NHTSA Complaint #10575199 — 2001 MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE SPYDER

THE FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTS SEVERELY AROUND THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE CAUSING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND AND GASOLINE VAPORS TO ESCAPE. THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY IS CONSTRUCTED OUT OF METAL AND INCLUDES A LARGE TUBE/PIPE FOR THE FUEL TO ENTER THE GAS TANK, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER SMALLER METAL PIPES. THE FILLER NECK ASSEMBLY EXTENDS FROM THE FILLER DOOR, WHICH IS SITUATED IN THE REAR PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, DOWN AND ACROSS TO THE FUEL TANK WHICH IS SITUATED IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THERE IS A PARTICULAR POINT WHERE THE PIPES IN THE ASSEMBLY MAKE AN APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREE BEND, MOVING FROM A DOWNWARD ANGLE TO AN ANGLE THAT IS MORE PARALLEL WITH THE GROUND. AT THIS BEND OR ELBOW, THE MANUFACTURER PLACED A THICK METAL SHIELD, PRESUMABLY TO PROTECT A WEAK POINT. THE SHIELD BOLTS TO THE BODY OF THE CAR IN FOUR PLACES AND CUPS THE FUEL PIPES IN A SEMI-CIRCLE AROUND THE BEND LEAVING AN APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF INCH GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE SHIELD. THIS SHIELD AND PIPE ASSEMBLY IS SITUATED DIRECTLY BEHIND AND SLIGHTLY INBOARD OF THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE, HOWEVER, IT REMAINS EXPOSED. BECAUSE OF THE GAP BETWEEN THE PIPES AND THE SHIELD, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SHIELD IS ANGLED UPWARDS, AND BECAUSE THERE IS NO COVER OR OTHER PROTECTIVE DEVICE TO SEAL THIS GAP, THE SHIELD COLLECTS DIRT, DEBRIS, GREASE, AND MOISTURE. PRESUMABLY, THE REAR TIRE THROWS THIS FOREIGN MATERIAL AROUND WHICH THEN COLLECTS IN THE SHIELD, BUILDS UP, AND CONTACTS THE PIPES, CAUSING THEM TO RUST. EVENTUALLY THE PIPES RUST COMPLETELY THROUGH CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS REFUELED. THE HOLES IN THE PIPES ALSO ALLOW GASOLINE VAPORS TO ESCAPE AND IMPAIRS THE EVAP SYSTEM. DESPITE THE BUILDUP AND CONTINUAL CONTACT OF FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE SHIELD, THE SHIELD ITSELF DID NOT RUST AT ALL CREATING A PERFECT COLLECTOR TO GATHER FOREIGN MATERIAL AND CAUSE THE RUST TO FORM. *TR