Complaint 1141644

Complaint Summary

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Owner Narrative

BEGAN TO SMELL FAINT RAW GAS FUMES AROUND THE VEHICLE IN THE SUMMER. IN THE AUTUMN MONTHS THE RAW GAS ODOR SMELL INTENSIFIED AND WAS VERY STRONG WITH AN OVERCOMING PRESENCE IN THE CABIN WHILE DRIVING. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE MECHANIC (NON GMC GARAGE) CALLED BACK SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND SAID I HAD BEEN DRIVING A POTENTIALLY DISASTER. HE ASKED ME TO SEE FOR MYSELF. I WAS ABLE TO VIEW THIS FIRST HAND AFTER HE HAD REMOVED THE FUEL TANK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL PUMP IS MOUNTED INTO A DEEP SUMP ON THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. THE SUMP WELL IS RATHER DEEP AND COLLECTS MUD, SILT, DEBRIS AND WATER WHILE DRIVING AND THAT COLLECTS AND BUILD UP OVER TIME INTO THE SUMP AND THAT STAYS MOIST AT ALL TIMES. OVER THE COURSE OF 6 YEARS THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING AND MOUNT RING RUSTED, ROTTED OUT AND STARTED LEAKING RAW GAS THAT WAS SPILLING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE ALONGSIDE THE FUEL TANK. I DO NOT GO OFF ROAD WITH THE VEHICLE NOR DO I PLOW SNOW WITH IT. THE VEHICLE IS USED PRINCIPALLY IN HIGHWAY DRIVING. A FEW WEEKS LATER I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND WHO OWNS A 2010 GMC SUBURBAN AND HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I SUBSEQUENTLY WENT ON LINE, SEARCHED ON GOOGLE, AND DISCOVERED A NUMBER OF OTHER OWNERS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN WHICH THE TANK IS DESIGNED WITH THE DEEP CIRCULAR DEPRESSION (A PERFECT SUMP CONDITION) FOR THE MOUNTING OF THE FUEL PUMP AND WITH NORMAL ROAD DRIVING (MOST NOTABLY IN THE NORTHEAST OR NORTHWEST WHERE RAIN AND SNOW IS PREVALENT) THE SUMP WILL STAY MOIST WITH MUD AND DEBRIS COLLECTING CAUSING RUST IN THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING/MOUNTING RING. *TR

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.