NHTSA Complaint #10865203 — 2009 FORD ESCAPE

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING FUEL SINCE FEB. 2016 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I'VE REPLACED THE EVAP. CANISTER DUE TO THE LEAK, THE SEAL WITH IT AS WELL, AND THE CANISTER PURGE VALVE. ALL THIS WORK WAS DONE AT 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS. I WAS STILL LEAKING FUEL AND WROTE TO FORD WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD FIX IT GRATIS. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE GASKET GOING INTO THE TANK AND THAT "SHOULD" TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T. GAS FUMES STILL FILLED MY CAR, AND LEAKED GAS ALL OVER THE GROUND WHEREVER I DROVE OR PARKED. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I WAS STILL LEAKING FUEL, BUT NO ENGINE LIGHT AS IN THE LAST VISIT. THEY COULD SMELL IT AND SEE IT HAD SOAKED THE REAR END OF MY VEHICLE. THIS TIME THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS A PLASTIC RING AROUND THE TOP OF THE TANK THAT WAS CRACKED AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TANK AND SYSTEM FOR APPROXIMATELY $1000 ADDITIONAL ON TOP OF WHAT I HAD ALREADY REPLACED. I ASKED HIM HOW ALL THESE MECHANICS COULD MISS THIS?? AND HOW CAN IT CRACK IF IT'S SO TIGHT IN THERE UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR IS THERE A DESIGN FLAW, OR A FAILURE OF THE PART ITSELF BECAUSE OF SOME PROBLEM IN MANUFACTURING. THE CAR LEAKS WHILE PARKED, IN MOTION, AND FILLS WITH GAS FUMES. I AM TERRIFIED I MAY HIT A POT HOLE AND BLOW UP. MYSELF I DON'T MIND, BUT I HAVE MY 2YO GRANDSON WITH ME AND THAT IS JUST SCARY AS ALL GET OUT. AND THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT THAT COMES ON FOR THIS. HE TELLS ME THE PART SEALS AS THE SYSTEM COMPRESSES WHEN STARTING AND THE GAS EXPANDS WITH HEAT THAT'S WHY THE OVERFLOW.THAT MAY EXPLAIN SOME, BUT I LOSE A TANK OF GAS EVERY 2-4 DAYS. IF THE BREAK IS AT THE TOP HOW IS THE GAS LEAVING MY TANK IN SUCH EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNTS? AND THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO SERVICED THAT CAR WERE FORD "MECHANICS".COMPUTER ILLITERATE FOR UPLOADS, BUT I HAVE DOCUMENTATION& PICS