Ford has announced a voluntary safety recall of 2,945 Ford Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles built from September 5, 2006 through September 11, 2006. Certain units may have been built with inconsistent welds between the fuel tank and the fuel filler neck; as a result, the welds may not hold the filler neck to the gas tank in the event of a severe rear impact.
Improper welds may also crack over time, producing a noticeable fuel odor and triggering the Emissions Malfunction warning light. Failure of the filler neck welds could also produce spilled fuel, resulting in a fire in the presence of an ignition source.
Ford will notify owners of affected vehicles via mail, and will replace the potentially defective tank assembly with a new unit. The recall is expected to begin on or about August 15, 2011, but owners with questions or concerns can reach Ford’s customer relationship center at (866) 436-7332. Owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.
[NHTSA]
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