NHTSA campaign 97V144000 · Ford campaign 97S79
Ford and Mercury Recall 97V-144: FORD/FUEL TANK
NHTSA recall 97V144000 (Ford campaign 97S79) was reported by FORD MOTOR COMPANY on September 3, 1997, with 64,000 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer for the 1995 model year (try.vin imports model years 1995 and later). Owners were notified on September 30, 1997, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 97V144000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 97V144000 (also written 97V-144 or 97V144)
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Ford campaign number
- 97S79
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 64,000 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly
- Owners notified
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 97V144000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Ford
Ford Escort
- 1995 · Vehicles built April 29, 1995 – October 31, 1995 (per NHTSA)
Mercury
Mercury Tracer
- 1995 · Vehicles built April 29, 1995 – October 31, 1995 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 97V144000.
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.9L ENGINES, BUILT AT THE HERMOSILLO OR WAYNE ASSEMBLY PLANTS AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN NEVADA, FLORIDA, HAWAII, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA, LOUISIANA, GEORGIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA AND ARKANSAS. CRACKS CAN DEVELOP IN THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENT RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THE CRACKS GO THROUGH THE FUEL TANK WALL.
Safety consequence
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE HEAT SHIELD ATTACHMENTS. THIS WILL NOT AFFECT HEAT SHIELD LOCATION OR FUNCTION, AS THE ATTACHMENTS ARE INTENDED TO KEEP THE SHIELD IN PLACE UNTIL THE FUEL TANK IS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSTALLATION, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS RETAIN THE HEAT SHIELD.
Notes
OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN SEPTEMBER 30, 1997.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 97V144000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.