The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
The risk
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escort | 1995 |
| Mercury Tracer | 1995 |
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 Escort | 1995 | 576 | 4 |
| Mercury Tracer | 1995 | 96 | 3 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 1997
20 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 97V228000 17 Dec 1997 | MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC |
| 97V216000 24 Nov 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V199000 13 Nov 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 97V194000 7 Nov 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 97V197000 7 Nov 1997 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 97V186002 6 Nov 1997 | MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC |
| 97V189000 29 Oct 1997 | UNION CITY BODY COMPANY |
| 97V186001 28 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997