1997 Ford F-250 Fuel System

The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the fuel strap failed and there was a hole in the fuel tank. The contact stated that there was fuel leaking from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V385000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 00V231000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

NOVEMBER,2005 WOKE UP TO HEAVY ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM MY ATTACHED GARAGE FOUND MY 1997 F-250 TRUCK HAD LOST GALLONS OVERNITE TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME TANK RUSTY,UNDER SKID PLATE& SPARE TIRE. COST ME $734.27 I SAID IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THESE TANKS,WAS ASKED ABOUT RECALL WAS TOLD NO RECALL-WENT HOME CALLED FORD MOTOR CO.TOLD THEM MY SITUATION &COSTS FOR A GARAGE KEPT,RARELY SAW SNOW & METICULOUSLY KEPT UP INSIDE & OUT TRUCK ,THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. SOLD THIS TRUCK APPROX 2006 TO MY FRIEND WHO OWNS A LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON BUSINESS,IT IS STILL RUNNING AND LOOKING GREAT. THEN BOUGHT 1997 F-150 AT LOCAL FORD DEALER 5/14/12 THAT I GOT A RECALL ON FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, HAD WORK DONE FOR THEFUEL TANK/STRAP ASY TOOK IT IN DONE AT NO COST,I BELIEVE I AM OWED A REFUND & INTEREST ON THE $734.27 ON THE 1997 F250 IN MY GARAGE ALSO WERE 2 HARLEYS ONE BEING A COLLECTIBLE I FEEL FORD CHOSE TO KEEP THIS MATTER HUSHED AND I COULD HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. I BELIEVE I AM DUE A REFUND ASAP I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S MISTAKES AND ATTEMPTED COVER UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME & ATTENTION TO MY LONG OVERDUE MATTER, ANY HELP TO RIGHT THIS WRONG WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SLOW SPEED OVER A GRAVEL ROAD, THE STRAPS AND/OR THEIR ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE FRAME FAILED, ALLOWING THE TANK TO DROP AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. THIS WAS PRIOR TO FORD'S RECALL REGARDING THE STRAPS AND A REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE LOCAL SHOP. REPAIRS CONSISTED OF A NEW TANK, SENDING UNIT AND STRAPS. THE SHOP INDICATED THAT THE STRAPS HAD FAILED BUT NEW STRAPS COULD NOT BE FITTED BECAUSE, EITHER BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL ACTION OF TEARING AWAY THE TANK OR BECAUSE OF DETERIORATION, THE MOUNTING POINTS WERE NOT IN SUFFICIENTLY GOOD SHAPE TO REATTACH THE STRAPS. THE SHOP FASHIONED AN ATTACHMENT CONSISTING OF CHAINS SUSPENDING THE TANK FROM THE FRAME. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON RECEIVING FORD'S RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE STRAPS, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER WHO, AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, INDICATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED MORE WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE CORRECTION. THE DEALER (AND I) SPOKE TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE WHO INITIALLY AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR BUT, WHEN THE EXTEND OF THE REQUIRED REPAIR WAS SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED, WAS OVERRULED BY SOMEONE ELSE AT FORD AND FORD DENIED THE REPAIR. THE TRUCK EFFECTIVELY COULD NOT BE INSPECTED IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND IT USE WAS LOST OTHER THAN OCCASIONAL USE ON THE PROPERTY. FOLLOW-UPS WITH FORD RESULTED IN THEIR CLAIM THAT FORD WAS ONLY LIABLE FOR THE STRAPS AND NOT ANY CONSEQUENTIAL OR RELATED DAMAGE AND NO OTHER RECOURSE WAS AVAILABLE. I WOULD LIKE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO LOOK INTO THE RAMIFICATIONS OF LIMITING A SAFETY RECALL OF THIS NATURE TO THE DEFECTIVE STRAPS ONLY AND NOT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEFECT.I AM ALSO REQUESTING AND EXAMINATION OF FORD'S WILLINGNESS TO SEND A VEHICLE BACK ONTO THE STREETS WITH AN UNCORRECTED KNOW SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

REAR GAS TANK LEAKING GAS.STRAPS APPEAR TO HAVE RUBBED HOLE IN TANK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING NEXT TO THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V385000 APPLIED TO HIS VEHICLE AND THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE RUSTED FUEL TANK STRAPS CAUSED FRICTION AND CREATED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE TANK WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,989 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,944. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF THE COSNSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED HE MUST PAY FOR A RUSTED FILLER NECK AT A COST OF $ 319.52.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) BUT DID NOT WANT TO MOUNT A RUSTED TANK. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,048. UPDATED 1/20/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING, DUE TO RUSTED MOUNTED STRAPS. UPDATED 02/01/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 HD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO SMELLED A SLIGHT BURNING ODOR. UPON REACHING THE DESTINATION THE CONTACT NOTICED BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE FRACTURED WHICH WERE SUPPORTING THE FRONT FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT OF THE DRAGGING OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK, THERE WAS DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED A LARGE FUEL LEAK. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN SHE SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE CORRODED THROUGH THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,506.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. 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 VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 142,000.

AFTER FILLING GAS TANK AND PARKING THE VEHICLE AT HOME, A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS NOTED WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS COMING FROM THE IN AREA OF THE GAS TANK. UPON INSPECTION OF THE GAS TANK, IT WAS NOTED THAT GAS WAS LEAKING IN SEVERAL AREAS. 20 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS LOST OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED, AND AFTER DRIVING ONLY 20 MILES ON AN APPROX. 24 GALLON TANK OF FUEL, THE TRUCK WAS EMPTY OF FUEL. I REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK AND STRAPS WERE BOUGHT FROM A LOCAL PARTS STORE, AFTER CONTACTING A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD FORD NO LONGER PRODUCED FUEL TANKS FOR THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE. UPON REMOVING THE ORIGINAL FUEL TANK AND STRAPS, SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF RUST AND CORROSION NOTED ON BOTH SUPPORT STRAPS AND TO THE UNDER SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALSO WITH SEVERAL SMALL HOLES IN THE TANK IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS. *TR

AFTER HEARING ABOUT THE FORD RECALL ON AUGUST 1, 2011 CONCERNING THE METAL MOUNTING STRAPS HOLDING UP THE GAS TANK(S) ON 1997-1999 FORD F-250 TRUCKS, I CHECKED UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE MOUNTING STRAPS ON THE FRONT GAS TANK WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND HANGING. THE OTHER FRONT STRAP AS WELL AS THE TWO STRAPS ON THE REAR GAS TANK ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED AND COMPROMISED. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AS WELL AS FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE STRAPS WILL FAIL CAUSING MY GAS TANKS TO HIT THE GROUND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FUEL TANK STRAP FRACTURED AND ONLY ONE STRAP WAS LEFT THAT TO KEEP THE FUEL TANK ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V385000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) BUT STATED THAT THE CONTACTS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,500 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

UPON READING ABOUT A FORD RECALLS 2.7 MILLION F150-250 TRUCKS I FOUND THAT MINE WAS INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL BY CALLING THE DEALERSHIP IN SCARSDALE, NY. MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SEPT 20, 2011 AND AFTER AN HOUR IN SERVICE THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT REPLACE STRAPS BECAUSE THE STRAPS HAVE MADE A HOLE IN TANK (RUSTED THROUGH). I WAS SENT OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP WITH NOTICE THAT FORD WAS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT TANK AND THEY COULD NOT DO THE STRAP RECALL BECAUSE OF THE TANK. NO TEMPORARY STRAP WAS PLACED AROUND MY TANK TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING ONTO ROADWAY. SO I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE TRUCK READY TO DROP THE BOMB AT ANYTIME. ON SEPT 27, 2011 I WENT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SMITH CAIRNS IN YONKERS AND AFTER A DAY WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I HAVE AND WILL NOT REMOVE MY TRUCK FROM THIS DEALERSHIP UNTIL FORD MAKES IT SAFE TO DRIVE AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

JUST FILLED THE TRUCK WITH GAS. WAS DRIVING ON A WASHBOARD DIRT ROAD. THE FRONT OF THE GAS TANK DROPPED ONTO THE ROAD AND DRAGGED. TANK WAS PUNCTURED AND SEVERAL GALLONS OF GAS LEAKED OUT SLOWLY. I USED A WRATCHET STRAP TO LIFT THE TANK OFF THE ROAD AND SECURE IT. PATCHED THE TANK WITH A SEALER FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE BUT BY NEXT MORNING IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. PURCHASED A USED TANK AND STRAPS FROM A JUNKYARD FOR $150. THE ORIGINAL TANK IS IN MY JUNKPILE IF YOU'D LIKE IT. GLAD TO SEE THIS PROBLEM IS BEING CORRECTED. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING ON AN ASPHALT ROAD I'D PROBABLY BE IN HEAVEN RIGHT NOW. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. THE CONTACT COULD SEE SPARKS FROM BEHIND THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PARTIALLY FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DRAGGING. HE WAS ABLE TO STRAP THE FUEL TANK BACK ONTO THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO HIS RESIDENCE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR EXAMINATION OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

THE TRUCKS ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY STALL WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LOW ON FUEL AND THE TRUCK COMES TO A QUICK STOP SUCH AS A RED LIGHT OR AT AN INTERSECTION. THE TRUCK WILL ALSO STALL WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LOW ON FUEL AND THE TRUCK IS SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING ON A DECLINE. THE STALLED TRUCK MUST BE STOPPED, THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE PUT BACK INTO "PARK," AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH TRAVELS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE TRUCK HAS STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY IN AN INTERSECTION, NEARLY RESULTING IN A COLLISION FROM VEHICLES FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY BEHIND. THE STALLING DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN THE TRUCKS FUEL TANK LEVEL IS ABOVE A QUARTER TANK AND THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO A QUICK STOP, OR SLOWED AND/OR STOPPED WHILE HEADING DOWN A DECLINE. *JB

THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK. TS *JB

FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED UNDERNEATH A RAILROAD TRACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED SELECTOR SWITCH TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT HE IS EXPREINCING A SELETCTOR SWITCH PROBLEM.( THE RECALL WAS ON FORD F150 1989 NOT ON F250). *YH

FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH GOT STUCK IN DID POSITION, CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. JUST LIKE RECALL 91S39. *AK

FUEL WAS SPRAYING OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. *AK

SHIELD AROUND THE GAS TANK IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DRIVESHAFT. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING A TRAILER HITCH ON THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE LIST OTHER VEHCILE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS. *AK