Fuel Tank Leak - please contact VOSA

[williamc]

I have a 1991 Elan which recently developed a leak at the neck of its fuel tank. It appears this is a common problem, and people in the US complained enough for Lotus to issue a recall there. But for some reason NO ONE in the UK has been complaining, either to VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) or to Lotus. I posted a link on another site recently - lots of people responded (thank you) and suggested I raise the issue on this site also.

VOSA were really interested in this issue, especially when they found out about the US recall.

www.allworldauto.com/recalls/NHTSA_02V199000_1992_LOTUS_ELAN_recall_56270.html

VOSA contacted Lotus, but when Lotus said I was only the second UK user who had ever complained, VOSA said they couldn't take it further. Sounds like lots and lots of people have suffered from this, and if a few more people formally complain to VOSA hopefully they will take it seriously and force Lotus to issue a belated recall in the UK as well. If you want to help, please talk to VOSA and register a formal complaint with Lotus below. Also, if anyone has a tank available for inspection by VOSA, they would be keen to see it.

VOSA, Vehicle Safety Branch on 0117 9543300/ 0300 123 9000
www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/contactus/contactus.htm

Lotus Customer Service/ Technical Dept on 01953 608 247

[mnemonix]

If the car was new or still in production I could understand, but 20 years after the fact ?! Wouldn't this be like insisting the French Government issue a recall on Guillotines because of a suspected head damage problem ?

[williamc]

I agree. Which is why everyone's initial instinct (including mine) was to write the problem off as wear-and-tear - sort of. But then I found out it was a widespread problem, and I found out about the US recall, which made me start asking why Lotus had got away without issuing a similar recall in the UK.

Please note that the US recall for cars of this vintage was only issued in 2002 - more than a decade after the faulty cars were produced. If VOSA had said "Old car, go away, don't bother us" then I wouldn't have taken it further. But the US authorities were convinced it was a sufficiently important design fault to order a recall, even after so many years. And VOSA seem interested enough that they may take the same view if they have enough evidence to realise it wasn't an isolated problem.

[John_W]

William,
Sorry to hear of your problem. Have you got a picture of the area of concern?

Of course, it's been mentioned on this site in relation to USA cars, but that was a good few years ago. I don't recall any UK cars having the problem.

There was a change in tank design early on in production I seem to recall. How old is your car? Chassis number, VIN etc will tell you. Have a look at http://www.gglotus.org/ggtech/m100-vin/m100vin.htm to see how to read the VIN number, and at http://www.gglotus.org/ggtech/m100-prod ... 00prod.htm to find the build date.

I must admit I tend to agree with mnemonix, though. If the tank had been metal it would have rusted out years ago, so would you then expect VOSA demand to recall for that?

No doubt others can shed more light.

Good luck,
John

[williamc]

Everyone who's had this problem says it occurs at the join between the filler pipe and the tank - pretty much impossible to get at without taking the back end of the car apart. So no, I'm afraid I don't have a photo. I now have 6 UK users who have contacted me recently with details of similar problems on their UK model Elan. And at least two garages who say they've fitted a number of replacement tanks for this problem. So I'm convinced it's been a widespread problem in the UK as well as the US, just that no one's bothered to raise it with VOSA. It only took about 12 complaints in the US to trigger the recall there...

Lotus customer service initially tried to suggest that the tank design might have been different. But after pressing the issue with their technical team it seems pretty clear that the same plastic tanks were in use for most of the early production run (mine was delivered in April 1991); they admitted that there was probably no difference between my problem tank and the US ones for which they issued a recall.

[GeoffSmith]

Check the service bulletins: Number 1990/16 (27/4/90) advises dealers to replace 1990 fuel tanks under warranty in the VIN range 6115, 6126 to 6130, 6132, 6133, 6136-6138, 6141, 6142, 6144-6150, 6152-6154 & 6161.

[muley]

I know of a couple of people in the UK who have had this problem.

When the cars were new some tanks were replaced under warranty.

The warranty has expired in all cases.

It's an easy fix, just remove the wishbone drop the tank out and fix it with a proper petrol tank kit.

HTH

Jim

[markv]

I don't recall any UK cars having the problem.

This has happened to loads of UK cars, mine included! There are quite a few threads on LEC which cover this

[Enright]

LEC has built up a good relationship with Lotus over the years thanks to a lot of hard work.

If the forum was to force Lotus into issuing a recall that goodwill would instantly evaporate.
Then events like the Hethel 60th bash might simply not happen.

I've had to replace brake pipes on younger cars with copper ones at MOT time, and the tester has usually questioned why the manufacturer didn't make them out of copper in the first place. Also recall-worthy?

I reckon you're just going to have to repair this one as best you can and put it down to experience.

[Monty]

LEC has built up a good relationship with Lotus over the years thanks to a lot of hard work.

If the forum was to force Lotus into issuing a recall that goodwill would instantly evaporate.
Then events like the Hethel 60th bash might simply not happen.

Think that`ll a bit off a Brown tongue statement

M100 owners could never effect events like the 60th we are to small off a club, lets put it this way if we turned round to Lotus and said that the M100 owners are taking a stance against Lotus by not going to there 60th bash, do you think they would off canceled the event?

As far as i`m concerened theres no goodwill when it comes to what lotus charge for parts to lotus owners, the only reason that lotus have a sales list is to get rid off old stock as it takes up room. Once those parts have gone you can say goodby to to lotus making anymore parts, it will be down to the owners to find alternatives and thats why this LEC is so important to it`s members.

On the recall

IMHO i don`t think VOSA has that type off power and i believe we are way past the point that Lotus has to support the M100. But a recall maybe different, what we would need to know was it illegal for lotus not to recall the fuel tanks like they did in the USA. IMHO lotus new about the problem (were`s the goodwill there) and should off recalled the tanks in thge early days but they new that would off cost them ££££££££££££ and they kept stumped about it and only through LEC we found out that there was a recall in the USA.

[Paul.P]

Not wishing to cause any upset here, but i have to agree with Monty , if we have to keep stumm about something as important as fuel tanks leaking, to keep this so called " special relationship " going with lotus, then this relationship ain't worth much, is it.
I'm sure this special relationship has benefited LEC somewhere, but not being able to attend most things this year, it appears ive missed the point, would someone care to enlighten me of the benefits please ?

[chris.t]

AFAIK a recall is a safety issue and therefore time is irrelevant. I had faulty fuel lines on an old Fiat which was coming on 10 years old and i got a recall letter through to have them changed ASAP. This was well out of warranty. I agree with Monty et al, safety cannot be ignored and if the design is wrong then like it or not Lotus have a duty of care.

[GeoffSmith]

Trouble is that the recall system is voluntary in the UK and Lotus did try to rectify the problem back in 1990.

[Monty]

Trouble is that the recall system is voluntary in the UK and Lotus did try to rectify the problem back in 1990.

Yep, had a feeling VOSA didn`t know what they were talking about

It`s funny that a British car company only did the recall for the USA but not for the people who keep the Lotus in business, so there`s your goodwll guesture

[DeeAitch]

Trouble is that the recall system is voluntary in the UK and Lotus did try to rectify the problem back in 1990.

Yep, had a feeling VOSA didn`t know what they were talking about

It`s funny that a British car company only did the recall for the USA but not for the people who keep the Lotus in business, so there`s your goodwll guesture

[Jackonicko]

With so few Elans still on the road, and with the difficulties inherent in contacting fourth/fifth/sixth owners, a recall now would not be massively expensive for Lotus.

And a programme to simply provide replacement tanks at nominal cost as a goodwill gesture could be cost-neutral.

It would, however, make the company look as though it were genuinely committed to supporting its customers.

[ailwyn]

The cost would be dependant on whether Lotus carry spares, I suspect that they would not have enough to complete a recall and it's not like they would be able to order the odd one.

For the numbers involved I would suspect that Lotus would risk prosecution by the HSE if a serious incident ever occurred. To date a fuel leak, away from any direct areas of ignition seems to be the only issue. If it were a leak into the engine bay then a worldwide recall would have been issued not just a USA one.

You can try to pursue this but I doubt it will go anywhere.. there's not the numbers involved now to warrant a recall.

If your lucky you may be able to persuade Lotus to provide a new tank on an individual basis, but I very much doubt you'll get any more out of them than that.

[Gordon]

I've latched onto this with some interest... for 12 months now, if I fill my tank above 3/4 the leaking fuel vapour is horrific. There is no visible liquid leak, and as I have more pressing issues at the front end of the car, so far I've left well alone.
There is however, little doubt in my mind that the filler neck is leaking on mine.
1990 S1.
Gordon

[surfboardfiller]

There was a recall on some Elans in the UK for fuel tanks. It's a 20 year old car things break!

[markv]

There was a recall on some Elans in the UK for fuel tanks

Do you have any more info on this? I've seached the rest of the site and can't find any other details.