North Carolina’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has confirmed fuel‑quality problems at 37 gas stations across the state after reviewing more than 100 consumer complaints filed from January 2022 through June 2026. The agency’s inspectors identified water, sediment, failed distillation standards and cross‑delivery errors that placed diesel in gasoline tanks and vice‑versa.
How the state investigated complaints
When a driver files a fuel‑quality complaint, the department assigns an inspector to collect samples from the station’s pumps and underground storage tanks, then reviews delivery and maintenance records. If a product fails state standards, the inspector issues a notice of violation, closes the product for sale and requires the station to correct the issue before a re‑inspection can clear the fuel for resale.
Confirmed cases illustrate common problems
At Southern Woods and Waters in Benson (3405 N.C. Highway 242), a November 2023 complaint alleged diesel had been delivered into the premium gasoline tank. Inspectors found phase separation in premium samples, failed distillation standards and a diesel flash point below the minimum allowed level, indicating possible gasoline contamination. The station received violations for premium, blended midgrade and highway diesel.
In Garner, Family Fare #298 (5460 N.C. Highway 42) reported water in diesel in March 2023. Testing revealed about a quarter‑inch of water in the diesel storage tank and sediment in a pump sample, with flash‑point results below the required minimum. Gasoline and kerosene at the same station passed inspection.
At Refuel #174 in Knightdale (7202 Knightdale Boulevard), an April 2024 complaint described bad diesel from Pump 2. Inspectors discovered sediment, water and cloudiness in diesel from Pumps 2 and 8, and a tenth of an inch of water in the storage tank. Both gasoline and kerosene samples passed testing.
Unconfirmed complaints still raise concerns
Some stations reported cross‑delivery errors but could not be verified because the fuel had already been removed before inspectors arrived. In March 2025, Refuel #189 in Apex (Laura Duncan Road) and Speedway #6973 in Wake Forest (Capital Boulevard) each reported diesel in gasoline tanks, yet testing could not confirm the claims.
These situations highlight a limitation of the complaint system: if a station removes or remediates fuel before sampling, the state may be unable to independently verify what drivers purchased.
What drivers should do if they suspect bad fuel
Fuel‑quality inspector Valerie Thoms advises motorists to keep receipts, note the station’s name, address, pump number, fuel grade and purchase time, and have a mechanic document any suspected contamination. Drivers should also preserve fuel samples when possible, photograph any damage, and file a complaint with the state’s Fuel Quality Laboratory (online or by calling 984‑236‑4770).
“If you have issues with your vehicle, that’s what we’re here for to help you out,” Thoms said. Prompt reporting helps ensure that contaminated fuel is identified before it can be removed or diluted, protecting other drivers from costly engine damage.
Statewide context
The Fuel Quality Program typically investigates more than 200 consumer complaints each year. While cross‑deliveries and contamination do not happen daily, they can cause significant and expensive damage to vehicles, underscoring the importance of the department’s oversight and the need for vigilant consumer reporting.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
