The contact owns a 2009 Mercury Mariner. The contact stated that he could smell a strong, abnormal gas odor upon exiting the vehicle. The contact stated that the odor was the strongest when the gas tank was full. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed him that there was a leak at the top of the fuel tank. He was informed that the fuel tank needed to replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that the VIN was not under recall. A dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

- Churchville, MD, USA