# 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
> NHTSA complaint `642838` · 2007-10-19 · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** VOLKSWAGEN
- **Model:** PASSAT
- **Year:** 2002
- **Manufacturer:** Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- **Component:** FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
- **Miles at failure:** 115,243
## Narrative
THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT A 2002 PASSAT 4-MOTION V6 CAR.  GAS ODOR ENTERED MY HOUSE FOR 2 WEEKS AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.  I CALLED THE GAS COMPANY TO SEE IF I HAD A GAS LEAK WITH MY FURNACE.  THE GAS COMPANY CAME AND TESTED BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY FURNACE OR EQUIPMENT USING NATURAL GAS.  I DECIDED TO FIND THE ROOT CAUSE AND BEGAN RULING OUT POSSIBILITIES.  I OBSERVES THE GAS SMELL WAS IN MY GARAGE.  I OBSERVED WHENEVER MY GAS TANK WAS FILLED, MORE ODOR CAME INTO THE HOUSE.  I FILLED THE GAS TANK ON 10/1/07 AND  PARKED THE CAR OUT ON THE STREET.  ON 10/2/07, WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR IN THE EARLY AM HOURS, THE GAS SCENT  MADE ME THROW UP AND I BECAME DIZZY.  I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG AND I DROVE - WHILE PRAYING -  THE CAR TO THE DEALER.  THEY IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE THE CAR OUT OF THERE WITHOUT FINDING OUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE VERY STRONG GAS ODOR.  I WAS LATER TOLD IF ANYONE HAD THROWN A CIGARETTE BY MY CAR, IT WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE! THE CAR WAS DRIPPING GAS AS I DROVE TO THE DEALER! THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE BY A LEAK ON MY FUEL TANK.  A NEW FUEL TANK WAS NEEDED - THAT IS THE ONLY WAY IT COULD BE FIXED.  I REQUESTED MY OLD TANK AND SAID IT HAS TO BE BROUGHT AND SHOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY OVER TRANSPORTATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE I COULD HAVE DIED AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS A FAULTY MANUFACTURER'S PART.  THE OLD TANK SHOWS 3 PLASTIC TUBES USED ON THE GAS TANK THAT DRAINS THE GAS
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*