1997 Ford F-150 Fuel System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
1997 FORD F-150 GAS TANK STRAP FAILED VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION ON 4/20/11. 1. NOTICED UNUSUAL NOISE IN REAR UNDERCARRIAGE WHILE ON HIGHWAY. 2. UPON INSPECTION SAW THAT ONE OF TWO GAS TANK STRAPS WAS BROKEN AND RUBBING DRIVE SHAFT. GAS TANK WAS LOOSE BUT RETAINED BY REMAINING STRAP. 3. MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH STRAPS ON 4/22/11 FOR $110.00. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I HEARD A CLUNK FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF DRAGGING METAL. I ASSUMED THE MUFFLER HAD DROPPED OR SOMETHING INSIGNIFICANT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE CAUSE AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MY NEARLY FULL GAS TANK HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND GAS WAS LEAKING BADLY. THE TANK WAS HANGING BY THE FILLER TUBE AND THERE WAS A 2" HOLE ON THE NOSE FROM DRAGGING IT. ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF GAS SPILLED OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO CONTAIN THE SPILL. THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU AND FAILED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED AN ODOR OF FUEL AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKAGE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL TANK STRAP, WHICH WAS COMPLETELY FRACTURED. THE FUEL TANK WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE FAULTY FUEL TANK STRAPS. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING); HOWEVER THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND HEARD FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST, ALSO CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO HANG ABNORMALLY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE STRAP REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE ERUPTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
1997 FORD F-150 . THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE BEGUN TO ROT AND HAVE CHAFFED THE GAS TANK TO THE POINT THERE ARE SOME GAS VAPORS ESCAPING. NOT A FULL BLOWN LEAK AT THIS POINT. I WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING TO AVOID FIRE/EXPLOSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE FUEL TANK WAS DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STRAPS WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11006 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) BUT NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE TO FULL CAPACITY, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERPOWERING FUEL ODOR AND A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE STRAPS WERE TOO CORRODED TO EVEN INSPECT OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
I HAVE A 1997 F150 WITH A TANK STRAP FAILURE. WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION? *TR
PERIODIC INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK REVEALED THE ROTTED STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK. CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM OR ANY RECALL. WE THEN SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT FIXED AT A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP SINCE FORD WOULD NOT COOPERATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11006 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 113,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 11/28/11
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK. THE GAS TANK STRAP RUSTED THROUGH AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED LAST SEPTEMBER, 2010. I CAUGHT IT IN TIME. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND THE GAS TANK DID NOT DROP. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS A RECALL, WILL I BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BY FORD? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE REFUELING, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION AND APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OF FUEL SPILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) AND WOULD BE REPAIRED. AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL CONTINUED TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NECK WAS FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RUSTED STRAPS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE CORRODING OF THE FUEL TANK, CREATING HOLES IN THE TANK. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT REPAIRS TO THE FUEL TANK WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL NOTICE 11V385000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) AND THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING), THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DEALER NOT HAVING THE PARTS AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE THE PARTS READILY AVAILABLE. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD TO SEND THE PARTS IN ORDER FOR THE RECALL TO BE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,612.
1997 FORD F150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A RECALL RELATED TO STRAPS ON GAS TANK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING DUE TO RUST. THE CONSUMER STATED HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE TANK REPLACED, SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A RECALL DEFECT. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING GASOLINE WHICH INCLUDED THE ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS THAT WAS PLACED INTO THE TANK THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST SINCE IT WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A RAPID DECREASE IN THE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAYED ON THE FUEL GAUGE. THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE RECALL DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FUEL TANK WAS DAMAGED AS A RESULT TO CORROSION AND THE DEALER STATED THE OWNER WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING), THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A STRONG ODOR AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE OLD STRAPS WERE REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE AND FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE FUEL TANK AND THE STRAPS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL TANK HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TIED CORDS AROUND THE FUEL TANK AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE STRAPS THAT SECURED THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11006(FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 06/0611 *BF UPDATED 06/10/11
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR STRAP THAT PRIMARILY HOLDS THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND IT BROKE. THE HOLE IN THE TANK WAS PATCHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STRAP WHERE THE STRAP WAS LEAKING AND COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEGAN TO DEVELOP RUST AND A POSSIBLE LEAK FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 150,000.
F150 PICKUP 1997 4X4. GAS TANK FELL OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS ROTTED AND BROKE THE FUEL NECK, CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL ALL OVER THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADDING GASOLINE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS FOR $475. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
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Quick Summary
The 1997 Ford F-150 has 195 Fuel System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.