NHTSA Complaint #10490646 — 2007 DODGE NITRO 4X2

WHEN FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, AFTER PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF, APPROXIMATELY 1/2 GALLON OF GAS OVERFLOWS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE LAST TIME, GAS WAS PROPELLED INTO MY FACE AND ALL OVER MY CLOTHES. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE VALVE THAT PREVENTS GAS LEAKAGE DURING/AFTER A ROLLOVER CRASH. THIS IS WORRISOME IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED WITH THE OTHER 2 PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, I WAS GOING TO EXIT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. THE MASTER SWITCH FOR THE POWER WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THAT. I AM WORRIED THAT I CAN BE IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR CATCHES FIRE DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE VALVE, AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT MY CAR IF THE DOOR HANDLE BREAKS OFF AGAIN AND THE WINDOWS WON'T ROLL DOWN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE FIX FOR THIS VALVE IS TO GET THE GAS TANK REPLACED, AT MY OWN EXPENSE. ALSO, WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO ORDER MY DOOR HANDLE, THEY ALREADY HAD SOME IN STOCK, WHICH INDICATES, TO ME, THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND YET CHRYSLER HAS NOT RECALLED IT. THE SHODDY CONSTRUCTION OF THIS VEHICLE COMBINED WITH THE LACK OF ASSISTANCE FROM CHRYSLER HAS ENSURED THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS AGAIN. *TR