1997 Ford F-150 Fuel System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A SKID PLATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 325,000.

WHILE FUELING MY TRUCK I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE, AFTER STEPPING BACK AND EXAMINING THE SITUATION, I FOUND THAT I WAS LEAKING GAS ONTO THE GROUND, I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE A RUSTED OUT FILLER TUBE, HAD THAT REPLACED AND THEN AGAIN WENT TO GET GAS, AGAIN, I HAD GAS LEAKING TO THE GROUND, THINKING IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE GAS TANK STRAPS, THAT I FOUND TO HAVE BEEN RECALLED, I HAD THOSE CHECKED, ONE STRAP IN FACT WAS GONE, BUT SINCE HAVING A SKID PLATE WAS TOLD NO FURTHER ACTION TO BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME, ALSO WHILE INSPECTING THE STRAPS I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TWO LEAKS ON MY GAS TANK, ONE ON TOP AND ONE AT A PINCH-WELD, AT THAT TIME I ASKED THAT I CANT EVEN HAVE MY TANK REPLACED BECAUSE FORD HAS NO STRAPS AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE NEW TANK WITH. I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS FUEL STORAGE SYSTEM IS HAVING SUCH A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPONENTS RUSTING AS BADLY AS THEY ARE? IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE STRAPS ON THE GAS TANKS, CAN THERE BE ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIALS TO THE REST OF THE FUEL SYSTEM?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FRO RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THAT THEY WERE ONLY SERVICING THOSE VEHICLES THAT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 143,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

1997 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL REPAIR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE NEW TANK AND LABOR. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE REFUELING, FUEL BEGAN TO SPILL OUT FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY DROVE OVER A BUMPY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20 THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE FUEL TANK AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE STRAPS WHICH HELD IT IN PLACE WAS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FOUND THAT BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND DETACHED. AS A RESULT, APPROXIMATELY TWO GALLONS OF GASOLINE WAS SPILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT STRAPS, THE FUEL TANK AND THE NOZZLE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE NOZZLE ONLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/07/2011 *LN *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A BROKEN STRAP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STRAP WAS CORRODED AND THAT NONE OF THE FUEL SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 TO 40 MPH THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE THE FUEL DID NOT SPILL OUT OF IT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED TWO STRAPS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO FALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILES WERE 119,000.

YESTERDAY 7/15/2011 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF LOWES AND SMELLED GAS. I FOUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE GAS TANK WAS WET FROM THE TOP DOWN. I NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE METAL STRAPS THAT HELD THE TANK WAS BROKEN. IT WAS BROKEN AT THE POINT WHERE IT TURNS TO GO UNDER THE TANK. IT APPEARED TO HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. I PURCHASED LARGE PLASTIC WIRE TIES TO HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE SO I COULD GET HOME SAFELY. I STILL SMELLED GAS WHEN I ARRIVED AT HOME. *TT

1997 F-150 FORD PICK UP TRUCK HAS 2 FUEL TANK RETAINING STRAPS THAT HAVE CORRODED AND ONE HAS BROKEN. FUEL TANK HAS SUSTAINED CORROSION TO THE POINT WHERE IT LEAKS WHEN FILLED WITH FUEL. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN BECAUSE IF THE SECOND STRAP SHOULD BRAKE WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION, THE TANK WOULD DROP TO THE ROADWAY AND THERE WOULD BE A CHANCE FOR SPARKING AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE! ... AS WELL AS ALL THE INCONVENIENCE OF GETTING IT REPAIRED. I WILL HAVE THE STRAPS REPLACED AND THE TANK CHECKED. THIS APPARENTLY IS NOT A CURRENT RECALL ITEM (I ASKED THE LOCAL FORD DEAL SERVICE PERSON IF IT WAS AND NOTHING CAME UP FOR MY VIN NUMBER), BUT CERTAINLY IS A CANDIDATE FOR RECALL, JUDGING FROM THE RESPONSES WHEN ONE GOOGLES ON THE TOPIC. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND SPILLED ONE HALF GALLON OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HIM THAT THE TANK WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THAT THE STRAPS WERE FRACTURED AND CORRODED AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS ENTIRELY TOO CORRODED TO REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000. UPDATED 03/07/12

FUEL TANK FOUND LEAKING FROM TOP WHILE PARKED IN HOME GARAGE. THE SHOP INDICATED A LARGE RUSTED OUT AREA AROUND FUEL SENSOR. THE TANK WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE STRAPS HOLDING TANK HAD EXCESSIVE RUST AND WHERE DEEMED UNSAFE AND ALSO REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 84,000 MILES AND IS ALWAYS GARAGED. THIS IS VERY POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS AND WARRANTS INVESTIGATING.

TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. WITH NO OTHER EXTERNAL FORCES OTHER THAN GRAVITY THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED AND THE TANK FELL TO THE GROUND. NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE STRAPS NEED REPLACING. COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TANK APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION. BUT THERE WAS A BREAK NEAR THE CENTER OF THE STRAPS. UPDATED 08/12/11.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED, CAUSING THE FRONT STRAP TO FRACTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP FOR REPAIRS WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT STRAPS WAS FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC STATED HE WOULD REPLACE BOTH STRAPS AT A COST TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

1997 FORD F150 FUEL TANK AND STRAPS RUSTED CAUSING GAS LEAK AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/14/11 *BF THE FRONT STRAP FAILED AND THE RUSTING OF THE STRAP CAUSED A RUST HOLE IN THE TANK. THE CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL ON THE GROUND AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE TRUCK TO HIS MECHANIC. THE TANK DID NOT DROP TO THE GROUND, BUT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

FUEL TANK IS RUSTED AND THE STRAPS RUSTED AND FELL OFF GIVING THE FUEL TANK NO SUPPORT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP AND THE FUEL TANK FELL ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 176,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF THE FUEL TANK, STRAPS, PUMP AND FILTER WERE ALL REPLACED. UPDATED 09/07/11

FOUND THE REAR GAS TANK STRAP HANGING DOWN. IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPON REACHING HER DESTINATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE FUEL TANK SUSTAINED DAMAGE, AND THE CONTACT USED A SEPARATE STRAP TO REATTACH THE TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT BOTH STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/12 *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT DAMAGED DUE TO THE FAILURE AND WAS TEMPORARILY SECURED WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF METAL STRAP. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL FILLER NECK HOSE EXHIBITED A CRACK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE FUEL FILLER NECK HOSE WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. CURRENTLY THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11006 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT ONE OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WAS FRACTURED AND THE OTHER SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE RUST AND COULD FRACTURE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO FILL THE FUEL TANK TO CAPACITY AND ALSO ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140, 000. UPDATED 0831/11*LJ UPDATED 09/01/11

WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 25 MPH AFTER WE DECIDED NOT TO TAKE THE FREEWAY TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION. WE HEARD A HUGE CLUNK/DROP NOISE AND SEVERE SCRAPING SOUND SO WE PULLED OFF IMMEDIATELY TO FIND THAT THE GAS TANK IN OUR 1997 FORD F-150 HAD FALLEN AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE STRAP(S) HAD APPARENTLY RUSTED OFF. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WORK WILL BE DONE ON MONDAY. WE HOPE THAT ONLY THE STRAPS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THAT NO DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK OR LINES WAS DONE (OR WILL BE DONE) DURING THE MOVING OF THE TRUCK DURING TOWING OR FOR REPAIR. I AM FEARFUL OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD WE BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60-70 MPH AND SPARKS BEEN CREATED. THE GAS TANK WAS ABOUT 3/4 WAY FULL. *TR

THE STRAPS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK RUSTED AND SNAPPED CAUSING THE TANK TO DROP FROM THE VEHICLE. I WAS ONLY DOING ABOUT 25 MPH AT THE TIME SO THE TANK DID NOT RUPTURE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER BECAUSE I SAW A NEWS REPORT ABOUT A RECALL OF THE STRAPS. TO MY SURPRISE THERE IS NO RECALL AND I MUST PAY OUT OF POCKET. THE STRAPS WERE RUSTY DUE TO THE AGE AND LOCATION, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. *TR