# 2001 BMW 325 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
> NHTSA complaint `317291` · 2001-09-30 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** BMW
- **Model:** 325
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
## Narrative
A BMWXI SPORTS WAGON WITH ONE MONTH SERVICE DEVELOPED A FUEL OVERFLOW ONTO THE CEMENT  FLOOR  OF A GARAGE ATTACHED TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME. THE FUEL GAUGE READ ZERO WITH THE WARNING LIGHT ON.EVEN THOUGH THE TANK HAD JUST BEEN FILLED. THE WIRES FROM THE FUEL TANK (SENDER) TO THE GAUGE IN THE PASSANGER COMPARTMENT  WERE SEVERED ABOVE THE TANK BY RODENTS WHO HAD LEFT THEIR NEST ON THE TOP OF THE TANK.  THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS OPEN TO THE OUTSIDE GIVING MICE OR RATS ACCESS THROUGH THE UNDERCARRIAGE.  A FIRE DANGER EXISTED IN THE GARAGE AS A DRIVER HAD ATTEMPED TO FILL TWICE TO EXTINGUISH THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE FUEL GAUGE. RESULTING IN THE VOLITAL EXPANSION AND OVERFLOW OF GAS. TOWING SERVICE REFUSED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO INSPECT .AND ALLOW TRANSPORT. THUS  THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS  1) THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE ENTIRE CAR NEEDS REPLACING (SOLDER AND TAPE ARE NOT  ADEQUATE. 2) THE PORTAL OF ENTRY TO THE WIRING THAT WAS CUT MUST BE CLOSED TO RODENTS. THIS IS SERIOUS, SOLDERED WIRES MAY DEVELOPE COLD NON CONDUCTING JOINTS IN THE TEMPERATURE CYCLE, THUS CAUSING ANOTHER SPILLAGE OF GAS  WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AT HOME AND EVEN DESTRUCTION OF A HOUSE. *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*