NHTSA Complaint #10486421 — 2001 SATURN LS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SATURN L-SERIES. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL CAP AND FUEL FILTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A MECHANIC TWICE WHO STATED THE EMISSION CONTROL MODULE SEAL ON THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE FUEL TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE EMISSION CONTROL MODULE SEAL WAS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED, THERE WERE GAS STREAKS FOUND WHERE THE GAS LEAKED OUT AROUND THE EMISSION SEAL AND ON TOP OF THE TANK. GAS HAD RAN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. UPDATED 1/7/2013*JS