NHTSA Complaint #10507539 — 2008 DODGE RAM 1500

THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON. IT READ 'GASCAP." I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER, WHO SMOKE-TESTED THE EVAP SYSTEM AND FOUND A LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK (TOWARD THE FRONT) WHERE TWO LINES ENTER THE EVAP SYSTEM. TWO NIPPLES COME OUT OF A SHORT CYLINDRICAL PART OF THE TANK ITSELF. ONE OF THESE IS EXTREMELY THIN, AND IT HAD SHEERED OFF, LEAVING ITS HOSE UNATTACHED. THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THIS SINGLE PART, AS IT IS INTRINSIC TO THE FUEL TANK ITSELF, THUS NECESSITATING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK. I FOUND A USED ONE, AND THE OWNER OF THE USED PARTS LOT TOLD ME HE HAD SEEN MANY SUCH OCCURRENCES. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE UNATTACHED HOSE PRESENTS A VERY GRAVE SAFETY ISSUE. HE TOLD ME NOT TO SMOKE NEAR THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE, AND THAT IF A SPARK CAME UP INTO THAT AREA THE VEHICLE COULD EXPLODE. THE NIPPLE, ACCORDING TO THE OWNER OF THE USED PARTS YARD, IS A WEAK LINK IN THAT PARTICULAR DESIGN. *TR