What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The fuel delivery system has failed. Specifically, the fuel lines are leaking at the connection point on the top of the fuel tank. The vehicle and the affected components are currently available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This defect poses an immediate fire and life-safety hazard. Because the fuel leaks while the vehicle is powered on, any spark or heat source could ignite the fuel tank, leading to a vehicle fire or explosion. Additionally, the cabin environment has become toxic; the concentration of gasoline vapors is so high that it causes physical illness. One of my children vomited due to the fumes. The vehicle is currently undrivable because the vapors are intoxicating and hazardous to the health of all occupants. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the leak has been inspected, reproduced, and confirmed by an independent service center. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages (such as a Check Engine Light) prior to or during the failure. The symptoms—specifically a strong odor of raw gasoline—first appeared four days ago. The intensity of the odor and the rate of the leak have increased significantly since the initial onset.
NHTSA ODI 11740901