NHTSA Complaint #710951 — 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

ON 9/1/99, I DROVE THE CAR ALL DAY (BOUT 200 MILES) AND DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. (I HAVE NO SENSE OF SMELL!!) UNTIL I GOT HOME AND TOOK A FRIEND TO DINNER AND HE SAID "THIS CAR STINKS LIKE GASOLINE"! WE LOOKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVED THE COVER PLATE AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE GAS TANK IN THE AREA OF THE SENDING UNIT RETAINING RING WAS FILLED WITH GAS (ABOUT 1/2 INCH DEEP) . TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SEAL ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. TWO DAYS LATER 9/4/99, GAS SMELL RETURNED AND UPON INSPECTION THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN! GAS POURING OUT OF THE CLOSED RETAINING RING!! DUE TO THE HOLIDAY, I HAVE TO WAIT TIL TUES. TO HAVE CAR LOOKED AT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED JOE BERTRAN AT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA RE THIS SERIOUS DEFECT.