Bought my 2012 Outlander SE and fueled it for the first time. When the pump shut off I did not put anymore fuel in it. Went on a 110 mile trip and immediately it smelled of gasoline vapors inside the cabin. After 70 miles, the smell went away. It's at the dealership now and they say they can't replicate the problem. Any suggestions?

 

did you have the AC or fans on, in-taking outside air? Was there a 80's or older vehicle in front of you? (I miss the smell of old '70s and '80s vehicles...)

only other suggestion I have is to fill it up, pop the hood, and watch/smell the engine compartment for fuel vapor.

 

Could it have been on your shoes? At the 70-80 mile mark you could have turned on the floor vent (or they could have come on automatically if in AUTO mode) and the fumes got blown upwards?

Otherwise ccernst has a great point about an old cat-less or "rich" burning car nearby

 

Thanks people, there is a difference in the smell of raw fuel and exhuast vapors so that wasn't it. The temperature was in the 20's so I wasn't running the a/c. Filling up the tank only adds .434 psi per foot of elevation so I don't think the problem would be coming from the engine compartment. I would think that it would do it all the time not just when I fill it up. I will try it though when I get it back. I have a '71 Monte Carlo and I do love the carbureted smell.

 

the only reason I bring up the fan thing is that in the winter, I've noticed mine does not recirculate the air in the winter. I feel like it should keep warming the already warming air...not warming up cold air from outside. so if yours was pulling air from the outside, that could be how the vapors were getting inside the cabin. Passed that, I couldn't imagine another source. Do you notice any leaking/puddles under the fuel tank area? Possibly thinking about a leaking fuel neck and pooling where it shouldn't...maybe entering from the trunk area. But I'd think that'd take a significant amount of fuel to notice that.

 

Your in the Outlander section..... go to the Lancer one.