My car started getting a strong odor of gas. A fuel pipe leak is causing the odor
- NHTSA ID
- 11446156
- Incident
- Sep 8, 2021
Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Saturn Ion submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words
My car started getting a strong odor of gas. A fuel pipe leak is causing the odor
Hi I am a kind of new owner of an 04 saturn ion, this is actually the second complaint I've filled out. Last July I had a mechanic friend look at my fuel filter and he had said the fuel line needed to be cut off becuase of how rusted on to the original fuel filter I'd got it with was and I didn't believe him so I replace it myself and when I got it off I had cleaned up the metal fuel line the best I could and put a new filter on. Well now it leaks gas right where the hook up is and very strong fuel smells come from there too, I've gotten numerous comments about how un safe that is to be driving it but I need to have a way to work and then someone had mentioned to check for recalls and I seen on there that this car did have a recall for faulty fuel filter gas lines. If you could get back to me as soon as possible about an inspection if needed or whatever else you'd need on my behalf. Please and thank you for your time
TRIED TAKING FUEL FILTER OFF LAST JULY TOOK A WHOLE WEEKEND OF USING PENATRATING OIL AND FREEZE OFF THEN I FINALLY GOT THE TABS TO COME LOOSE, I THOUGHT MAYBE I MESSED UP THE NEW FILTER OR DIDNT GET ENOUGH RUST OFF THE FUEL LINE AND THAT'S WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STRONG SMELL OF GAS ND POOR PERFORMANCE BUT CHANGED IT AGAIN AND STILL THAT SAME PROBLEM BUT NOW THERES A LEAK. THE CAR WAS ON BACK TIRE RAMPS THE GIRL FUEL FILTER CHANGE THEN THE 2ND ONE WAS DONE WITH A HOIST AND CURRENTLY THIS CAR IS THE ONLY THING I CAN COUNT ON TO MAKE IT TO WORK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
THE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING, GM REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE VIN ISN'T ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL, BUT THE SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL OF MY CAR SAYS IT HAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM AND PUMP.
FUEL LEAK ON REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WHILE CAR IS STATIONARY. IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED BEFORE THE DATE AND MILEAGE STATED BELOW BUT THAT'S WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE FUEL LEAK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,639.
IT LOOKS LIKE MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE FUEL INJECTOR LINE OR FUEL PUMP BUT I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ON MY CAR BUT IT'S NOT SHOWING UP ON MY VIN NUMBER
2004 SATURN ION 2.2/4 ENGINE STARTED SMELLING GAS FUEL LINE ISSUES FOUND ... OTHERS HAVING SAME ISSUE THERE ARE RECALLS BUT ONLY ON CERTAIN VIN #S 107,000 MILES HOW MANY CARS BEFORE NATION WIDE RECALL ??!!
I BOUGHT A 2004 SATURN ION 2.2L L4 (VIN: [XXX]) FOR MY SON 4 MONTHS AGO. IT IS NOW LEAKING A PUDDLE GASOLINE AFTER BEING SHUT DOWN. I LOOKED ON LINE AND THERE DOZENS OF OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM (PLEASE SEE ATTACHED) YET MY VIN IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST. CALLED SATURN 800.972.8876, THEY SAID IT WASN'T ON A RECALL LIST ALSO. DEALER WANTS $600+ FOR REPAIRS. ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANKS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE CAR IS UNDER 80,000 MILES AND HAS A LEAKING FUEL LINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE DUE TO THE SMELL OF FUEL AND SPARKS COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE.
SOLD ME THIS CAR WITH WARRANTEE NEVER GUARANTEED THE WARRANTEE LATER ON ALSO DISCOVERED THERE WAS A WHOLE PATCH IN THE GAS TANK AND I HAVE TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND I WAS AFRAID OF THEIR SAFETY AND RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOT FOR SELLING ME A IN SAFE VEHICLE. THERE AND I WANT TO TAKE FAULT FOR THE VEHICLE PROBLEMS AND I WANT TO COVER THE WARRANTY THAT WAS PROMISED TO ME ON THE CONTRACT.
STRONG GAS SMELL & STARTED NOTICING POOR GAS MILEAGE AND IT GOT WORSE. THEN NOTICE IT IS LEAKING GAS BY THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. ALSO THE RUNNING LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY COME ON DURING THE DAY BUT NOT AT NIGHT.
I HAVE HAD 3 MECHANICS LOOK AT MY 2004 SATURN ION. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT MY FUEL LINES NEED REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL ON THIS PRODUCT AND IT SHOULD BE. *TR
AFTER THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE RECALLS PREFORMED AND THE FUEL LEAK LOOKED AT, THEY SAID, ON PAPER, "C/S FUEL LEAKING UNDER VEHICLE." "FUEL FEED LINE LEAKING FUEL,ACTIVE LEAK,DO NOT RECOMMEND TO DRIVE. REPLACE FOR $689.99 PLUS TAX CUSTOMER DECLINED." I DECLINED BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, WHICH I WILL TAKE THEIR CAUTION AND NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TILL IT CAN FIXED. I AM BRINGING THE CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC TO HAVE THEIR CLAIMS VERIFIED BY A NONE GM COMPANY. I LIVE IN NY, THEY USED TO USE SALTS ON THE ROAD WHICH MAY HAVE ATTRIBUTED TO THE ISSUE, THE CAR IS 12 YEARS OLD AT ONLY 62K MILES. DISAPPOINTING. CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. 1 MONTH AGO AT 61K MILES PRIVATELY, I ASSUME THE SELLER SOLD THE CAR DUE TO THE GAS LEAK AND DIDN'T INFORM ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. IN ADDITION, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V003000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V281000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUEL UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE LEAK STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL LINE WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
FUEL LEAK. CHANGING FUEL LINE AND HOPEFULLY THAT FIX WORKS. SAME THING CURRENTLY HAPPENING ON OUR 2006 SATURN VIN [XXX]. FRUSTRATING READING ALL THE YEARS OF COMPLAINTS WITH LIMITED RECALLS. DANGEROUS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ANY TIME THE FUEL PUMP IS RUNNING, FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK A RUNNING DOWN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. LEAVES ABOUT 12" PUDDLE ON THE GROUND AFTER RUNNING 10 TO 30 SECONDS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT REACHED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND FELT FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,714.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE IGNITION IS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE HAD A FUEL ODOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
WAS DRIVING WHEN I NOTICED A GAS SMELL REALLY STRONG IT GOT WORSE WHEN THEN I NOTICED THAT I WAS GOING THREW GAS LIKE CRAZY AND DIDN'T KNOW WHY . ONE DAY THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG WHEN I GOT OUT THE CAR I LOOKED UNDER THAT CAR AND SAW THAT ONE OF LINES WAS LEAKING GAS I AM WORRIED BECAUSE I DO HAVE KIDS IN MY CAR AND THAT ITS A BAD DANGER CHANCE OF FIRES TO START
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SATURN ION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE STRONG FUEL FUMES EMITTING INSIDE AND AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ UPDATED 12/15/15. *JB
FUEL LINE RUSTED OUT NEAR FUEL FILTER AND DIRECTLY ABOVE EXHAUST PIPE. LARGE PUDDLE OF FUEL ON GROUND AFTER CAR WAS SHUT OFF. WHEN RESTARTED, FUEL CONTINUED TO FLOW OUT OF RUSTED FUEL LINE AND ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .