NHTSA Complaint #10694641 — 2007 JEEP COMPASS 4X4

SHORTLY AFTER REFUELING, THE CAR STALLED OUT WHEN IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT. THIS STALLING HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THIS, ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFILLING THE TANK. USUALLY THE CAR WILL STALL SHORTLY AFTER YOU DRIVE AWAY FROM THE GAS STATION AND SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP. THE CAR WILL START UP AGAIN BUT MAY STALL AGAIN IF YOU ONLY TRAVEL A SHORT DISTANCE AND SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE NEXT TIME YOU DRIVE, THE CAR IS USUALLY OK AND HAS NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL THE TANK IS FILLED AGAIN. AFTER READING SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS, THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON TO CHRYSLER VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM IS THE VAPOR/LIQUID SEPARATOR VALVE LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VALVE FAILS AND ALLOWS LIQUID INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER/EMISSIONS SYSTEM. LIQUID FUEL THEN GETS SENT INTO THE MANIFOLD INTAKE BY MISTAKE WHICH STALLS THE CAR OUT. THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR STALLS WHILE YOU ARE TURNING INTO TRAFFIC AND IT ALSO CAUSES YOU TO LOSE STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW BY CHRYSLER AND THE ONLY FIX IS TO HAVE A WHOLE NEW GAS TANK INSTALLED BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A WAY TO JUST REPLACE JUST THE FAULTY VALVE. IT IS BUILT IN TO THE TANK. *TR