1997 Toyota Corolla

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER A SPEED BUMP AND THE FUEL TANK IMPACTED THE PAVEMENT AND CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FUEL TANK DID NOT HAVE A PROTECTIVE SHIELD INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 319,695.

THE DESIGN OF THE 1997 TOYOTA COROLLA SEDAN HAS A QUESTIONABLE SAFETY DESIGN IN THE FUEL FILLER TUBE. PART # 77201 OR 7720112500 APPEARS TO BE MAKE OF SIMPLE TUBE STEEL. THIS PART IS NOT PROTECTED FROM ROAD HAZARDS, CHEMICALS, OR ROAD SPRAY THAT CONTAIN SALT SUCH AS NORTHERN U.S., OR SEASIDE ARES. SINCE THIS GAS TUBE IS UNPROTECTED CLAMPS 77216A & 77218A HOLD THIS CORROSIVE CAUSING ACCELERATED RUSTING, AND PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE STEEL PIPE. THIS CAUSES A FUEL LEAK THAT RESULT IN A LARGE DISCHARGE OF FUEL WHILE FUELING, AND A LARGE DISCHARGE OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING . WHILE DRIVING, PRESSURE PULLS FUEL FROM THE MOUNTED TANK, TO THE LOWEST POINT BEHIND THE TANK WHICH IS RIGHT WHERE THE ABOVE LISTED CLAMPS TO THE BODY. THIS COULD SEE AN ESTIMATED DISCHARGE OF 25% OF THE TANK 13G CAPACITY OR 3.25G OF FUEL DISCHARGED PER TANK. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE WEAKENING OF THE FUEL TUBE, AT THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE UNI-BODY FRAME. A DRIVER SIDE REAR COLLISION COULD SHEAR OFF THE FUEL TUBE FROM THE BODY-FRAME CLAMPS, AND IGNITING FROM THE SPARKS GENERATED BY THE CHEAP STEEL TUBE.THEN FED DIRECTLY FROM THE BACK FLUSH OF FUEL FROM THE TANK. *TT