2002 Volkswagen Passat: gas smell in the cabin

Filed Dec 19, 2017 · Fuel system · 126,000 miles · MD

I purchased a 2002 passat w8 4-motion, having only 126,000 miles on the odometer, in october 2017 often after refueling the vehicle, I would notice the faint scent of gasoline. Upon investigating where the gasoline smell was originating, I found it had developed a very large fuel leak from which fuel could be seen dripping on the forward, left side of the fuel tank. After performing some brief research, I found that there was a recall on the passat 4-motions, dated april 2008, in regards to a ventilation valve on the fuel tank. I promptly made a appointment with my local vw dealer for dec 4th. On december 6, 2017, I contacted the dealership asking jay, the service manager at the vw dealership, if they found the vent valve to be leaking. I was told that the valve was in fact leaking at the bonded valve point. After hearing nothing the next two days, I received a phone call from vw stating that they found the under-body damage to be the cause of the leak. I requested to see the pictures of the damage so that I could examine them myself. On december 11, 2017, I received the pictures from the service manager showing the heat shields surrounding the tank to have some brush marks and to be disfigured a bit. Please keep in mind, this was a known issue in the early 2000's, and the vehicle is now 15 years old with 127,000 miles on it and the recall had been completed. This "damage" would not lead to a fuel tank leak as the fuel tank itself was not damaged. Very upset, I wrote to the regional case manager on dec 11, 2017 with my thoughts on the damage and to get more details on the case. I have yet to receive a response.

Filed Jul 27, 2016 · Fuel system · 128,000 miles · VA

Report receipt date: apr 07, 2008 the federal safety agency campaign number: 08v156000 component(s): fuel system, gasoline when fuel tank is more than 3/4 fuel a fuel smell appears inside the vehicle. A prior recall was done for a heat shield, fuel line and 4motion fuel tank vent valve for inspection and replace as needed. These seem to fail again. Most dealers mark recall as performed without a leak and when the leak actually occurs they try to deny the issue as performed already. This needs to be addressed so that owners of lower mileage vehicles ( under 150000) can get the repair fixed under a recall that has been on the vehicle prior.

Filed Oct 18, 2013 · Fuel system · 66,797 miles · CT

We have attempted to have a gas leak / smell repaired by 3 different volkswagen dealers over 5 years. We first approached the dealer in 2008 when receiving notice of a recall. The recall was the "underbody heat shield/fuel system components (#08v156000). Today, 10/17/2013 we finally have a dealer stating that there is a fuel leak even though we have been attempting to get vw to believe us for 5 years. The overwhelming smell of gasoline permeates our entire house after a fill up and immediately park the vehicle in our garage.

Filed Mar 10, 2013 · Fuel system · 98,456 miles · NY

After filling my vehicles gas tank and I was smelling a potent gas odor and it went away after a few miles. When arrived at my hotel as I was away on business, I parked the vehicle for the night. The next morning when I woke up there was a large puddle of fuel under the rear of my car. I can no longer fill the tank more than half way or this same issue happens. I saw that there was a recall and I was never informed of the recall by the manufacturer, I would like to have this issue resolved with no out of pocket costs to me.

Filed Sep 9, 2011 · Fuel system · 113,000 miles · CO

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen passat. While parked, the contact noticed a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the mechanic stated there was a leak near the top of the fuel tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. There was a recall under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 08v156000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery). The vehicle was included in the recall and was repaired before the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

Filed Jan 19, 2009 · Fuel system · 91,000 miles · CA

Suddenly felt strong gasoline smell inside the vehicle (not a result of accident or any other occurrence.) the problem was diagnosed as a fuel tank leak. The gas tank had to be replaced. The vw dealer in sunnyvale, ca, refused to pay for the costly repairs.

Filed Jul 3, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · NM

2002 volkswagen passat with fuel odor. Consumer states that she noticed a strong fuel smell filling her garage. Mechanic stated that there was a crack in the fuel tank. Mechanic stated that the consumer hit the bottom of the fuel tank on something. *kb the consumer stated a few months after the fuel tank was replaced, the timing belt failed.

Filed Jun 3, 2008 · Fuel system · 76,000 miles · CT

For the past nine months I have smelled gas when I filled my gas tank past half full. I checked for recalls on your website last month an came across the vw passat fuel tank safety recall. Since my car was at the dealership to take care of yet another problem, I told them about my gas smell problem and informed them about the recall. I told them that it only occurs when the gas tank is past half full and told them to put gas in it and test it. When I picked up the car they hadn't done the gas tank test. The service advisor looked up the recall and found information on the gas tank safety recall r5 and printed out a faq sheet. He informed me that they didn't have the new tank for the recall and he expected them on may 30th. He told me to contact him and make an appointment to have the tank replaced once they had the parts in. I called the dealer on may 30th and made an appointment for today june 3rd. I brought my car to the dealership and I was informed by another service advisor and she couldn't find any volkswagen recall covering my VIN. The service adviser I spoke to when I had picked up my car after the repairs I had done in may came over. He recalled obtaining the information and searched for it again and it wasn't listed. They let me call volkswagen customer service. The vw customer service representative said that there wasn't a safety recall on the my volkswagen w8. I told him that it smells like gas when the gas tank is filled past half full. He said he would contact the service manager at the dealership I was at and see what could be done. I read the information on your website involving this recall and it seams pretty clear that any 1999- 2005 model year passat with a gasoline engine is covered. I have a 2002 vw passat w8 with 4motion. One of the responses from vw lists VIN number ranges, but mine doesn't appear to be within that range. I think that vw erred in their investigation and didn't look into the w8.

