The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 1.9l engines, built at the hermosillo or wayne assembly plants and originally sold or currently registered in nevada, florida, hawaii, texas, california, louisiana, georgia, south carolina, mississippi, oklahoma, alabama and arkansas. Cracks can develop in the fuel tank near the heat shield attachment resulting in fuel leakage if the cracks go through the fuel tank wall.
The risk
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a vehicle fire.
The fix
Dealers will remove the heat shield attachments. This will not affect heat shield location or function, as the attachments are intended to keep the shield in place until the fuel tank is installed in the vehicle. After installation, the fuel tank straps retain the heat shield.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 97V-144 (97V144000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 97S79 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly |
| Report date | September 3, 1997 |
| Owners notified | September 30, 1997 |
| Vehicles affected | 64,000 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the fuel & propulsion system
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 97V-144 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will remove the heat shield attachments. This will not affect heat shield location or function, as the attachments are intended to keep the shield in place until the fuel tank is installed in the vehicle.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 64,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.