1998 Chevrolet Tahoe fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE FAILED TO START UPON LEAVING THE MALL. AFTER SEVERAL TROUBLE SHOOTING PROCEDURES AT MY RESIDENT THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND THAT THE IN TANK FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS NOT WORKING. DURING THE GENTLY LOWERING OF THE FUEL TANK, THE SENDING UNIT TO FILTER FUEL LINE THAT RUNS ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FRAME JUST CRUMBLED INTO CHUNKS OF RUST. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT GM ACTUALLY INSTALLED FUEL LINES MADE OUT OF PLAIN UNPROTECTED STEEL TUBING, ESPECIALLY ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS SOLD AND OPERATED IN A SNOW BELT STATE. ALSO WHILE I WAS REPLACING THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES, I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE THAT FEEDS THE REAR BRAKES THAT ALSO RUNS ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME WAS IN THE SAME SAD SHAPE, DURING REMOVAL OF THIS BRAKE LINE, IT ALSO CRUMBLED INTO CHUNKS OF RUST, HOW THESE LINES DID NOT FAIL PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT IS BEYOND ME. IF IT WASN'T FOR BEING A SKILLED MECHANIC BY TRADE, THIS WOULD HAVE COST A FORTUNE IN LABOR COST TO REPAIR. FOR A VEHICLE SOLD/OPERATED IN SNOW BELT STATES, THESE LINES SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL OR SOME OTHER NON-FERROUS ALLOY MATERIAL.

NHTSA complaint #10723888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

MY VEHICLE RECENTLY STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, I FORTUNATELY HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. HE DISCOVERED THE FUEL PUMP WIRING WAS HEATING UP TO THE POINT IT CAUSED A BARE LINE. HIS OPINION WAS, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE THE VEHICLE STALLED SINCE THE PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK AND IS A BOMB WAITING TO EXPLODE. I NOTED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED. ARE WE AWAITING ANOTHER FORD ESCORT SITUATION BEFORE CHEVY NEEDS TO FILE A RECALL BEFORE SOME ONE DIES? I HAVE RETAINED THE PUMP SHOULD YOU WISH TO HAVE AN EXPERT LOOK AT THE SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10016201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TOWED TO PRIVIATE RECOMMENDED MECHANIC. HE WAS HORRIFIED TO FIND THE WIRE IN THE FUEL PUMP HAD IT'S CASING MELTED OFF DUE TO THE HEAT WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS HALF FILLED WITH FUEL AND THE INTENSE HEAT (SUCH THAT THE WIRE CASING HAD MELTED) COULD HAVE CREATED A DANGEROUS OR FATAL SITUATION. I HAVE TRIED TO ASK THE COMPANY ABOUT RECALL OR INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM BUT SINCE MY CAR WAS WORKED ON BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A DEALER AND/OR MY MILES ARE OVER 60K, THEY WILL NOT TALK TO ME. THE ATTY GENERAL GAVE ME YOUR INFORMATION TO PROCEED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT THIS PROBLEM IS LOOKED INTO AND IF RECALLED, WOULD SEEK REIMBURSEMENT.. THANK YOU. BRENDA CAREY.

NHTSA complaint #760944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

THIS VEHICLE HAS ITS FOURTH FUEL PUMP INSTALLED AND THE FIFTH FUEL PUMP IS STILL IN ITS BOX IN THE BACK , READY. THE SECOND FUEL PUMP LEFT MY FAMILY IN MARYVILLE, TENN. FOR THREE DAYS BECAUSE THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP COULDNT GET A PUMP ANY SOONER. I WAS TOLD LATER BY A GM SERVICEMAN THAT THIS WAS PROBABLY AN ENGINEERING DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #758566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP HAD A SHORT. BARE WIRES EXPOSED INSIDE GAS TANK. POSSIBLE FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #756487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES THE GAS TANK BUMPS AGAINST THE BODY OF VEHICLE, THIS CAUSES THE GAS TO LEAK.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8001653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A USED CAR DEALER AND I STOPPED ON THE WAY HOME TO FILL UP THE TANK WITH GAS AND GOT A CAR WASH. AFTER ARIVING AT MY HOME I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. I CHECKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GAS RUNNING OFF OF THE FUEL TANK AND DOWN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND FIXED IT FOR ME. THEY TELL ME THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I BELIEVE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK, BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THERE WAS ENOUGH FUEL THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN MY OPINION.

NHTSA complaint #753983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE MOTOR WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. AFTER PULLING OVER IT WOULD THEN RESTART. THIS HAPPENED 8 TO 10 TIMES DURRING THE SAME TRIP, AND THEN IT STARTED RUNNING FINE AS IF THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. AFTER THIS PROBLEM STARTED AT THE SAME TIME THE FUEL TANK AT THE TOP WERE THE FUEL PUMP AND LINES ENTER STARTED LEAKING FUEL AT FILL UPS

NHTSA complaint #750615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

DEALER CLAIMS A PLASTIC FUEL INJECTOR CONNECTOR CRACKED AND IS LEAKING FUEL ON TOP OF ENGINE, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #890510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FEUL PUMP EXTREME WHINING SOUND.

NHTSA complaint #745713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/ FUEL SPILLED OUT OF FUEL INJECTOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO FOUND FUEL HAD SPILLED ONTO DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND WIRES, SHORTING OUT DISTRIBUTOR AND CAUSING CORROSION. ALSO, IN SEPTEMBER 2000, BRAKE PEDAL GOT HARD PROGRESSIVLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO FOUND BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #874705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #735020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FIRST OWNER DETECTED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, OWNER NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE A CRACK WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS INSERTED INTO TANK. FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #871640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK CRACKS, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE/FUMES

NHTSA complaint #717820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTION FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #606225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

FUEL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #607433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

VEHICLE HAS A POOR GAS TANK ASSEMBLY. WHENEVER THIS VEHICLE IS ON A STEEP INCLINE, THE TILT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES THE GAS TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK WHERE THE CAP GOES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #832130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.