NHTSA Complaint #748075 — 1993 FORD ESCORT

THE FUEL PUMP SHORTED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASBOARD WHEN DRIVING, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. LATER INVESTIGATION BY THE MECHANIC SHOWED THE FUEL PUMP CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE WIRING TO OVERHEAT BECAUSE FORD DID NOT PUT A FUSE IN THE POWER LINES TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL CONNECTIONS INSIDE THE GAS TANK WERE MELTED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN EXPLOSION. THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNES TO THE FUEL PUMP MELTED BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL SHORT AND NEEDS TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED. I'M APPAULED THAT THERE IS NO FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER TO PREVENT SUCH A DANGEROUS HAZARD. NONE OF THE FUSES IN THE FUSE BLOCK WERE BLOWN. TRACING THE WIRING FROM THE FUEL PUPM SHOWS THAT IT COMPLETELY BYPASSES THE FUSE BLOCK. THE FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH NEVER TRIPPED, NOR DOES IT SEEM TO BE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS ELECTRICAL SHORTS TO THE PUMP. THIS DESIGN POSES SERIOUS THREATS TO LIFE, AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION IN THE FUEL TANK. MY FAMILY FEELS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, AND NOW AM TRYING TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP AS THE RUST AROUND THE PUMP SEALS INDICATES. I'M HOLDING ON TO THE PUMP TO SHOW THE MELTED CONNECTIONS WHICH INDICATE A POTENTIAL EXPLOSION HAZARD AS WELL AS THE MELTED WIRING CONNECTIONS/CONNECTOR AND WIRES TO THE PUMP.*AK