# NHTSA recall 99V309000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 99V309000
- Manufacturer's number: 99R33
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 1999\-11\-02
- Owners notified: 1999\-12\-22
- Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
- Units potentially affected: 70116

## What is wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:  MINIVANS  WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING HOT WEATHER STATES:  ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA \(10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES\), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA \(CLARK COUNTY ONLY\), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TEXAS, CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANK IN THE FORWARD STRAP AREA OF THE STANDARD 20 GALLON TANK DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS THAT ARE PRESENT IN CERTAIN VERY HOT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.


## What can happen

THESE CRACKS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THEY PROPAGATE THROUGH THE WALL OF THE TANK.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACE ASSEMBLY AT THE STRAP BOLT HOLE LOCATION AND REPLACE THE TANK STRAP WITH A REVISED, LONGER STRAP.  DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE TANKS FOR LEAKS.  IF A LEAK EXISTS AND IS THE RESULT OF A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK, THE TANK WILL BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE INSTALLATION OF A SPACER AND LONGER STRAP.


## Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 99R33.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 22, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1995 FORD WINDSTAR](/makes/ford/windstar/1995/recalls.md). Built 1994\-01\-13 to 1995\-08\-07.

## Investigated as EA99020 and RQ02011

This recall followed 2 NHTSA investigations. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- EA99020: Engineering analysis, opened 1999\-07\-26, closed 1999\-12\-16. FUEL TANK CRACKS. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
- RQ02011: Recall query, opened 2002\-08\-29, closed 2003\-03\-14. FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING. FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V309000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V309000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [98\-0316](/bulletins/607717.md), 1999-10-07, Service bulletin
- [BC105909705](/bulletins/52870.md), 1997-09-18, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V309000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V309000)

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