2001 Ford F-150 Fuel System

The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle one day, there was an abnormal fuel odor outside the vehicle. The contact’s husband inspected underneath the vehicle and discovered that the fuel tank had detached from the subframe. The contact stated that prior to becoming aware of the failure, the low fuel warning light was occasionally illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there were no open recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.

ONE OF THE STRAPS HOLDING UP MY FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED AND BROKE AWAY FROM TANK.THE OTHER STRAP IS RUSTING TOO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED A CHUNK OF ICE IN THE CARBURETOR. THE ICE WAS REMOVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2001 FORD F150 THE GAS TANK FELL & STRAP ROTTED. *MW ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS WERE REPLACED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FUEL TANK BECAME DETACHED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

I FILLED THE FUEL TANK WITH GAS AND DROVE ABOUT 20 MILES. WHILE PULLING INTO A RESTAURANT AT ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH I WENT THROUGH A VERY SLIGHT DIP. I HEARD A SOFT THUNK AND HEARD SOMETHING DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. IT WAS NOT REAL LOUD SO I SLOWLY PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER MY VFORD F-150 I NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD DROPPED DUE TO BOTH STRAPS BREAKING. THE REAR OF THE TANK WAS HELD UP BY THE HOSE GOING TO THE GAS CAP AREA. FORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGH SPEED OR I MAY NOT BE AROUND TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. I CALLED FORD AND THEY STATE THAT THIS VIN NUMBER DID NOT HAVE NAY RECALLS. THE CUSTOMER RESOURCE PERSON (800.392.3673 OPTION 1, 5, 4) STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY GOVERNMENT NUMBER WHERE I COULD CALL IN THIS COMPLAINT. I QUICKLY DID A WEB SEARCH AND FOUND THIS NUMBER SO I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD VERY EASILY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES/DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OF THE 2001 F-150. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD RUSTED AND STARTED TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ALTHOUGH THE TANK WAS LEAKING AT THE TIME OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THE STRAPS THE MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO COVER THE FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT SINCE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 02/20/13*LJ

NOT A NEW COMPLAINT, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS REIMBURSED ME FOR 100% OF MY EXPENSES RELATED TO THE GAS TANK STRAP FAILURE. THANK YOU, AND THANK FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I COULD NOT FIND ANOTHER WAY TO EDIT MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. ODI # 10402810. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND BEGAN LEAKING GASOLINE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE FAILURE SINCE THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE REPAIRING THE FUEL TANK. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 129,400. UPDATED 02/03/12*LJ THE TANK WAS REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ON JAN 17, 2011 AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. UPDATED 02/10/12

ON 11/11/11 I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN MY 2001 FORD F150 AND WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 AND A HALF BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE WHEN I HIT A POTHOLE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THEN SOME METAL GRINDING OR DRAGGING WHICH I INITIALLY THOUGHT WAS MY EXHAUST THE WAY IT SOUNDED, SO I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH. THIS IS WHEN I REALIZED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE SITUATION, A STRAP THAT HOLDS MY GAS TANK IN PLACE HAD BROKEN OFF FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE RUSTED AND THE GAS TANK WAS HANGING BY ONE STRAP . AT THIS TIME I WAS ABOUT 100 FEET FROM MY HOUSE SO I HAD MY SON COME OUT AND I PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. THE TANK IS GRINDING ON SOMETHING WHEN YOU MOVE THE VEHICLE OR WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY AT 25MPH DOWN A DIRT ROAD WHEN I HEARD A DRAGGING NOISE AND WHEN I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE I SAW THAT MY FUEL TANK HAD FALLEN HALF OFF. WHEN I GOT SOME HELP FROM A FRIEND TO COME LOOK AT IT THEY SAID BOTH MY STRAPS SOMEHOW RUSTED AWAY AND MY TANK FELL. *TR

DEAR NHTSA, THIS IS REGARDS TO THE FORD RECALL ON FUEL TANK STRAPS. WE LIVE IN NORTHEAST NEBRASKA & HAVE A 2001 FORD F-150 TRUCK WHICH HAS ONE FUEL TANK STRAP THAT HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND THE OTHER IS RUSTED. WE CONTACTED FORD SERVICE STATION AND THEY SAID OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE FORD RECALL. WE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET IT FIXED! I ASKED HOW THEY DETERMINED WHO QUALIFIED FOR THE RECALL AND I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE TO MY QUESTION. COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY OUR TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER AND INCLUDE OUR TRUCK IN THE RECALL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NO WARNING AT ALL. I WAS DRIVING 10-15 MPH COMING TO A STOP WHEN THE ENTIRE GAS TANK FELL OFF MY 2001 FORD F150 CREW CAB TRUCK. AN ENTIRE TANK OF GAS LEAKED ALL OF THE ROAD AND REQUIRED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BE CALLED FOR SAFETY AND CLEAN UP. I HAD TO HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT AWAITS DIAGNOSIS TOMORROW. IT APPEARS THAT THE STRAPS AND TANK HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED. I'M LUCKY NOTHING IGNITED SINCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND WAS DRIVING SO SLOW. UPDATED 09/14/11 *BF UPDATED 09/16/11 *TR

