IN JULY 2009, AFTER FILLING MY VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE (38,000 MILES), I DROVE HOME, PARKED MY VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE AND EXITED THE INTERIOR. AFTER EXITING, I SMELLED THE VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTING FROM, WHAT APPEARED THE REAR OF THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANY LEAKS OR ANY EVIDENCE OF FUEL, SO I WENT INSIDE MY HOUSE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY OVERWHELMED WITH THE FUMES OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED MY CAR AGAIN, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY LEAKS. I THEN OPEN MY CAR DOOR AND THE FUMES WERE EVEN STRONGER. AFTER LOOKING AROUND, I NOTICED THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE REAR SEAT. FEARING AN EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR, I OPENED MY GARAGE DOORS AND CAR DOOR AND TURNED ON SEVERAL FANS TO "AIR-OUT" THE AREA. THE NEXT DAY, I DROVE TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY YEAR AND MODEL AND SAID THE FUEL GASKETS WERE BAD ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHICH IS RIGHT UNDER THE BACK SEAT. HE EXPLAINED WHEN FILLING UP, THE SEALS LEAK, BECOME SATURATED WITH FUEL AND EVEN SATURATE THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE SEAT. HE SAID IF I WANTED IT FIXED, IT WOULD BE AN ESTIMATED $500. HE ALSO SAID IF I DID NOT WANT TO PAY TO FIX IT, HE SUGGESTED I ONLY FILL MY TANK TO 3/4 SO THE SEALS WOULD NOT BECOME WET. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THAT MY CAR WAS STILL LIKE NEW WITH ONLY 38,000 MILES AND MBZ SHOULD FIX THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT AT NO CHARGE. HE REFUSED. I CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THIS DANGEROUS, FAULTY ISSUE TODAY. MY CAR ONLY HAS 79,000 MILES ON IT AND