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Problems with fuel leaks: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 22 faults with fuel leaks in 10 engines and 12 cars, affecting 60 models of car in our database. The most important by severity and frequency: LPG tank corrosion (1.4 and 1.6 8v), fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon) (1.5 EcoBoost) and defective LPG tank weld with risk of gas leak (Dacia Logan III).

Documented faults
22
19 of high or critical severity
Engines
10
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
60
car generations in our database
Garage repair
No data
No reliable published costs

2 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Fuel leaks

A petrol or diesel leak can come from the tank, the pipes, the fuel rail or the pressure regulator. Besides the extra consumption, it is a fire risk, which is why most of the documented cases have been resolved with recalls.

What to do

If you smell fuel inside or outside the car, see stains under the tank or the engine, or consumption rises for no explanation, do not start the car and take it to a workshop on a tow truck. Check whether there are outstanding campaigns for your car.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with fuel leaks. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with fuel leaks by engine

From most to least important (severity × frequency). Each page details the affected versions and years, symptoms, cost and how to check for it.

  1. 1High severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vLPG tank corrosionOn the factory LPG versions of the Dacia Sandero I, several reports document corrosion of the gas tank, picked up at the vehicle inspection and a reason for failing it. It is not a fault of the engine itself, but of the LPG system that Dacia fitted to this engine.Appears at around 65,000 km
  2. 2Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional1.5 EcoBoostFuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon)Yes: Ford has recalled the Kuga with the three-cylinder 1.5 EcoBoost because a high-pressure injector can crack and release fuel onto the engine, with a fire risk. The broadest campaign, 25S76 (2026), covers units built between 2018 and 2024.
  3. 3High severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional2.2 JTDm Multijet IIDiesel leak from the fuel filter gasketAlfa Romeo recalled 3,873 2018 Giulia with the 2.2 diesel over a faulty fuel filter gasket that caused diesel leaks (according to Alvolante). The source gives no date or reference for the campaign and cites no real failures.
  4. 4High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi 3.0 TFSI V6Fuel leak at the injection rails (2015 and 2019 campaigns)Audi recalled cars with the 3.0 TFSI over possible leaks from the fuel rails: one campaign in 2015 (built between April 2011 and April 2012) and another in 2019 (low-pressure rails, built between 2014 and 2016). You notice it by a smell of petrol; the fix is to replace the rails.
  5. 5Critical severityRareFrequency: Rare1.2 PureTechPossible petrol leak in the high-pressure circuit (chain-driven generation)In 2025 Stellantis recalled the new-generation 1.2 turbos (chain-driven, 100 and 136 hp, hybrids included) built from 2023 to 2025: a joint on the high-pressure pipe could leak petrol, with a risk of fire. It is fixed with a free re-tightening taking under 30 minutes.Repair: €0
  6. 6Critical severityRareFrequency: Rare1.5 BlueHDiDiesel leak at the common rail (2026 recall)Stellantis has recalled more than 50,000 vehicles in Europe with 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between July and October 2025: a badly positioned cone on the common rail can loosen the nut and cause a diesel leak with a fire risk. The repair is free.Repair: €0
  7. 7Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalM111Fuel pressure regulator leak with petrol smellThe M111 fuel pressure regulator can leak occasionally, with a smell of petrol in the engine bay or cabin as the main sign. A German used-car guide documents it as an occasional fault, detectable with the engine running.
  8. 8High severityRareFrequency: RareMIVEC gasolinaCracked fuel pump cover with fuel leak on the ColtOn the 2010-2011 Colt the cover of the fuel pump unit could crack and let vapour or fuel escape from the tank; there was a recall: 64 cars in the United Kingdom according to the DVSA and about 1,348 according to Gebrauchtwagenberater, which speaks of the tank sender unit.
  9. 9High severityRareFrequency: RareMitsubishi PHEVFuel leak at the tank hose connection (2015 campaign)In 2015, 1,092 UK Outlander PHEVs built between 21 July and 12 September 2015 were recalled: the connection between the fuel pipe and hose may have been incorrectly fitted at the factory and could leak petrol. It is inspected and, if necessary, reconnected correctly.
  10. 10High severityRareFrequency: Rare2.2 MultiJet / BlueHDi (Stellantis)Unvulcanised fuel return pipe: fuel leak and fire riskStellantis is recalling Ducato, Boxer, Jumper and Movano vans built between November 2024 and July 2025: the fuel return pipe is not vulcanised and can come away from the valve and drip onto hot parts. It is precautionary and no fire has been reported.

