NHTSA Issues Recall On 2007 Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall for 2,945 Ford Five Hundred & Mercury Montego sedans made in 2007. The recall addresses potentially defective welds between the filler neck and the fuel tank which could cause a fuel leak or the smell of gasoline reaching the passengers in the vehicle. Worst case scenario is a fire starting from the fuel leak.

Cars affected by the problem will see a dashboard warning light come on. Ford will both inspect and replace the fuel tank at no cost to owners (those who have already had the repair done at-cost can apply for reimbursement) and will send out notices to owners starting August 15.

Source: Autoblog

[expand] Report Date : July 17, 2011 at 09:53 AM
NHTSA Campaign ID number : 11V355000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
FORD / FIVE HUNDRED 2007
MERCURY / MONTEGO 2007

Manufacturer:
FORD MOTOR COMPANY Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 07, 2011
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V355000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component:
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2,945

Summary:
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUEL TANK SPUD WELDS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE EXPECTED STRENGTH IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE REAR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. AN IMPROPER WELD CAN RESULT IN A CRACK IN THE JOINT WHICH COULD ILLUMINATE THE EMISSIONS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT, CAUSE A FUEL ODOR, OR ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT.

Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes:
FORD’S SAFETY RECALL NO. 11S20. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
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