Tank Filler Pipe And Cap problems of the 2005 Ford Explorer

I'm the origonal owner and have 76,306 miles on my Explorer. I noticed a gas smell. I took it in to the dealer. Dealer found a gas leak where the filler hose attaches to the gas tank. The plastic piece that is part of the gas tank had many cracks/fractures that allowed fuel to leak out. The only repair option is to replace the entire gas tank at a cost to me of $2,009. 00. I feel this is a design flaw and a safety issue. The gas tank holds 22. 5 gallons of fuel that could flow onto the hot exhaust pipe if the plastic filler piece failed completely.

I have a 2003 Ford Explorer. I have had so much trouble with the check fuel cap light coming on, it has been replaced twice, then the technician reset the warning light. In December 2008 the car just stopped taking fuel, it seemed like it was full. It would take me a half hour to fill the tank. I took it to the Ford dealer, they said they cleaned all the sensors in and around the fuel tank, I paid a bill of $370. The next time I filled it with gas, it did the same exact thing again. I took it back to the dealer, they put a new filler neck on it and charged me $260. It worked for a short time, then in February it started doing it again! I did not want to put any more money in it, after about a month of that, it fixed itself. Now, the check fuel cap light is on again, and also the service engine soon light. This has been, without a doubt, the worst car I have ever purchased in my entire life, I purchased it new and it has been trouble from day one. The service manager said I was having this trouble putting the gas in it because I have put a lot of gas in it. . . . Excuse me, you can bet he wouldn't have said that to my husband if he took it in for service!.