NHTSA Complaint #11416641 — 2010 FORD FUSION

I FILLED THE GAS TANK ON THE WAY HOME AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. NEXT DAY THE GARAGE HAS STRONG SMELL OF GAS AND A TINY PUDDLE ON THE GROUND. GOOGLED AND SAW FORD HAD RECALL IN 2016. BOOK APPOINTMENT WITH FORD AND DROVE CAR IN. THEY SAY CAR WAS INSPECTED IN 2016, CHARGE $135 FOR INSPECTION THEN ASK FOR APPROX $1000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. I DECLINE AND SEEK ANOTHER SHOP. DRIVE CAR HOME AND THE WORST IS MUCH WORST. HAVE CAR TOWED TO NEW SHOP. NEW SHOP SAYS FUEL PUMP IS FINE, BUT THE TANK HAS A LEAK ON TOP (WHICH IS WHAT THE 2016 RECALL WAS TO AVOID). NOW I AM LOOKING AT APPROX $900 TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. IT WOULD SEEM THAT FORD SHOULD COVER THIS UNDER THE RECALL OR AT LEAST COVER THE $400+ COST OF THE TANK AT A MIN. THIS IS CLEARLY A DANGEROUS CONDITION AND POTENTIAL FIRE THAT COULD HAVE EASILY GONE UNNOTICED IF I HAD NOT PARKED INSIDE THAT NIGHT (CAR USUALLY STAYS OUTSIDE). THE MECHANIC AT THE NEW SHOP WAS NOT SURPRISED AND SAID TANKS ARE NOW OFTEN BEING REPLACE ON THESE CARS. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR OVER A WEEK AND WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE AND GET THE REPLACEMENT WORK DONE.