NHTSA recall 98V190000
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Ford Aerostar
The defect
Vehicle description: MINI vans originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alabama, arizona, arkansas, california (10 southern counties of los angeles, orange, san bernadino, san diego, riverside, ventura, santa barbara, san luis obispo, imperial, and kern), florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, nevada (clark county), oklahoma, south carolina, and texas, and in the u.s. Territories covered by the federal statutes. the upper portion of the fuel tank can develop small cracks due to extended exposure to very high ambient temperatures. fuel vapor or leakage could occur at these cracks.
The risk
If an ignition source IS present, a fire could result.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel tank, regardless of mileage, through march 31, 2002. this coverage will only be for structural cracks at the top of the tank and will not include other damage caused by an accident or road debris.