NHTSA Complaint #11403824 — 2009 CHEVROLET HHR

VEHICLE STATIONARY. NOTICED STRONG SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND A LEAK SPOT AROUND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. MOVED THE VEHICLE TO INSURE THE SPOT AND SMELL WAS INDEED COMING FROM THE HHR. SMELL DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE HHR, NOT SURE OF THE SPOT (WAS NOT SETTING IN NEW LOCATION VERY LONG). TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL CAR WASH TO CLEAN (IN CASE THE SMELL WAS DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY THE FUEL TANK WAS OVERFILLED DURING REFUELING). DROVE THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. NOTICED THE SMELL AND SPOT AGAIN AFTER PARKING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE SPOT WAS MUCH LARGER AND SMELL WAS MUCH STRONGER. DECIDED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FURTHER FROM THE HOUSE (FOR SAFETY REASONS) UNTIL I COULD INVESTIGATE FURTHER. MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A REMOTE DRIVEWAY. IT SAT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, WAS GOING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DRIVE IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE, SO I COULD CHECK WORK ON IT. THE SMELL WAS VERY STRONG AND THE SPOT WAS VERY LARGE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, IT WAS OUT OF FUEL. WHEN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY MOVED TO THE REMOTE DRIVEWAY, IT HAD AT LEAST 1/4 TANK OF OF FUEL. THIS MEANS THAT ALL OF THAT FUEL WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY. I WAS GLAD I HAD MOVED IT AND THAT MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS NEVER IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT WEEKS EARLIER. HAD SOME FRIENDS HELP ME GET IT MOVED BACK TO WHERE I COULD WORK ON IT. FOUND THAT THE LEAK WAS SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE PASSENGER REAR WHEEL UNDER A FOIL LIKE HEAT SHIELD. CHECKED ON-LINE, FOUND THERE WAS A NHTSA INVESTAGATION ON THIS ISSUE. REALLY - INVESTAGATION! THIS LEAK IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE REASON FOR THE HEAT SHIELD IN THE FIRST PLACE. REALLY GLAD MY GRANDDAUGHTER HAD NOT BEEN A PASSENGER FOR SOMETIME. FURTHER 'INVESTAGATION' ON-LINE, THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE ON SEVERAL MODELS, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDWEST DUE TO SALT USE FOR SNOW REMOVAL.