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Ford F-150 Fuel System, Gasoline Safety Report | July 01, 2011



Reported on July 01, 2011


I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 IN WHICH I NOTICED GAS LEAKING AS I WOULD FILL THE TANK. I FIRST NOTICED IT IN JULY AND IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. I HEARD THAT FORD WAS SOON SENDING OUT A RECALL FOR REPLACING GAS TANK STRAPS ON VEHICLES SUCH AS MINE. SO I WAITED UNTIL A RECALL WAS SENT TO ME BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS A FIX ON THE LEAK. WHEN I TOOK MY F150 TO THE FORD SERVICE MECHANICS IN OCTOBER, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE FILLER NECK FOR THE TANK THAT WAS CORRODED AND THAT THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THEY COULD REPLACE THE STRAPS, BUT ONE OF THE STRAPS WAS BY THE SKID PLATE AND IT WOULD DO NO GOOD TO REPLACE THAT ONE, AS THE SKID PLATE WAS HOLDING THE TANK, AND THE OTHER STRAP WAS NOT IN BAD CONDITION. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FILLER TANK ON MY OWN WITHOUT COVERAGE FROM FORD. AND....BY THE WAY....THE FILLER NECK IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED, SO THE FORD SERVICE GROUP WOULD HAVE TO ORDER ANOTHER COMPONENT AND DO SOME FABRICATION TO REPLACE MY FILLER NECK. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECH WHY MY GAS TANK WASN'T CORRODED, NOR WERE THE STRAPS VERY CORRODED, BUY MY FILLER NECK, WHICH WAS UP UNDER THE TRUCK BOX BODY WAS THE PART THAT WAS CORRODED AND LEAKING. THIS WAS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT NOT COVERED AS A DEFECT BY FORD.THE TECH GAVE ME HIS OPINION THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW FOR MY PARTICULAR MODEL IN RELATION TO THE WHEEL WELL, SUCH THAT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW AND SALT, THE TIRES WOULD OVERSPRAY SNOW AND SALT UP UNDER THE WHEEL WELL AND ONTO HOLDING AREAS AROUND THE FILLER NECK, IN WHICH, AFTER TIME, SALT CORRODED THE METAL AND CAUSED THE CORROSION AND LEAKING. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS AT FAULT FOR THIS DESIGN ISSUE AND HAD CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FILLER NECK. I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO FIX THE FILLER NECK, THAT I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT, AND THAT I SHOULD HOLD ONTO MY RECEIPTS. *TR
Make: Ford
Model: F-150
Manufactured by: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Year: 1997
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported?
Was a death reported?
Was a fire reported? N
Location: BLOOMINGTON MN
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): 1FTDX0867VK
Mileage: 170000 miles.
Speed:
Number of cylinders: 8
Vehicle type:
Vehicle fuel: GAS
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
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