NHTSA Complaint #10474452 — 2000 FORD MUSTANG

MY GAS TANK BEGAN LEAKING FUEL BEFORE I DROVE IT IN THE FIRST PART OF 2011. NOT ONLY WAS THE GROMMET CORRODED BUT THE FILLER PIPE WAS LEAKING. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE LEAK IN THE PIPE BECAUSE OF THE PLASTIC TUBE AROUND IT AND WAS LED TO BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER JUST THE GROMMET OR THE TANK ITSELF. I GOT THE GROMMET REPLACED AND THEN THROUGH PROCESS OF ELIMINATION FOUND THAT THE PIPE NEEDS REPLACING AS WELL. THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS WAS SO EASY BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH MUSTANGS FROM '99-'04. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT BECAUSE THE GAS LEAK CAN CAUSE GAS VAPORS TO GET TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND IGNITE EASILY. GAS VAPORS ARE LIGHT BUT STILL HEAVY ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY WILL NOT DISPERSE COMPLETELY FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. GAS ALSO EVAPORATES VERY QUICKLY SO THIS COULD HAPPEN IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO FUEL YOUR CAR. EVERY FORD/MUSTANG FORUM I HAVE READ INDICATES THAT MUSTANGS TEND TO WEAR OUT THESE TWO PARTS TOO QUICKLY. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED AND SUBSTITUTED WITH A BETTER PART (BOTH THE GAS TANK GROMMET AND FILLER PIPE). *TR