NHTSA Complaint #10563689 — 1998 HONDA ACCORD

NOTED EXCESSIVE SMELL OF GASOLINE IN AND IMMEDIATELY OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND LATER DETERMINED GASOLINE MILEAGE HAD DROPPED DRAMATICALLY FROM 30+ MPG TO 18 MPG. UPON SECURING THE FIRST AVAILABLE DIAGNOSTIC CHECK FROM MY LOCAL MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS "FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP AREA OF FUEL TANK, BUT MANY ITEMS WOULD HAVE TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE WAY TO LOWER THE FUEL TANK TO MAKE A MORE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE SITE AND CAUSE OF THE LEAK, WHICH WOULD BE LABOR INTENSIVE AND COSTLY BECAUSE THE ENTIRE REAR CRADLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED WITH THE DANGER THAT OLD RUSTING BOLTS WOULD BREAK AND MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BE REPLACED. POSSIBLE ITEMS THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDE THE FUEL TANK, FUEL FILLER NECK AND FUEL PUMP." *TR