FUEL IT WOULD GO TO ZERO AND RETURN LATER TO RETURN TO A DIFFERENT READING. TODAY , 7/23/2012 THE GAUGE SENDING WAS REPLACED AND THE FACTORY INSTALLED DEFECTIVE SENDING UNIT WAS FOUND TO SHOW SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NISSAN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON FUEL TANK COMPONENTS IN OTHER MODELS BUT NOT THE MURANO. NISSAN REPORTS THE MURANO IS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL FOR SENDING UNIT DEFECTS. IS THERE A RISK OF GAS TANK EXPLOSION FROM THIS DEFECT? HAS NHTSA MADE ANY JUDGMENT ABOUT NISSAN SENDING UNITS. IS THE GAUGE INTRINSICALLY SAFE SO THAT THE ARCING COULD NOT CAUSE VAPOR IGNITION? IS THE SAFETY BASIS BUILT AROUND THE TANK VAPORS BEING OUTSIDE THE COMBUSTION ZONE, I.E. TOO RICH? HAVE OTHERS REPORTED SIMILAR RISK ISSUES? THANK YOU. *TR