Sound like design flaw and need to be rectified..
It is not a design flaw, it would be if such things would happen all the time, this is just how fuel pipes are placed, this is the most logical place and:
Afaik, T-90/72 fuel lines pass through far sides..
No, internal fuel tanks have their connection pipes also going through crew compertment, because this is the most logical way to place them.
Only difference is, that in M1 series, front fuel tanks, are placed in their isolated compertments, thanks to this, these fuel tanks are also acting as additional protection, while in T-72/90, fuel tanks are not placed in their own compartments, and any rupture of fuel tank, can end very bad.
Of course in case of M1 tank, it is very easy to completely eliminate fuel pipes inside crew compartment, as well as front hull fuel tanks, by relocating fuel tanks to new side hull overtrack sponsons.
But it means a lot of cutting and welding.
Besides this, fuel is not really a problem in case of any tank, worse problem is ammunition, if this starts to burn, then crew have a really bad day, because ammunition burns more violently, not giving crew time to escape, contrary fuel, it does not burn so violently and gives time to escape, besides this, tank crews should wear nomex uniforms to prevent burn wounds.