NHTSA Complaint #10499573 — 2004 DODGE CARAVAN

MY FAMILY BEGAN NOTICING A GAS SMELL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. IT WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN IN A CLOSED GARAGE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FROM SOME GAS SPILL ON FUELING. I DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS ON THE GROUND OR IN THE ENGINE AREA. I JUST HAD THE VAN SERVICED AT THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION IT APPEARS THERE IS A VERY SLOW LEAK (SEEPAGE) COMING AT THE CONNECTION OFF THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE. THIS LOOKS LIKE A TWIST-OFF CONNECTION. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $96/HR TO PINPOINT AND DIAGNOSIS THE EXACT PROBLEM. I JUST FOUND ANOTHER PERSON ON THE WEB WITH THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN "EXACT DIAGNOSIS" OR REPAIR MADE. *TR UPDATED 03/26/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSPECTED AND REPLACED BY A LOCAL DEALER. THEY CONFIRMED THE PUMP WAS LEAKING THROUGH A CRACKED HOUSING. THE GAS TANK WAS STAINED BY THE FUEL LEAKING DOWN UPON IT.