Filed May 6, 2008 · Fuel system · 37,700 miles · WA

I have a 2002 vw passat v6 glx wagon with 37,000 miles. Whenever the fuel tank is full, or near-full, there is a strong smell of gasoline from the right rear side. I have had to leave my garage door partially open because of the danger of igniting fumes from the pilot lights of my home gas water heater and furnace in the garage. I have found wet patches smelling strongly of gasoline on the underside of the fuel tank. It is obvious that the gasoline tank is leaking somehow and presents a fire safety issue. I suspect it might be the same problem that is being investigated in the federal safety agency action number pe08008 even though my model is not an all-wheel-drive. Meanwhile, whenever the vehicle is parked, in my garage or out in the open, there is a constant danger of fire being ignited.

Filed Oct 19, 2007 · Fuel system · 115,243 miles · VA · 1 injury

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! Plastic ! One of the plastic tubes broke off causing the gas leak! I visited a website and found so many other passat owners have had this problem and vw is doing nothing to change the design! I spoke to vw and I was told there is nothing they can do and I have to pay the cost of the repair! I am asking your office to investigate this safety issue. This is a dangerous safety issue to all passat owners! I have my old gas tank and will be happy to bring it to your office .

Filed Jul 3, 2007 · Fuel system · 66,082 miles · IL

The 2002 volkswagen passat glx 4 motion with just over 66,000 miles had just been refueled with a full tank of gas and driven into our garage when my wife smelled strong gasoline fumes and noticed puddles underneath the vehicle. I brought it to volkswagen dealership, and was charged $70 for the diagnosis , and then a total of $302.77 to replace the gasket for the fuel pump. They did not fill the tank to confirm that the problem no longer existed, but said that the problem was fixed. A week later the same situation, gasoline fumes and puddles under vehicle. Returned to dealership, and they kept car for 4 days to diagnose. Bottom line ,they informed me that "the vehicle may need a new fuel tank , $1,622. And /or new fuel lines, $922.25. They will need to lower the fuel tank to completely diagnose" at a cost of $700 because of 5 hours. Labor. We had already spent over $300 for repairs that apparently wasn't necessary because it did not fix the problem. They did not refund our $300. Also , my wife called volkswagen of america, and we were told that the car was out of warranty, so they would offer no help. I purchased this car brand new. It was top of the line I expect better performance and service as I have had a number of volkswagens and none had given me grief until this one. A gasoline tank and fuel lines were safety issues and if they fail in such a short time they would have to be either defective or poorly designed, and the responsibility to correct them should lie with the manufacturer. Any reasonable person would think that the $300 repair bill would be acceptable but not anywhere between $2000 and $3000. Why should the customer pay for a poor design that involved $700 just to diagnose? From the look of some of the other complaints found on this site they would already know and gladly extend some good will to the owners of these vehicles.

Filed Aug 30, 2006 · Fuel system · 50,000 miles · VA

2002 vw passat, v6 4motion just turned over 50,000 miles (warranty expired) and noticed that when I filled the gas tank, for several days until the gas level went down, there was a very strong gas odor in the car and around the car. Took it to the dealer, who first pointed out that it was time for me to pay the passat driver privilege tax, a.k.a., $650 for standard maintenance work. Regarding the gas smell, after the mechanics allegedly checked the car, the service advisor speculated that it was a leak in one of the fuel pump seals, which are located under the back seat (where the strongest smell was coming from). He said that he had seen other passats at around my same mileage with the same problem. The tank was only full though, and the smell was not present, so he asked me to bring the car back on another day, with a full gas tank, so that the mechanics could smell it. When I suggested that it might be more difficult (and dangerous) to examine a full gas tank, he agreed and when I brought the car back a week later for the mechanics check it out, that's when the service advisor told me that the gas tank was 'cracked' (near the top) ' and that it would cost $2,000+ to fix it. This is obviously not caused by 'wear and tear'- nor is it a problem that I could have caused absent some sort of impact. I called vw america to ask them to pay for the repair, and after they investigated my claim, they told me that the dealership offered to pay 1/2 the cost of the repair, ($1,000). When I next spoke with the service advisor at the dealership, he told me that vw had offered to pay 1/2 the cost of the repair, or would give me a $1,000 credit toward a new car. My investigations have LED me to the conclusion that this is either a defect of the vw fuel tanks or the crack is due to corrosion, which should be 100% covered under the 12 year corrosion warranty. Either way, vw should be held accountable.