The Lemon IndexA fuel smell can mean a leak, and fuel near hot parts is a fire risk.
Stop and get help. If the smell is strong or you see fuel dripping, don’t start it. Have it towed.
A leaking fuel line or fuel injector. Then: a leaking fuel tank or filler neck; a loose or bad gas cap.
Owners describe this in 15,361 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Chevrolet Corvette | 311 | 53% |
| 2018 Honda CR-V | 241 | 11% |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | 235 | 13% |
| 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt | 225 | 10% |
| 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 223 | 51% |
| 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt | 215 | 14% |
| 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 180 | 36% |
| 2007 Chevrolet Equinox | 158 | 23% |
| 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 144 | 39% |
| 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 132 | 33% |
| 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt | 130 | 14% |
| 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt | 116 | 13% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2008 Chevrolet Corvette · 53% 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class · 51% 2009 Chevrolet Corvette · 43% 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class · 39% 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class · 36% 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class · 33% 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class · 33% 2004 Chevrolet Corvette · 33%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of gas smell in car
- A leaking fuel line or fuel injector
- A leaking fuel tank or filler neck
- A loose or bad gas cap
- An EVAP system leak
- A leaking fuel pressure regulator
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a gas smell?
Stop and get help. If the smell is strong or you see fuel dripping, don’t start it. Have it towed.
Get help right away if the smell is strong or inside the car; you see fuel dripping.
Of the 15,361 complaints describing it, 1% say the car was towed, 3% mention a fire and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: fuel/propulsion system (49%), fuel system, gasoline (39%), engine (11%), engine and engine cooling (5%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 75,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Chevrolet (2,846), Ford (1,629), Mercedes-Benz (1,210), Honda (934), Subaru (825).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (fuel system repairs): the middle half ran $678 to $2,000, typical $1,100, from 152 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Car jerks when accelerating Car hesitates when accelerating Car shakes when accelerating Car loses power while driving Car stalls while driving Car stalls at stop or idle
Quick answers
What causes gas smell in car?
A fuel smell can mean a leak, and fuel near hot parts is a fire risk. Common causes: a leaking fuel line or fuel injector; a leaking fuel tank or filler neck; a loose or bad gas cap; an EVAP system leak; a leaking fuel pressure regulator.
Is it safe to drive with a gas smell?
Stop and get help. If the smell is strong or you see fuel dripping, don’t start it. Have it towed.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Chevrolet Corvette and Chevrolet Cobalt. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 152 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $678 to $2,000. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup