2001 Ford Mustang Fuel System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 189,000.

I WAS LOSING A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUEL EVERY TIME I FILLED UP. THE LEAK STARTS IMMEDIATELY UPON TURNING ON THE FUEL NOZZLE. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING A CHECK FUEL CAP WARNING AND A LOW PRESSURE IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS HAS CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT START AND SEVERAL BACKFIRES WHEN IT DOES TURN OVER. THERE IS ALSO FUEL LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO MY EXHAUST PIPE AT EVERY FILL UP WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THIS LEAK WAS CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC COVER OVER THE METAL FILLER NECK. MOISTURE AND DIRT CAUGHT IN THE PLASTIC CAUSED THE METAL TO ERODE AND BREAK A PART.

I SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE ODORS WHILE DRIVING FROM WORK. THE CAR HAD BEEN FILLED WITH FUEL RECENTLY. THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING NEAR THE FILL TUBE. FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THIS ISSUE HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL. THE CAR CANNOT BE FILLED ABOVE HALF FULL OR GASOLINE LEAKS ALL OVER THE BACK OF THE CAR AND ON THE GROUND ONCE PARKED. THIS LEAK IS TOO NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPE FOR SAFETY. FORD DOES NOT REPAIR THIS SAFETY ISSUE UNDER ANY RECALL. IT IS A CHEAP PART BUT LABOR IS VERY EXPENSIVE SINCE THE FUEL TANK MUST BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE LEAK. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

MY GAS FILLER TUBE HAS RUSTED DUE TO THE PLASTIC SHIELD, DIRT AND MOISTURE HAS BEEN TRAPPED ON THIS PART OF MY 01 MUSTANG AND NOW THERE IS A HUGE HOLE ON THE FILLER TUBE. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH ON A COUPLE FORUMS AND APPARENTLY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ON MODELS FROM 2000-2004 I'M PRETTY SURE WE ALL KNOW HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM IS SEEING THAT FUEL IS LEAKING TO THE GROUND WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD AND CAN RESULT IN A FATALITY. *TR

WHEN FILLING UP I NOTICED GAS LEAKING FROM MY GAS FILLER NECK IT IS VERY BADLY RUSTED. *TR

FUEL FILLER NECK PIPE RUSTED THROUGH AND THERE WAS A PILE OF GAS UNDER MY CAR AND FUMES OF GAS EVEN AFTER DRIVING HOME. *TR

FUEL FILLER LINE HAS A PLASTIC COVER THAT TRAPS DIRT AGAINST THE METAL FILLER HOSE. THIS RESULTED IN THE METAL FILLER HOSE RUSTING CAUSING A HOLE IN THE LINE. WHEN FILLING UP WITH FUEL THE VEHICLE LEAKS FUEL THROUGH THIS HOLE. WHEN TANK IS FULL FUEL LEAKS THROUGH THIS HOLE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

THE FILL TUBE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE NOZZLE INPUT HAS RUSTED THRU THE ENTIRE LENGTH, WORST UNDER THE PLASTIC/RUBBER WRAP AT THE TANK INLET, CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL ONTO THE GROUND WHEN FILLING THE TANK. DEALER ESTIMATES REPAIR COST AT $340. ON LINE INQUIRIES REVEALED "MANY-MANY" OTHER COMPLAINTS. NO FORD RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS. IF PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS , THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN. CHECKED FOR HEAD/PARKING/BRAKES LIGHTS LEFT ON AS WELL AS THOSE INSIDE PASSENGER AREA AND IN TRUNK. NONE FOUND. MECHANIC BELIEVES DUE TO RADIO/CD PLAYER AMP DRAW TO SUPPORT CLOCK (ETC) EVEN WHILE OFF???? INSTALLED NEW BATTERY, OK FOR AWHILE, NOW DOING IT AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL ABNORMALLY. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK WAS RUSTED AND A HOLE WAS IN THE FILLER PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

ENGINE IDLES ABOUT 3000 RPM AT START UP UNTIL ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. *TR

FUEL NECK OF 2001 MUSTANG GT RUSTED THROUGH BENEATH A PLASTIC BLACK SHEET POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF ROAD SALT BUILD UP. THIS LEAD TO FUEL LEAKAGE AND EMISSION CODE FAILURE DUE TO LOW TANK PRESSURE. THE FUEL NECK AND FUEL NECK GASKET WERE CHANGED. *TR

WENT TO FILL UP WITH GAS, NOTICED GAS LEAK. UPON INSPECTION FOUND FUEL FILLER NECK RUSTED THROUGH TO POINT WHERE IT BECAME TWO PIECES. REPLACED FUEL FILLER NECK @ $230 PLUS LABOR, ISSUE SOLVED. 2001 FORD MUSTANG 3.8L PICTURES AVAILABLE. *TR

