1997 Ford Ranger

FUEL FILLER HOSE. THE HOSES (BOTH INNER & OUTER CRACK AND CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK IF FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE HOSE IS AN EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS PART IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PARTS THEY SELL." (THE PART COSTS BETWEEN $225.00 AND $500.00) PLUS LABOR. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 FORD RANGER AND FUEL FILLER HOSE BEING FAULTY. THE HOSE ITSELF HAS CRACKS IN IT AND LEAKS FUEL UPON REFILL PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DUE TO THE FUEL VAPORS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE TO THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO THE CRACKS IN FAULTY FUEL FILLER HOSE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ISSUE. PLEASE PUT FORTH AN EFFORT TO CORRECT PROBLEM BEFORE FIRE, INJURIES, AND , POTENTIAL DEATHS ARE SUSTAINED, ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

THE FUEL FILLER HOSE ON MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS 1997 FORD RANGER DEVELOPED NUMEROUS CRACKS WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE TANK. THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN GASOLINE SPILLS WHENEVER SHE COMPLETELY FILLS THE TANK. THE TANK IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH 1990-1997 RANGERS, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS ONLINE POSTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK AND SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILED FUEL FILLER TUBE. THE MECHANICS ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $800 TO HAVE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL TANK EVERY TIME HE ADDS FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS SINCE BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME. HE HAS PHOTOS IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,479.

NOTED FUEL RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A RUBBER PORTION OF THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT. CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY OFFERED TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. PART COST EXCEEDS $400. ESTIMATED LABOR IS ~$200. NOTE: THIS SAME PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS. SEE COMPLAINT NUMBERS 10151411, 870010 & 10110378. I DID NOT SEARCH THE DATABASE FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT THERE IS SUFFICIENT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BOTH FORD RANGER AND MAZDA B-SERIES VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. *JB

TL*- THE FUEL LEAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY REFUELED. THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD HE NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE LOOKED AT, AND WOULD BE CHARGED AN $80 FEE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE $80 FEE IS APPROPRIATE.

1997 FORD RANGER. WHENEVER I FILL UP WITH GAS, IT LEAKS OUT THE VENT OR THE FILLER TUBE. NOT EXACTLY SURE YET. IF I PUSH THE FUEL NOZZLE ALL THE WAY IN THE FILLER I CAN GET ALMOST A FULL TANK BEFORE IT LEAKS OUT THE BOTTOM. IF I JUST INSTALL THE FILLER HOSE AND LET IT FILL AUTOMATICALLY IT WILL START LEAKING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *NM