Other Fuel System Tank Filling/charging problems of the 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander

The vehicle is was purchased used with no check engine light on at the time of purchase. After driving for a week the light came on and there was a strong fuel smell after filling the gas tank. A diagnosis check was done and it was found there is an issue with the fuel tank. It was brought to the dealership and found that there is a hole in the top of the gas tank causing fumes to leak. The tank cannot go below a quarter tank or the engine will shut off as well. After researching through the internet it was found that this is a very common problem with the vehicle. Mitsubishi was contacted to find out if there was a recall to find out there was not, they also did not assist in any way to make this issue any better. Dealership would charge $1700. 00 to replace tank.

Over the last 4-6 months I noticed a gasoline odor after filling the gas tank (affected part). The gas odor has gotten significantly stronger outside and inside the vechicle each month. If I fill the gas tank today there is an extreme gas odor/fume that is leaking from the gas tank. As the gas tank empties the odor decreases. There isn't a gas liquid leakage that you would see on the ground, but a flume leakage that fills the pasenger comparment and surrounds the outside rear area of the vechicle. I think if there was spark, open flame, rear end collision, or if the vechicle was parked in direct sun light a combustible fire/explosion could occur. This an extremely dangerous and unsafe condition. I have brought this problem to the attention of the dealer and they have received multiple complaints from customers owning 2003 and newer Mitsubishi model years, with the same problem. The solution is to replace the gas tank at an estimated cost of $1500. They said there should be recall for something as dangerous and life threating as this but there isn't. The outcome could be similar to the Ford pinto gas tank defect that caused the injury and death of many people before a recall was issued national highway traffic safety administration.