NHTSA Complaint #11330208 — 1992 MERCURY TRACER

AFTER 27 YEARS THE RUBBER FUEL FILLER PIPE ON THE CAR CRACKED AND BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL FILLER PIPE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW FUEL FILLER PIPE FROM FORD MOTORCRAFT, PART #KFL-22, FOCZ-9324-AA. THE NEW FUEL FILLER PIPE LASTED ONLY 6 MONTHS BEFORE CRACKING AND SPILLING GAS ON MY DRIVEWAY CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW THIRD PARTY [NOT FORD] FUEL FILLER PIPE. I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE NUMEROUS AUTO REPAIR WEB SITES HAVE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT FORD FUEL FILLER PIPES [ALL FORD MODELS]. FUEL FILLER PIPES SHOULD LAST MORE THEN 6 MONTHS. FORD'S REPLACEMENT FUEL FILLER PIPES ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT BY FORD TO PREVENT A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION SHOULD A VEHICLE BE PARKED IN A GARAGE, I.E., NEAR A WATER HEATER OR OTHER IGNITION SOURCE, CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. THE LEAK FROM THE FUEL FILLER PIPE OCCURS WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR MOVING WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS MORE THEN 3/4'S FULL. THE PIPE DETERIORATES FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH CRACKS RUNNING THE LENGTH OF THE PIPE. THE NYLON WEBBING ON THE INSIDE OF THE PIPE DOES NOT PREVENT IT FROM LEAKING. THE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWS THE DEFECTIVE PIPE, BUT THE HUNDREDS OF HAIRLINE CRACKS IN THE PIPE CANNOT BE SEEN IN THE PHOTO BECAUSE OF PHOTO RESOLUTION. THE PIPE HAS ONLY BEEN IN USE ON THE CAR FOR JUST SIX MONTHS. I USE 91 OCTANE GASOLINE IN THE CAR. *TR