NHTSA Complaint #10609838 — 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU

WOKE ONE MORNING AND NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO NOTICED THAT GAS IN THE TANK WAS AT A MUCH LOWER LEVEL THAN WHEN THE CAR WAS LAST OPERATED. I BELIEVED THAT GAS WAS LEAKING INTO THE TRUNK SO I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL SERVICE CENTER AT NISSAN BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. NISSAN SAID THAT FUEL PUMP IS CRACKED AND EMITTING GASOLINE VAPORS. TOOK VEHICLE TO THREE WAY CHEVROLET BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE. I BELIEVED THAT THEY MAY HAVE MORE INFORMATION POSSIBLY CONCERNING A RECALL. ALEXANDER IRIZARRY (A SERVICE ADVISER) SAID THAT FUEL PUMPS FAIL ALL THE TIME AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY IT CRACKED. HE ALSO CLAIMED THAT WHEN PARTS FAIL IT IS NORMAL TO PUT THE DRIVER IN DANGER SUCH AS IF BRAKES GO OUT OR A TIRE BLOWS FROM POOR MAINTENANCE. ASKED FOR $1200 TO REPLACE THE PART. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF HE REPLACES IT WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE PART THAT LATER ON THE PUMP WILL FAIL AND EMIT GAS VAPORS LEADING TO A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION. THREE WAY RELEASED THE CAR TO ME WITH NO WARNING OF NOT TO DRIVE IT. VEHICLE OPERATES FINE WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *TR