NHTSA Complaint #10232446 — 1992 FORD RANGER

JUST THIS PAST TWO WEEKS, WE TRADED TRUCKS. WE RECEIVED A 1992 FORD RANGER. DURING THE SMOG TEST IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK WAS CRACKED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE PART COST $241 , LABOR $175 WHICH WAS A COSTLY SMOG CHECK. WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS TYPE OF REPAIR IS VERY COMMON IN FORD RANGERS, ESPECIALLY THE OLDER ONES. THE FORD CO. HAS NOW REDESIGNED THE PART, AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OR OFFER OF HELP TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POORLY DESIGNED FUEL FILLER NECK. YOU ASKED HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS - QUITE OFTEN - THE TWO TIMES I WAS IN THE OFFICE OF THE REPAIR SHOP, I ENCOUNTERED 3 OTHER CUSTOMERS THAT WERE IN THERE FOR THE SAME REASON !! I WOULD SAY THAT IS TOO OFTEN. AND, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FORD CO TO REPLACE THE POORLY DESIGNED FUEL FILLER NECKS AND PAY FOR THE LABOR INVOLVED. ADDITIONALLY, I THINK THAT THIS INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BE DRIVING AROUND WITH A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FUEL VAPOR LEAK, AND THAT THEY CAN GET SOME FINANCIAL HELP WHEN IT IS TIME TO SMOG THEIR TRUCK AND THIS PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED. CAROLYN NEUMAN *TR