NHTSA Complaint #10734422 — 2009 FORD EDGE

WE WERE SMELLING GASOLINE IN OUR GARAGE AND THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE IT WAS HOISTED AND A GASOLINE LEAK DISCOVERED AT THE "SEAM" OF MY GAS TANK. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT MAY HAVE A RECALL AND WAS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. MY HUSBAND CALLED AVIS FORD WHO IN FACT INSTRUCTED US TO BRING THE CAR IN. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AT OUR EXPENSE OF OVER $80.00 ONLY TO GET TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE THEM SAY THERE WAS AN ERROR AND THAT THE 2009 EDGE DID NOT HAVE A RECALL. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON TANKS ON MODELS FROM 2007 UP TO 2014 BUT APPARENTLY NOT THE 09. THE LEAK IS APPARENTLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NOT CAUSED BY DAMAGE TO THE TANK FROM A FOREIGN OBJECT STRIKING IT . IT IS TERRIBLY FRIGHTENING TO ME TO KNOW THAT FORD HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND MAYBE ONLY A FATALITY WOULD FORCE THEM TO SO. I TRAVEL DAILY WITH A 30 MONTH AND 17 MONTH OLD IN MY CAR AND CANNOT IMAGINE HAVING TO GET THEM BOTH OUT OF 5 POINT RESTRAINT CAR SEATS IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE. IS THIS WHAT FORD IS WAITING FOR TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNACCEPTABLE DANGER OF A GAS TANK LEAK. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES.