The "Check Engine" light came on in my 2003 Ford Taurus. I took the vehicle for service at the Ford Dealership that sold me the car. I was told the "Check Engine" light was the result of a cracked fuel filler neck. My repair invoice states that "filler necks are usually cracked when fuel fill nozzles are inserted improperly or negigently."

I live in New Jersey where it is illegal to pump your own gasoline. This car has been filled at the same gas station at every fill-up. There is nothing to suggest that the gas station attendant did anything differently at the last fueling of the vehicle, but I have been told by multiple Ford service advisors that this damage had to occur at my last fill-up. There was no sign that the nozzle was forced into the filler neck, nor was there anything that suggested any unusual force or torque was being applied to the nozzle.

I was told by the service manager that he has seen multiple failures of these parts and Ford takes the position that unless the crack is along the seam of the plastic casting that it is the result of damage, not a manufacturer's defect repairable under warranty. I feel that a component this critical should be able to handle the force of a gasoline pump nozzle being inserted into it, and should have sufficient additional strength to withstand the upper limit of forces that can be applied with that nozzle. Anything less is an under-engineered part, and with Ford's experience with gas tanks and their component parts (does anyone in Dearborn recall the Pinto?) they should know that.