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Pontiac Aztek Fuel System, Gasoline Storage Safety Report | Apr 10, 2007



Reported on Apr 10, 2007


2001 PONTIAC AZTEC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN EARLY APRIL 2007. I TOOK CAR TO AMERICAN CHEVROLET IN DANVILLE, IL FOR SERVICE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT THE CODE INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND A PRESSURE CHECK OF THE SYSTEM REVEALED A DEFECTIVE GAS CAP. I BELIEVE THE COST TO READ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE WAS $79. I HAD THEM ORDER THE GAS CAP AND WAS TO RETURN IN 2 DAYS TO HAVE IT INSTALLED. THE NEXT TIME I FILLED THE TANK,( ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER), THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE AND A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE CAR. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THEM OF THIS DEVELOPMENT. THEY INSPECTED THE CAR AND TOLD ME THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NOW LEAKING AT THE FILLER INLET PIPE IN THE LOWER PART OF THE FUEL TANK. I VIEWED THE CAR AND SAW GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM THE FILLER INLET PIPE. THE SERVICE TECH INFORMED ME THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW FUEL TANK. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE AZTEK MODEL. THE TECH STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE WITH ANY FUEL TANK. THEIR REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR NEW PARTS AND LABOR WAS ABOUT $1000. I TOLD THE SERVICE TECH THAT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR AT THIS TIME. THEN THEY OFFERED TO INSTALL A USED TANK AT A COST OF ABOUT $400-$500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO INSTALL THE USED TANK, BUT LATER CANCELLED IT WHEN I STARTED INVESTIGATING PROBLEMS WITH AZTEK FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL TANK IS STILL LEAKING AND ERODING THE ASPHALT ON MY DRIVEWAY WHERE I PARK MY CAR. I NEED THIS CAR TO GET TO WORK, BUT I FEEL NERVOUS DRIVING IT WITH A FUEL TANK LEAK. I HAVE NOT HAD THE FUEL TANK REPLACE BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR BILL ($1000), AND I BELIEVE THAT SINCE GM CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THIS TANK TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, THAT GM SHOULD PAY THE COST TO CORRECT THE SAME DESIGN FLAW ON MY VEHICLE. *TR EA07-006.PCO
Make: Pontiac
Model: Aztek
Manufactured by: General Motors LLC
Year: 2001
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: VEEDERSBURG IN
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 3G7DA03EX1S
Mileage: 111000 miles.
Speed:
Number of cylinders: 6
Vehicle type: FWD
Vehicle fuel: GAS Fuel injection.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location: AMERICAN CHEVROLET DANVILLE IL 61832
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