NHTSA, Nissan investigate fuel hose cracking

WASHINGTON (June 26)—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Nissan Motor Corp. are investigating the cause of fuel tank vent hose cracking in 276,181 Nissan Quests and 389,963 Mercury Villagers from model years 1993-98. The vehicles are engineered by Nissan and built by Ford Motor Co. in Ohio, according to NHTSA. A draft Nissan engineering note states the cracks can form through either one or both layers of the hose, and can be traced either by a noticeable fuel odor or a visible fuel leak. The problem ended when Nissan changed the rubber composition on the hoses, the agency said, and the new hoses are available as replacement parts.