The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
The risk
THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Thunderbird | 1992, 1993 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1992, 1993 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 Thunderbird | 1992 | 184 | 3 |
| Ford Thunderbird | 1993 | 423 | 3 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1992 | 92 | 3 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1993 | 195 | 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