WHILE DRIVING MY 2000 KIA SPORTAGE I STARTED SMELLING GAS I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND GAS LEAKING I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE INFORMED ME GAS WAS COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF MY GAS TANK BY WHERE THE FUEL PUMP AND GAS GAUGE WIRING GOES IN. I THEN WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FROM KIA FOR THE SAME REASON. I THE CONTACTED A KIA DEALER IN MY AREA TO GET IT FIXED AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL DOESN'T PERTAIN TO MY VEHICLE AND HE BUT ME IN TOUCH WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THE NEXT DAY (TODAY) THEY TOLD ME THAT MY SPORTAGE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU PEOPLE CAN DO OR I'M I OR SOMEONE ELSE GOING TO HAVE TO DIE IN THIS VEHICLE TO MAKE THEM HONOR THEIR SCREW UP. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP. IF NEED BE I'LL GO TO THE PRESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB
2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WE EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE AND HAS PERSISTED EVER SINCE DESPITE 3 REPAIR ATTEMPTS AT KIA DEALERSHIPS (22AUG2012, 07JAN2013, 30JAN2013). BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT (OCCURRING ONCE OR TWICE EVERY COUPLE WEEKS) AND WITHOUT AN OBVIOUS PATTERN, THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE SMELL ON THE DAYS WE'VE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN. ON THE 3RD REPAIR VISIT (30JAN2013), THE TECHNICIAN WAS "UNABLE TO VERIFY SMELL, BUT INSPECTED AND FOUND FUEL AROUND INTAKE AT THE FUEL INJECTOR BASES." THEY REPLACED O-RINGS TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUE. FOR A WEEK OR SO WE THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED, BUT SINCE THE 3RD VISIT HAVE ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS NOTICED A PROMINENT RAW GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CABIN. THE CLOSEST TO A PATTERN THAT WE'VE NOTICED IS THAT ON DAYS WHEN THE SMELL OCCURS, IT IS STRONGEST AND MOST OBVIOUS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING WITH THE HEATER/AC FAN ON. WE ALSO THINK, BUT ARE NOT SURE, THAT THERE MAY BE A CORRELATION WITH DAYS INVOLVING PRECIPITATION (SNOW/RAIN). *TR