Engines with faults with fuel leaks

Problems with fuel leaks by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Logan IIIDefective LPG tank weld with risk of gas leakAn incorrect weld on the LPG tank can cause gas leaks with a risk of fire. It affects LPG Logan III, Sandero III and Duster cars built between 6 February and 3 July 2023 (Dacia code 0E5T, Safety Gate alert 45/2023).
  2. 2Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Transit VI-VIICorrosion of the natural gas tank multivalve on the Transit CNGIn December 2017 Safety Gate recorded alert A12/1818/17: on the natural gas (CNG) Transit built between 2003 and 2011 (types DM2-CNG and DA3-CNG), the system's multivalve may corrode and, in the event of a fire, the pressure relief device could fail and the tank could explode.
  3. 3Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i10 IIIFuel leak due to a defect in the tank or its supply line (October 2024 i10)Hyundai recalled a small batch of i10s built in October 2024 (campaign 51DT09) because of a risk of fuel leakage. The sources disagree on the origin: a manufacturing defect in the tank (DVSA and gebrauchtwagenberater.de) or incorrect installation of the supply line (car-recalls.eu).
  4. 4Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMazda 3 IIIFuel leak caused by a broken tank vent pipeYes: some Mazda3 BM cars built in 2015 were recalled because the plastic joint between the fuel tank and its vent pipe can crack and let vapour or fuel escape, with a risk of fire near a source of ignition.
  5. 5Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Passat B6Gas tank inspection for possible undetected corrosionYes: in 2016 FACUA, the Spanish consumer association, flagged a Volkswagen campaign to inspect the gas tank of Passat, Touran and Caddy cars with the natural gas engine built between May 2008 and October 2013, because the inspection process may not have detected areas of corrosion with a risk of the tank rupturing.
  6. 6Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touran IGas tank inspection over possible undetected corrosionYes: in 2016 FACUA flagged a Volkswagen campaign to inspect the gas tank of natural gas Touran, Passat and Caddy models built between May 2008 and October 2013, because the inspection process may have failed to detect areas of corrosion, with a risk of the tank rupturing.
  7. 7High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Transporter T5Corrosion of the natural gas (CNG) tank on the Transporter T5On CNG (compressed natural gas) versions built between 2005 and 2015, the gas tank can corrode because the protective paint has not been sufficiently maintained, with a risk of leaks and fire, according to the safety notice.
  8. 8Critical severityRareFrequency: RareDacia Duster IILPG tank leak with a risk of fire (2023 cars)Yes: in November 2023 Dacia recalled Duster LPG (Eco-G) cars built between February and July of that year over a welding defect in the gas tank that can cause leaks and a risk of fire in the boot and the cabin.
  9. 9Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalDacia Sandero ILPG tank corrosion and failing the inspectionOn the Sandero 1.4 LPG built up to October 2010, the gas tank is prone to corrosion and some cars failed the inspection, according to L'argus; fiches-auto.fr also records failures for this reason.
  10. 10Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Celica VIIFuel leak when opening the cap: non-return valve in the filler neck incorrectly fittedA Toyota recall (DVSA R/2003/030) covers 2,553 UK Celicas built between March and November 2002: the non-return valve at the fuel tank inlet was incorrectly fitted on some cars, and fuel could come out when the cap was opened if the tank was under pressure.
  11. 11High severityRareFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase A W169Fuel leak from the tank vent line (M266 petrol engine)Mercedes-Benz recalled A-Class cars with the M266 petrol engine built between 1 and 12 July 2010 because the tank vent line could let small amounts of fuel through to the activated carbon filter, causing a smell of fuel in the cabin.
  12. 12High severityRareFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase B W245Fuel leak from the tank vent line (M266 petrol engine)Mercedes-Benz recalled B-Class W245s with the M266 petrol engine built between 1 and 12 July 2010 because the fuel tank vent line could let small amounts of fuel pass to the activated carbon filter, with a smell of fuel in the cabin.

Problems with fuel leaks by make

Problems with fuel leaks in your car

6 cars have several documented faults with fuel leaks. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Citroën 1
Dacia 1
Opel 2
Peugeot 2

How much it costs to repair a fault with fuel leaks

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

OBD fault codes with fuel leaks

The codes the ECU usually stores when this part fails: what they mean, causes and what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Which engines have the most faults with fuel leaks?

By severity and frequency, the 1.4 and 1.6 8v (LPG tank corrosion, high severity), the 1.5 EcoBoost (fuel leak from cracked injectors, with a fire risk (Kuga Dragon), critical severity), the 2.2 JTDm Multijet II (diesel leak from the fuel filter gasket, high severity), the Audi 3.0 TFSI V6 (fuel leak at the injection rails (2015 and 2019 campaigns), high severity), the 1.2 PureTech (possible petrol leak in the high-pressure circuit (chain-driven generation), critical severity) and the 1.5 BlueHDi (diesel leak at the common rail (2026 recall), critical severity). In total we have documented 10 engines with faults with fuel leaks.

Which cars have problems with fuel leaks?

Among those we have analysed: Dacia Logan III (defective LPG tank weld with risk of gas leak), Ford Transit VI-VII (corrosion of the natural gas tank multivalve on the Transit CNG), Hyundai i10 III (fuel leak due to a defect in the tank or its supply line (October 2024 i10)), Mazda 3 III (fuel leak caused by a broken tank vent pipe), Volkswagen Passat B6 (gas tank inspection for possible undetected corrosion), Volkswagen Touran I (gas tank inspection over possible undetected corrosion), Volkswagen Transporter T5 (corrosion of the natural gas (CNG) tank on the Transporter T5) and Dacia Duster II (LPG tank leak with a risk of fire (2023 cars)). In total, 12 cars with documented faults with fuel leaks.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with fuel leaks?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 2 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is possible petrol leak in the high-pressure circuit (chain-driven generation) (1.2 PureTech).

What symptoms does a fault with fuel leaks cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: smell of fuel, gradual loss of power, engine fault warning light (check engine), abnormal vibrations or unstable idle, hard starting or engine will not start and increase in fuel consumption.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.Confirmado: Stellantis llama a revisión a más de 200.000 coches con el motor gasolina sucesor del 1.2 PureTech: «Y también se hará en España»Motorpasión · Motoring press · published 15 July 2025 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  2. 2.1.5 BlueHDi. Stellantis rappelle plusieurs milliers de véhicules pour un problème d'injectionL'argus · Motoring press · published 14 March 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French