NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE10-015: Fuel Tank Leak
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE10-015 on May 12, 2010 and closed it on September 10, 2010. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Chevrolet Corvette for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE10-015 (also written PE10015)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed September 10, 2010
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Components
- Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly; Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly — Filler Pipe and Cap
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE10-015.
In its June 30, 2010 response to ODI's Information Request letter, General Motors (GM) identified the leak source as cracks in either the fuel tank cross-over tube quick connector (connector) and/or the hot-plate weld joint of the connector to the tank.
The root causes are attributed to errors in connector material processing, variations in the welding process, and high stresses placed on the driver's side connector during vehicle use.
GM also identified the scope of the subject vehicles involved to be those produced from approximately October 22, 2003 through March 19, 2004.
GM does not believe the cracks represent an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on factors that include; low rate of fuel leaking to the ground, detectable fuel odor, the cracks are at the top of the tank, leaks are detectable during refueling, small quantities of fuel that leaks out, and no associated property damage or personal injury claims.
On August 13, 2010, GM issued a Special Coverage Adjustment to remedy fuel tank quick connector leaks and extend the warranty for this issue to 10 years or 100,000 miles in certain 2004 Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac XLR vehicles.
Vehicle owners will be notified by mail of the adjustment and will also be entitled to reimbursement for previously paid repairs covered under the adjustment.(See file for, SERVICE BULLETIN 10150: SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT-FUEL TANK QUICK CONNECTOR LEAK).
The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.
The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE10-015. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Corvette
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Chevrolet VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE10-015
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.