# NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87020
> **ENG. AND UNDER DASH FIRES** · Opened 1987-02-06 · Closed 1987-05-26
## Investigation
- **Action number:** PE87020
- **Type:** Preliminary Evaluation
- **Open date:** 1987-02-06
- **Close date:** 1987-05-26
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Affected makes:** FORD
- **Affected components:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
- **Affected model years:** 1984, 1985, 1986
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 3
## Summary

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THEENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.FAILURE OF THE COUPLINGS CAN TAKE PLACEAFTER COMPLIANCE WITH A FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN, ON NEWLY DELIVERED VEHICLESFROM THE FACTORY WITH MINIMAL MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER, AND AT ANY VEHICLEMILEAGE.___________________________________________________________________________ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.___________________________________________________________________________PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.(EA87-020)===

## Source
- [NHTSA ODI investigation page](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=I&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=PE87020)
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