Other Fuel System Tank Assembly problems of the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox

The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the contact ran over a piece of rubber tire tread that was in the road. The contact continued to drive; however, when the contact was stopped at a red light, there was an odor of fuel in the vehicle. The contact then parked the vehicle and discovered fuel leaking from the vehicle. The fire department was called and it was discovered that the fuel tank fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The fuel line on the 2012 Equinox (is a flex fuel, don't know if that makes any difference) is plastic and not protected from road hazards. The line runs close to the frame on the driver¿s side from the rear to front of the car. About where the driver side passenger door is, the fuel line has blue plastic connectors fastening the plastic fuel line. This section of fuel line and the blue connector tabs sit lower than the vehicle frame. (there is also another section in from the rear tire that sits a little higher, but still unprotected) . Road hazards such as ice chunks, hard snow, dirt/gravel roads with ruts or high center, dirt clots, rocks, dead animals or anything that is about 7- 8 inches or higher ( or gets knocked up there) will break these plastic connectors or fuel line and gas will pour out of the vehicle. My fuel line broke by hitting a small mound of snow that had frozen overnight, by backing out of my driveway. After quickly noticing the fuel leak I rushed to a local auto shop (less than 4 miles) and lost about a full tank of gas before getting there. None of the local dealers had this part, was without a vehicle for 3 days.