NHTSA Complaint #10888528 — 2006 SATURN ION

A WEEK AGO, MY CAR WOULDN'T START ON THE FIRST TRY, BUT DID START ON THE SECOND. AS I DROVE AROUND TOWN THAT DAY RUNNING ERRANDS (MULTIPLE STOPS/STARTS), I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS AS I WALKED AROUND THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR WAS 3 DAYS AGO; EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START THE CAR IT TOOK 2 TRIES, AND THE GAS SMELL NEAR THE BACK OF THE CAR WAS WORSE. I ALSO BEGAN TO SMELL A STRONG GAS SMELL AS I LOADED BAGS INTO THE TRUNK. YESTERDAY, I EXPERIENCED ALL OF THOSE ISSUES, PLUS I HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN BECAUSE THE GAS SMELL WAS NOW VERY BAD INSIDE THE CAR. WHEN I PARKED AT THE SUPERMARKET, I WAS ABLE TO SEE A SMALL AMOUNT OF GAS ON THE RAIN-WET PAVEMENT, COMING FROM JUST AHEAD OF THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE PROGRESSION OF THE LEAK WAS FAST - OVER 7 DAYS, AND ONLY ABOUT 70 MILES DRIVEN (I DRIVE <5,000 MI / YR). I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND GM RECALL #090226 / NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 09V419000, WHICH PERFECTLY DESCRIBES WHAT'S HAPPENING. I'M PLANNING TO CALL GM TOMORROW ABOUT THIS, BUT I EXPECT TO BE DISAPPOINTED, SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT PURCHASED OR REGISTERED IN ANY OF THE STATES LISTED IN THE RECALL. IT SHOULDN'T MATTER WHERE I BOUGHT OR REGISTERED MY SATURN; IF MY CAR DEMONSTRATES THE SAME DEFECT, THE REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM. I ALSO FOUND A SCARY NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES FROM OTHER SATURN OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT ARE ALSO NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOW MANY IS 'ENOUGH' FOR GM TO EXPAND THE RECALL? GM'S FAILURE TO ADDRESS *ALL* OF THE CARS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM IS APPALLING AND DANGEROUS.