NHTSA Complaint #11338510 — 2008 CHEVROLET HHR

I HAD DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 6 BLOCKS TO GROCERY STORE. UPON EXITING CAR HAD A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. DIDN'T NOTICE ANY THING LEAKING. WENT INTO STORE. WHEN RETURNING STILL SMELLED GASOLINE AND NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL ON DRIVER SIDE UNDER REAR SEAT AREA. STARTED VEHICLE AND FUEL POURED ON GROUND AS IT IDLED. WHEN RUNNING, ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP PUTS LINE UNDER PRESSURE AND FUEL CAMP OUT LEAK. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD BOTH FUEL AND VAPOR LINES WERE RUSTED THROUGH. HE SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO FIX A LOT OF HHRS AND COBALTS. HE SAID THE DESIGN RETAINS WATER IN THE AREA UNDER REAR SEAT MAKING THE LINES RUST OUT AND CREATING AN UNSAFE SITUATION. REPAIRS TOTALED $565.39 THIS FAILURE WAS DESIGNED INTO THE VEHICLE BY THE ENGINEERS. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOT A FIRE AS THIS IS CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.