Nearly 3,000 Ford Five Hundred And Ford Mercury Montego Sedans Recalled By Ford Due To Some Fuel Tank Problems

Ford has announced through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it is recalling nearly 3,000 examples of its Five Hundred and Mercury Montego (pictured) sedans from the 2007 model year.

This action affects 2,945 vehicles and is due to potentially defective welds between the filler neck and the fuel tank. This condition could result in a fuel leak or the smell of gasoline reaching the occupants. If we’re more pessimistic In the worst-case scenario, a leak could cause a fire. All the cars with the affected fuel tank problem could see an illuminated dashboard warning light as a result of the evaporative emissions leak being detected.

The company will inspect and replace the fuel tank at no cost to owners (those who have already had the procedure done at-cost can apply for reimbursement), and the automaker will begin notifying Five Hundred and Montego owners beginning August 15.

For further details you can read the official NHTSA press release below.

Report Date : July 17, 2011 at 09:53 AM
NHTSA Campaign ID number : 11V355000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
FORD / FIVE HUNDRED 2007
MERCURY / MONTEGO 2007

Manufacturer: 
FORD MOTOR COMPANY Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 07, 2011
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V355000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: 
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2,945

Summary:
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED AND MERCURY MONTEGO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 11, 2006. THE FUEL TANKS MAY NOT HAVE CONSISTENT WELDS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL FILLER NECK SPUD WHICH CAN AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF THE JOINT. SOME FUEL TANK SPUD WELDS MAY NOT PROVIDE THE EXPECTED STRENGTH IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE REAR IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. AN IMPROPER WELD CAN RESULT IN A CRACK IN THE JOINT WHICH COULD ILLUMINATE THE EMISSIONS MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT, CAUSE A FUEL ODOR, OR ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK OUT.

Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes:
FORD’S SAFETY RECALL NO. 11S20. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via Autoblog