The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·13V109000·Announced 2013-03-27

Ford Recalls 2012 Taurus, MKS, and 2013 Explorer for Fuel Tank Defect

Ford is recalling specific 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2013 Explorer vehicles because fuel tanks may leak or fail in an impact, posing a fire risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (fuel tank seam) that poses a significant risk of fire, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe (4) rating.

Plain-English summary

Ford Motor Company is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles. These vehicles were manufactured between July 19, 2011, and March 15, 2012. The recall involves a total of 3,037 vehicles.

The affected vehicles may have fuel tanks with a marginally sealed seam on the side. This defect means the tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact and may also leak fuel. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013, under Ford's recall campaign number 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
FORD, LINCOLN TAURUS, MKS, EXPLORER
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Category
Vehicle — Fuel System
Hazard
Affected units
3,037

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • TAURUS
  • MKS
  • EXPLORER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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