NHTSA Complaint #713875 — 1991 FORD ESCORT

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A FORD DEALER (HOLIDAY FORD-BLACKBURG, VA) IN 1/94 WITH 33,000 MILES ON THE CAR. ON 12/14/94 AT 41,687 MILES THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO MAGIC CITY FORD WITH A GAS LEAK. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND SAID FORD MAY COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THIS CAR HAD A RECALL FOR THE FUEL PUMP. FORD DID NOT HONOR THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT MY CAR HAD ALREADY HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED UNDER FORD RECALL #92S54 BACK IN 11/92. MY FUEL PUMP FAILURE, ALTHOUGH IT MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE RECALL, WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BY FORD BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY "FIXED" BACK IN 11/92. I PAID THE $212.39 BILL. I SENT A LETTER ON 12/19/94 TO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS. ON 1/17/95 I WAS PHONED BY DAVE RIVERS OF FORD'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME AS WHAT THE DEALER SAID (THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY HAD THE RECALL REPAIRED 11/92). NOW IN 10/99 AND AT 75,000 MILES THE FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE FAILURE LEFT A PUDDLE OF GAS IN MY GARAGE AND THE FUMES FILLED MY HOUSE, FORCING US TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE. I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION THE FAILED PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED IN 12/94. I'LL ALSO HAVE THE OTHER FAILED PUMP WHEN I REPLACE THIS LATEST FAILURE. CAN THE NHSTA "RECALL" A RECALL - IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS IF THE REPAIR IS ANY SAFER THAN THE DEFECT.