NHTSA Complaint #10888036 — 2004 VOLVO S80

SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA, I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE GAS CAP AND REPLACED IT. THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GROW STRONGER AND STRONGER, TO THE POINT I COULD NOT KEEP IT PARKED IN MY GARAGE IN MY TOWNHOME DUE TO THE SMELL OF GAS WHICH WOULD PERMEATE THE ENTIRE HOUSE. I ALSO NOTICED DURING THIS TIME A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN GAS MILEAGE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE AUTO SHOP FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING AND SHOWED ME THE BACK OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS COVERED IN GAS. DUE TO THE EXTREME RISK, THE AUTO SHOP STATED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A 300-MILE TRIP. THE SHOP DID FIND THE RECALL: 09V483000 AND CALLED THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I REQUESTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP BE GIVEN TO ME SO THAT I COULD REVIEW THE RECALL. I THEN REVIEWED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ONLINE, SPECIFICALLY THE PICTURES OF THE PUMPS WHICH WERE COVERED VS. THE PUMP WHICH WAS BAD. MY PUMP MATCHES EXACTLY TO THE "BAD" PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE FACT THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS TO THE POINT OF COATING THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK INDICATES THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COVERED INCIDENT.