I have a 2002 Sportage and just recently have been having a very bad smell of gas when starting it. It enters the inside of car when heater gets turned and stays strong until car has warmed up. I took it to a mechanic and he found some stains on the metal plate under the clamp by the fuel return hose but said unless I can actually see gas dripping he can not say what the problem is and of course it is a warmer day, not as cold as it was the first day it started. I have researched this problem on line and found there is a recall on the fuel return hose in Canada but not here in the us and that there are quite alot of people with this same problem in the us. I am very concerned with this problem and fear that it may cause a fire and needless to say that when the smell is inside of car it starts to make me feel sick.

- Glen Ellyn, IL, USA

2002 Kia Sportage. Very strong smell of gasoline inside cab of vehicle during cold weather (<32 degrees). Eventually dissapates when engine warms up. Took to local mechanic last winter (2006), couldn't locate problem. So we lived with it. Smell even stronger this winter. Found the following suggested fix online (not available last winter). "rubber return line from fuel psi regulator to metal return line is leaking when cold. "the spring clamps do not stay tight when cold, and when the rubber (return line) expands when hot it seals. "remove the uppuer part of the intake and replace the spring clamps with screw type clamps..." some online forums have suggested that dealership may say it is a fuel injector problem, $800 fix. My local mechanic said the same. Many have said that the suggestion above actually fixes the issue. I am currently in between the two. I don't have the inclination to try this myself, so I'm at the mercy of mechanics. What's the deal?

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

: the contact stated while driving various speeds, an odor of fuel was noticed. The vehicle was driven to an independent repair shop who replaced the hose attached to the intake manifold. The dealer was alerted.

- North Royalton, OH, USA

: the contact stated the check engine light intermittently illuminates. The vehicle was taken to the local dealership several times to have the check engine module reset. This remedy worked for several months but the light eventually illuminates again. The local dealer has not determined the problem with the light. Also, the gas tank had a leak in the gas line. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership where they replaced the gas line, however a gas odor still exist inside the vehicle. Updated 2/28/2006 -

- Amherst, NY, USA