2018 Toyota Rav4 Fuel System Problems

-Fuel leaks have been occurring since we purchased the car in April 2022. The previous owners never parked on an incline, so they never experienced the issue. -Fuel leaks when the car is parked on an incline when tank is between half full and full. -Leaks occur more often based on (1) the more full the tank is (we never top it off after the pump stops at gas station) and (2) when parked in direct sunlight. -In the photo and video from 12/15/23, it was a cool day (57 degrees), but the warmth from the sun, after previously being cloudy, caused expansion and the leak occurred with a half tank. -Leaks do not occur when parked with the nose facing downhill. -Safety: leaking gas is an inherent fire safety risk. Note the leak could occur while driving up a mountain. -No warning lamps or messages appear. -The car has been inspected by a Japanese car specialist and they were unable to identify the problem. -The car is available for inspection upon request. -I have a video of the fuel leaking, but that file type is not supported, so I uploaded it as a photo instead (3rd attachment). -Last photo shows difficulty of trying to clean up fuel. Permanent stains remain. Fuel breaks down the asphalt, which now has a hole in it and needs to be patched.

I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN FEBRUARY 2018 AND ON FEBRUARY 2019 THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE ENGINE STOPPED AND "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE" WAS DISPLAYED ON THE DASH. WITH THIS FAILURE, THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE CAR DID START UP AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE SELLING DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I IGNORED THE SAME FAILURE A COUPLE MORE TIMES, BUT WITH THE LAST FAILURE, I TOOK THE CAR TO BALL TOYOTA, CHARLESTON, WV. THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS 3 ERROR CODES, PO 1603,1604,1605,P219A AND MADE A REFERRAL TO TOYOTA, TAS CASE #202130026. TOYOTA TOLD THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TANK SUB-ASSY. AND THE CANISTER ASSY.. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT I'M NOT SURE THEIR REPAIR WILL BE THE CORRECT FIX

GAS NEEDLE SHOWS EMPTY WHEN GAS TANK IS HALF FULL. THIS OCCURS WHEN AUTO IS STATIONARY, AND IN MOTION.

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT # 11279255 FILED ON 11/10/2019. CAR STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING WITH "CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARING ON THE DASH NEXT TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER TAKING CAR TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN CONSHOHOCKEN PA, THEY KEPT THE CAR ASKED QUESTIONS AND FINALLY FOUND A FAULTY VALVE IN THE GAS LINE THAT WAS FLOODING THE VAPOR CANISTER WITH GAS. TOYOTA STEPPED UP AND ALONG WITH THE PERSISTENCE OF THIS DEALERSHIP IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, IT WAS RESOLVED. THIS ISSUE WAS A THREAT TO LIFE AS IF IT HAD HAPPENED 10 MINUTES LATER WHEN THE CAR WAS ON AN INTERSTATE, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.