1996 Nissan 240Sx

I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY TO SCHOOL ALONG WITH MY BROTHER AND I NOTICED THAT THERE'S A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS INSIDE THE CAR DURING DRIVING. I STOPPED AT A SAFE PLACE TO CHECK AND I NOTICE THAT THERE'S GAS DRIPPING SLOWLY UNDER THE GAS TANK. IT STILL LEAKS AND IT SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING TO LEAK A LITTLE MORE. PARTS FOR THIS REPAIR ARE ESTIMATE TO $400+ EXCLUDING LABOR, AS THE GAS TANK IS ALSO LOCATED QUITE BEHIND LOADS OF SUSPENSION PARTS FOR THE REAR. *TR

PLEASE REFER TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NTB98-001) WHEN ROUNDING A CURVE OR GOING OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD, AT 40 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR STARTING WOBBLING AND SWAYING AND YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO FLIP OVER. IT IS VERY SCARY. THE WOBBLE IS NOT INDUCED BY THE STEERING WHEEL, IT JUST HAPPENS. THERE IS NO REAL WARNING. I BELIEVE IT IS THE REAR LINK ARM BUSHINGS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS STORIES FROM OTHERS PERTAINING TO THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB SITE (TOPIX.NET) SEARCH PATHFINDER PROBLEMS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN A MUST FIX FOR MANY AND IT IS VERY SCARY AND COULD BE VERY VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT WOULD DEFINATELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR CRASH.

DT: THERE WAS A SPLIT IN THE SEAM OF THE GAS TANK. THE SMELL OF GAS WAS STRONG IN THE GARAGE. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SPOT ON THE DRIVEWAY AND SUSPECTED THAT IT WAS GAS. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND HAD TAKEN A PIECE OF TISSUE AND DIPPED IT INTO THE SPOT AND DETERMINED IT WAS GASOLINE ON THE SPOT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE DAY BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DISCOVERED A SPLIT IN THE SEAM OF A GAS TANK THE COST WOULD BE $1,200 TO FIX IT. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS HAD BEEN MADE. *AK (11/22/05) *SC