NHTSA Complaint #10820619 — 2008 MERCEDES BENZ GL450

I NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL AFTER A FULL TANK OF GAS WITH MY MERCEDES BENZ GL450 AFTER I RECEIVED IT BACK FROM THE MERCEDES BENZ DEALER TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE FUEL SENDING UNIT TO FIX THE BROKEN FUEL GAUGE. THE STRONG GAS ODOR WAS NON-EXISTENT BEFORE THE REPAIR. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A RESIDUAL SMELL DUE TO THE REPAIR BUT AFTER A WEEK WHEN I FILLED AGAIN, THE GAS SMELL WAS STILL THERE. THE SMELL IS SO BAD ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING WHEN I GET INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE SMELL IS EVIDENT ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CLOSE TO THE GAS TANK. ON JANUARY 11, 2016, I BROUGHT BACK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME MERCEDES BENZ DEALER WITH A QUARTER OF A TANK TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE TECHNICIAN/MECHANIC DID THE INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WAS ASKED IF I OVERFILL WHEN I PUT GAS AND I SAID NO. IF MERCEDES BENZ COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG TO AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE VEHICLE. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THIS PROBLEM WAS NON-EXISTENT BEFORE THEY DROPPED THE TANK TO FIX THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. I FIND IT WRONG THAT I HAVE TO SHOULDER THE BURDEN OF WORRIES AND UNCERTAINTY TO A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MERCEDES BENZ COULD NOT ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE. AT THIS TIME, I DO NOT REALLY HAVE A PEACE OF MIND SAFETY WISE WHENEVER I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH MY FAMILY.