Contaminated gas complaints extend beyond vehicles - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The list of complaints over contaminated gasoline is growing and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. The number of people reporting problems and filing lawsuits against BP is now in the thousands - and it is no longer affecting just cars and trucks.

BP first denied their gas had been contaminated, then slowly, the company admitted there was a problem and they are in full damage control now, taking out a half page ad in the Indianapolis Star apologizing.

Gas that was allegedly bought at a BP station contains a byproduct from the refining process that is used to make plastic and gels. The two together in your gas tank can be trouble.

"But any type of gasoline-powered engine, in any type of vehicle or implement could be affected by this. Not only do you have to deal with lawn equipment, farm equipment," said Richard Shevitz with Cohen & Malad, an Indianapolis law firm filing suits against BP.

If your weed trimmer, lawn mower, or leaf blower are running rough and you have been a regular customer of BP, you may have a complaint against the company, like those that have joined a class action complaint filed by Shevitz against BP. Dozens of people believe that tainted gas has damaged motorcycles, vintage cars and they all want one thing - their engines fixed.

"The calls we are get from the consumers range from the problems...cars that will not start to cars that broke down in the middle of the road," said Shevitz.

The question many are asking is when will the company pay up. The first words in the company's ad in the Star are "We're sorry."

"I have been surprised. It is interesting how much energy they are spending on spill control and how little energy they are spending on taking care of the consumers," Shevitz said.

The company claims to sell 50 million gallons everyday. The lawsuit is seeking $5 million for two million gallons of what BP is calling "off spec" gas.