NHTSA Complaint #11154352 — 2012 FIAT 500

THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK IS NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCEPT FUEL PROPERLY FROM ANY GAS STATION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FUEL TANK'S ROLLOVER PROTECTION VALVE. AFTER A WEEKS WORTH OF TESTING THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THAT THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FUEL TANK AS THE PART IS INTEGRAL TO THE TANK. FIAT ADMITS THAT THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE TANK AND THEREFORE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL DUE TO FAULTY DESIGN RATHER THAN A CONSUMER BURDEN TO REPAIR AND REPLACE. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AMONGST THE 2012-2013 YEAR MODELS WITH MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF OWNERS HAVING TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FOR THE PROBLEM TO ONLY RE-OCCUR AGAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS WITH THE MOTOR SHUT OFF AND FUEL CAP OPEN TO ACCEPT FUEL. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $2,000 WHICH IS ABOUT 1/3 OF VEHICLES COST DUE TO DEPRECIATION.