NHTSA Complaint #10783043 — 2008 NISSAN VERSA

STOPPED ON OUR WAY HOME FROM A SMALL TRIP AND REFUELED THE VERSA. NOTICED A SMALL DRIP COMING FROM THE GAS TANK. ASSUMED IT WAS COMING FROM AN OVERFLOW TUBE INSIDE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK THE VERSA TO OUR MECHANIC AND TOLD HIM ABOUT IT. HE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE LEAK AS HE DESCRIBED IT COMING FROM UNDER THE PLUG IN WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTS TO PROVIDE POWER TO THE PUMP.UNDER THE PLUG IN WAS A CRACK . THERE WAS ALSO A HOLE THAT APPEARED IN COLOR OF A BURNT MARK TO THE REAR INSIDE CORNER OF THE PLUG IN WALL EXPOSING A METAL STEM GOES TO THE PRONG THAT CONNECTS TO THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS AREA IS ABOVE FUEL TANK SURFACE OR OUTSIDE THE TOP OF THE TANK. HAD THIS SHORTED OUT OR CREATED A SPARK, A POSSIBLE FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION COULD HAVE OCCURRED AND INJURY AND/OR DEATH COULD HAVE OCCURRED TO OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHEN PUMP WAS REPLACED, I TOOK PICTURES THAT I HOPE YOU CAN RECEIVE. THE BOTTOM SIDE WHERE THE FLOAT ARM ATTACHED TO THE SIDE SLIDING METAL PARTS FOR MEASURING FUEL LEVEL ALSO APPEARED TO HAVE THE BLACKENED BURNT COLOR ON THE WALL AREA OF THE METAL PARTS. I HAVE THE DEFECTED PUMP IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT. I ALSO HAVE NOTIFIED THE NISSAN SERVICE CENTER AND SHOWED THEM THE PUMP DEFECT. I'M WANTING TO INFORM YOU OF THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER VERSA OWNERS OUT THERE THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS. WE WERE LUCKY.