The defect
Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks may also leak.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2013 |
| Ford Taurus | 2012 |
| Lincoln MKS | 2012 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 2013 | 2,237 | 11 |
| Ford Taurus | 2012 | 79 | 5 |
| Lincoln MKS | 2012 | 17 | 3 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 2013
16 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; Ford Motor Company filed 737 campaigns in all.
| 13V617000 12 Dec 2013 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 13V584000 25 Nov 2013 | Ford Motor Company |
| 13V464000 26 Sept 2013 | General Motors LLC |
| 13V450000 23 Sept 2013 | Volkswagen of America, Inc. |
| 13V302000 9 Jul 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 13V297000 8 Jul 2013 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 13V274000 27 Jun 2013 | Eldorado National- Kansas |
| 13V227000 31 May 2013 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013