FORD FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY HAS A DEFECT. THE PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT IS "TIE WRAPPED" TO THE TUBE CAUSES THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE TO COLLECTED MOISTURE AND CORRODE. THIS GOES UNDETECTED UNTIL LARGE QUANTITIES OF GASOLINE ARE DUMPED ONTO THE ROADWAY AFTER FILL UP. THIS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE AND IN 30 MINUTES OF RESEARCH ON YOUR SITE, I WAS ABLE TO FIND MANY OTHER OCCURRENCES WITH OTHER FORD MODELS. THIS IS AN EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER AND A HUGE FIRE/SAFETY HAZARD. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE PINTO? A SIMPLE FENDER BENDER WITH ONE OF THESE CORRODED TUBES COULD BE DEVASTATING. I WILL BE FILING A SIMILAR COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND THE EPA. IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA: 10276760, 10265682, 10253564, 10249748, 10276760, 729302 YOUR SEARCH ENGINE MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEARCH MULTIPLE FORD MODELS AND YEARS FOR THIS PROBLEM - THE ABOVE COMPLAINTS WERE COMPILED IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AND INDICATE TO ME THAT THERE IS SERIOUS PROBLEM - NOT TO MENTION THE $400 + EACH OF THESE OWNERS NEED TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, THE COST AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE UNTOLD GALLONS OF GASOLINE SLOSHING ONTO THE PAVEMENT AND ENGINE DAMAGE FROM CONTAMINANTS ENTERING THE FUEL SYSTEM. FROM THE DATES OF THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS - A RECALL COULD ALLOW FOR A SIMPLE PREVENTIVE MEASURE OF REMOVING THE OEM PLASTIC SLEEVE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH. MY MECHANIC REPORTED TO ME THAT THE SLEEVE PROVIDES NO USEFUL PURPOSE. I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND HAVE PICTURES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY REQUEST. *TR

SINCE IT HAS GOTTEN COLDER, THE CAR START AND YOU HAVE TO SIT WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL FOR 5 OR 10 MINS OR THE CAR WILL STALL OUT WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT OUT OF WHERE EVER YOU ARE. DANGEROUS! MECHANIC CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY THINK ITS A SENSOR BUT ARE NOT SURE. *TR

FUELING CAR GAS LEAKING ONTO GROUND REACHED UNDER CAR RIGHT SIDE FILLER TUBE GOING INTO TANK ALL RUSTED FUEL COMING OUT TUBE ONTO GROUND 2001 MUSTANG 3.8OHV PART# 9034 FILLER NECK TUBE RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

WHEN I FILLED MY CAR WITH GAS IT STARTED TO OVERFLOW OUT OF THE TOP THROUGH THE GAS CAP AREA AND POUR OUT OF THE BOTTOM. I HAD MY FATHER CHECK IT ABOUT AN HOUR LATER WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND HE COULDN'T FIND A LEAK. WE DETERMINED THE AUTOMATIC STOP ON THE PUMP MUST HAVE FAILED. I WENT TO PUT $20 OF GAS IN IT TWO DAYS AGO AND ONCE AGAIN IT WAS POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM. SINCE I DIDN'T FILL IT UP THIS TIME, I KNEW IT HAD TO BE MY CAR AND NOT THE PUMP. I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE DETERMINED THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAS RUSTED THROUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE PLASTIC COVER AROUND IT. HE TOLD ME MY CAR IS SAFE TO BE DRIVEN BUT NOT TO PUT GAS IN. I'VE ORDERED THE $184 PART TO REPAIR IT AND AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR IT TO COME IN TO THE DEALER. I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS INCIDENT BUT NO OFFICIAL RECALLS BY FORD. DID I MISS SOMETHING SOMEWHERE? IT SEEMS TO ME IF THERE ARE THAT MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART OF THE CAR, FORD WOULD HAVE DONE A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FILLED, FUEL WOULD LEAK BACK OUT OF THE VEHICLE. FUEL WOULD ALSO LEAK ONTO THE TAIL PIPES AND THE SHIELD SURROUNDING THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK SHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GASOLINE FROM LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $200. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000. UPDATED 09/13/08.*LJ UPDATED 09/16/08 *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FILLER TUBE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE FUEL SYSTEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHE SMELLED GASOLINE ON HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,410 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 10/14/08 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE PARTS THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED HAD ROTTED OVER TIME. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WAS NOT RETRACTING AND RELEASING. THE HEADLAMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE A HAZE FILE HAD FORMED ON THE INSIDE. UPDATED 10/16/08. *JB

FUEL NECK BEGAN TO LEAK, WITHIN 2 WEEKS IT WAS LOOSING ALMOST A GALLON OF FUEL ON A $20.00 FILL. I CONTACTED FORD TWICE, I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, I GOT AN ATTITUDE FROM THE DEALERSHIP SO I SPENT THE $110.00 ON A FORD PART AND $180.00 ON THE LABOR AT ANOTHER SERVICE STATION. ADVISED FORD OF THE SAFETY HAZARD, APPARENTLY DIDN'T CONCERN THEM ENOUGH TO CONTACT ME AND MAKE GOOD ON THE REPAIRS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 23 MPH ON A RECENTLY FILLED FUEL TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT THE FILLER NECK GASKET HAD SPLIT, CAUSING GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE.