Preliminary Evaluation · FUEL SPIT BACK DURING REFUELING · Opened 1998-09-25 · Closed 1999-04-09
Investigation
Action number
PE98052
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
1998-09-25
Close date
1999-04-09
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Affected makes
LINCOLN
Affected components
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
Affected model years
1998
Affected (make, year) variants
1
Summary
THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IS FITTED WITH AN ONBOARD REFUELIG VAPOR RECOVERY (ORVR) SYSTEM, AS REQUIRED BY THE EPA.THE EPA SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH ,AND APPROVED BY NHTSA, REQUIRE VEHICLES TO BE REFUELED AT A RATE OF 10 GALLONS PER MINUTE (THE MAXIMUM RATE ALLOWED TO BE USED IN REFUELING STATIONS, BY EPA REGULATION) WITHOUT FUEL BEING FORCED OUT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE.THIS REQUIREMENT WAS BASED ON A HISTORY OF FIRES IN FILLING STATIONS AND INCIDENTS OF FUEL SPITTING BACK ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A FIRE SAFETY RISK.OF THE 114 COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS ALLEGING PROBLEMS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE, 27 SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT FUEL SPIT-BACK OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER PIPE.FORD REPORTSCOMPLAINTS ARE STILL BEING RECEIVED.