NHTSA Complaint #11019504 — 2008 DODGE DURANGO

GAS TANK FUEL PUMP UNIT LEAKING DUE TO SEVERELY DETERIORATED AND CRACKED PLASTIC. THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE CAUSE OF A DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT. ONLY AFTER DROPPING THE FUEL TANK IS THE FUEL PUMP UNIT VISIBLE. AIR BUBBLES COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP UNIT. A METAL ATTACHMENT RING WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE FUEL UNIT PLASTIC CASING WAS DETERIORATED AND LEAKING. THE WHITE PLASTIC USED FOR THE FUEL UNIT DOES NOT SEEM APPROPRIATE FOR THE HEAT AND CORROSION IN THAT LOCATION. THE FUEL PUMP UNIT WAS REPLACED AND THE WARNING LIGHT IS OFF. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE FUEL FILL TUBE REPLACED SIX MONTHS EARLIER TO RESOLVE THE FUEL SPILL PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE MODEL. THE WARNING LIGHT ONLY APPEARED AFTER THAT SERVICE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ONCE WITHOUT FINDING THE CAUSE, AND A SECOND TIME WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND. ONCE THE LIGHT COMES ON IT DOESN'T GO OFF. THE OWNER HAS SOME SUSPICION THAT THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE GAS TANK IS A LITTLE LOW ON FUEL. PREVIOUSLY GAS FUMES COULD SOMETIMES BE NOTED. THE CAR IS STORED OUTSIDE. I, THE OWNER, AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE WHITE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FUEL PUMP UNIT.