Consumer stated excessive fuel was leaking. Dealer indicated that top of the fuel tank broke apart.

- Newport, RI, USA

Ford installed improper size fuel tanks which caused the wire in the fuel tank to chafe and short out which caused the vehicle to stop running. The consumer believes the manufacturer should be financially responsible for repairing the problem.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

Fuel tank collapse on 1998 Windstar dealer wants $1300 dollars to replace fuel tank and all related components. Dealer says this is because there is a vacuum inside tank created by the fuel pump. Perfectly running van that has been kept up maintenance wise is now inoperative do to stalling.

- Renton , WA, USA

Fuel tank collapsed. As a result, the 22 gallon tank can only take in 13 gallons.

- Prospect, CT, USA

I have a 1998 Ford Windstar, and its fuel tank was leaking into the passenger compartment. When brought to the dealer it was said that the fuel tank collapsed at the fuel pump, which caused the leaking.

- Newark, OH, USA

Fuel tank broken / punctured when ran over on a unknown object (suspect tire piece) during night on a rainy day.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

1998 Ford Windstar. According to dealer repair dept there was a hole in the fuel tank caused by corrosion relating to the emission tubing. Had to replace fuel tank. Reported to Ford, they have nothing to report. Dealer person said they have replaced several of these and this is in a small rural town. Tank was back ordered for a month. I would think that a hole in a gasoline tank would be hazardous, and given the statement of seeing several of these in one dealership plus the backorder situation indicates this is a widespread problem.

- Sidney, OH, USA

our fuel pump went for a second time in a three month period. The cause of the fuel pumpS malfunction was a short in the wiring which was caused by the fact that the depth of the fuel tank was not within the required specifications. The depth of the fuel tank was only 6 5/8" deep. If the depth of the tank is to shallow, the wiring atop the fuel pump can become chaffed on the metal fuel hose clamp. Ford had issued a service bulletin on this very issue. What occurred with our van was precisely what the service bulletin warns of. The service bulletin states that if thefuel tank depth is less than 7 3/4" replace the fuel tank 9002 and fuel delivery module 9H307. our van clearly met that criteria, however, Ford would not replace the fuel pump or fuel tank at FordS expense. The service manager and technician at Ford stated that if I were a regular customer of duddie Ford, that they would not let me take the van with me because of the safetyissues involved. When I asked what exactly they meant, they stated that because of the chaffing of the wiring on the fuel pump, a short could occur, which could ignite gasoline fumes and therefore result in a catastrophic tragedy. Basically, the van could explode. An appointment was made at granite Ford in rochester, New Hampshire for replacement of the fuel tank per the 'service bulletin. The granite Ford technician also measured the depth of the fuel tank and found a depth of only 6 5/8". (see granite Ford invoice) the fuel tank was removed and replaced.

- North Conway, NH, USA

Engine stalled; reported to sheehy Ford; replaced sensor; within a week vehicle stalled again and often. Reported to dealer; could not duplicate stall condition. Stalling occurred up to 13 times a day; returned vehicle to dealer. After two days dealer found that plastic gas tank had collapsed, causing a vapor lock, affecting fuel flow to engine and resulting in stalls. Gas tank replaced at cost of $882.

- Gaithersburg, MD, USA

Fuel clapsed while on vacation blowing fuses and ruining fuel pump had to have both replaced. Ford claimes has had no other problems with this.

- Benwood, WV, USA

Fuel tank is leaking, causing a fire hazard.

- Milford, DE, USA

1st to 2nd bang when shifting on slow acceleration (repeats often), fuel pump continually cuts out when parked on slight downhill, still 6+ gallons left. Only since replacement of fueltank and gas pump due to electrical short

- Nutley, NJ, USA

We have been to arbitration on this defect. We have the 25 G. gas tank and Ford says the misreading is supposed to be the way it is.

- Oregon City, OR, USA

Gas gauge.

- Paso Robles, CA, USA

Fule tank sending unit is leaking fuel. The dealer has been notified.

- Bend, OR, USA

Noted problem only when gas tank was filled, smelled gas, thought it was from vent line - after a few more tank fills - noticed gas leaking on ground during tank fill-up. Problem was fixed 07/29/1999 at brown motors petoskey, mi - this could be a vary serious problem - could cause fires at gas station, home garage's, ect. This problem was there when we bought the van as it was never full during test driving - started smelling gas fumes when we would fill tank up and untill the fuel level would drop down low enough not too leak out the O-ring seal.

- Petoskey, MI, USA

Fuel gauge inaccurately reads the amount of fuel in the vehicle. The dealer says that the problem is normal.

- Monsey, NY, USA

Air lock on filling gas tank, after repair attempts still continues. Nlm

- Niland, CA, USA

We purchased an optional 25 gallon fuel tank. When the fuel gauge pointer bottoms out at "E" and the "low fuel" light comes on, we fill the tank and are only able to put approximately 18 gallons in the the tank (on a regular basis). The owner's guide says that the light should come on when there is 1/16 of a tank (1.5-2 gallons) left as a reserve. We have had the van into two different dealers for a total of 8 times but they have not fixed the problem. The dealers have replaced the sender assembly twice, the fuel gauge assembly and the fuel tank assembly twice. The dealers state that there is nothing that they can do; they have done all that Ford has authorized. Ford says that this is a problem that the dealers should handle. We feel that it is unsafe for my wife and children to travel in a vehicle that may run out of gas on a busy highway (possibly causing an accident) or in the middle of nowhere(leaving them stranded and unsafe). We feel that a gauge as important as a fuel gauge should be accurate and consistent.

- Valencia, CA, USA

Neither dealer nor Ford zone rep helpful. Probable cause of tank collapse is failure in vapor/vent system to fuel tank. See also your ODI id 829866. Problem appears to be limited to 1998 Windstar with 25 G tank. Dealer has found orig tank crushed, has replaced same, has replaced/checked gauge sender, and replaced gauge. Probelm continues as originally reported, and believed to be related to vacuum in tank as pump extracts fuel, and external air pressure plus internal tank vacuum crushed 25 G tank to 16 G volume.

- Sharon, MA, USA