NHTSA Complaint #732085 — 1994 VOLVO 854

HISTORY OF FUEL ODOR IN AND AROUND VEHICLE AFTER FILLING TANK.USUALLY DISSIPATED UPON DRIVING AND WAS ATTRIBUTED TO SPILLAGE. IN JULY 2000 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNITE FOLLOWING FUELING AND A LARGE AMOUNT OFF GASOLINE, POSSIBLY OVER 1 LITER FORMED A POOL UNDER THE CAR. AN ACTIVE LEAK WAS NOTED. AFTER DRIVING 50= MILES THE LEAK STOPPED. I ASSUMED THE AUTO SHUT OFF ON THE SERVICE STATION PUMP HAD FAILED AND TOOK CARE NOT TO FILL TANK COMPLETELYON SUBSEQUENT FUELING. AGAININ SEPT 2000 THE PROBLEM RECURRED IN MY GARAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALER. THEY FOUND THAT THE TANK LEAKED AT A SEAM WHERE THE FUEL OUTLET PIPE ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS IS A PROTECTED LOCATION AND THERE WAS NO SIGN OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE NOR HAD THE VEHICLE BEEN IN A COLLISION. THE LEAK IS PROBABLY DUE TO A LATENT DEFECT IN THE TANK AT MANUFACTURE. THE TANK WAS REPLACED AND I HAVE IT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.