THE FRONT STRAP THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK ON MY 2001 F-150 HAS RUSTED OFF. I READ WHERE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS FAILURE. IS THERE A CURRENT RECALL? UPDATED 09/14/11 *BF THE STRAP RUSTED AWAY AND BROKE AT A PLACE WHERE THE STRAP WAS BOLTED TO THE FRAME ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE REST OF THE STRAP WAS VERY RUSTY AND CORRODED AND ALSO APPEARED TO BE READY TO FAIL. THE TANK DID NOT DROP. THE BACK STRAP SHOWED SIGNS OF HEAVY RUST. UPDATED 09/21/11 *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND ABNORMAL RUST SPOTS AND HOLES WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL TANK, STRAPS AND THE FUEL SENSOR ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $864. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. UPDATED 10/12/11

JUST GOT OFF A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 60 M.P.H. AND STOPPED INTO A LOWES . UPON RETURNING TO TRUCK TO LEAVE AND BACKING FROM PARKING SPOT THE FULL GAS TANK HIT THE GROUND. NO LINES WERE BROKEN . BOTH STRAPS WERE RUSTED THROUGH.

A PLASTIC COVER OVER THE REAR PART (TOWARDS THE AXLE) OF THE GAS TANK HAS CAUSED A RUST HOLE IN THE TANK. THE PIECE IS HELD ON WITH 2 STRIPS OF DOUBLE SIDED ADHESIVE AND ATTACHES TO TWO CLIPS ON THE TANK. THE RUST DAMAGE IS UNDER THE ADHESIVE STRIP ON THE BOTTOM CAUSING A VERY SLOW LEAK. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FUNCTION IS FOR THIS PLASTIC PIECE AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT MY VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE AFFECTED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW? *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TANK DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE STRAPS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,126.

ON 6/10/2011. MY 18 YEAR OLD SON HAD BORROWED MY 2001 FORD F-150. HE HAD STOPPED TO FILL THE FUEL TANK AND CONTINUE ON HIS ERRAND WHEN THE GAS TANK STRAPS SUDDENLY FAILED,DROPPING THE FUEL TANK ONTO THE GROUND WHILE IN MOTION. NO INJURIES OR FIRE RESULTED FROM THE INCIDENT BUT A FULL TANK OF FUEL WAS SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND CREATING A HAZARDOUS MATERIAL SITUATION, CLOSING DOWN THE ROAD FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME TO ALLOW FOR CLEANUP. I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL COST FOR REPAIRS OR CLEANUP AND I DON'T KNOW IF AND HOW INSURANCE WOULD COVER THE COST. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER SIMILAR YEAR FORD TRUCKS YET NO INFORMATIONAL WARNINGS WERE ISSUED. *TR

I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS POSTED ANYWHERE. I HAVE RECEIVED THE FORD RECALL FOR THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP CALLED ME WHEN I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR THE REPAIRS AND SAID MY FUEL TANK IS LEAKING. THE FUEL LEAK IS RIGHT BEHIND OR AROUND THE REAR TANK STRAP. I DO HAVE PICTURES IF ANYONE WANTS TO SEE IT. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DIDN'T HESITATE TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND GAVE ME A QUOTE TO REPLACE IT. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL PROCEDURE. IT SURE SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE RUSTED STRAP CAUSED THE RUST AND EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE LEAK. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK THAT SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN, WON'T PASS STATE INSPECTION AND FORD SAYS I'M ON THE HOOK FOR A NEW FUEL TANK. THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND LOOK INTO THIS SOME MORE. I'M NOT THE ONLY GUY THAT HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED 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 TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

THE GAS TANK STRAP ON MY 2001 FORD F150 LARIAT SUPERCREW HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND BROKE, MAKING THE GAS TANK LOOSE AND UNSTABLE. IF I WOULD NOT HAVE HEARD THE SQUEAK OF THE LOOSE TANK THAT I THOUGHT WAS MY SPARE TIRE, I WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY LOST MY TANK WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE OR INJURY. I THINK THE STRAP SHOULD BE MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NOT SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE ELEMENTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE NECESSARY PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE CORRODED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

I PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND HEARD A STRANGE SOUND. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW THE GAS TANK ON THE GROUND.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK PARTIALLY DISENGAGED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,997.