2001 Ford F-150 Fuel System Problems

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.

FUEL TANK / FILLER HOSE LEAKED AND FUEL RAN ONTO THE GROUND WHILE FILLING THE TANK WITH GAS, DUE TO A HOLE CAUSED BY SIGNIFICANT RUSTING

WHEN FILLING MY GAS TANK A WEEK AGO, I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL. I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK AND SAW FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE SEEM OF THE GAS TANK. NOW THAT I'VE LOST HALF THE FUEL IT NO LONGER SMELLS OR LEAKS. IM CERTAIN THIS WAS A DIRECT CAUSE OF SALT CHEMICALS USED IN ICE REMOVAL, HERE IN NORTHERN MN. THE STRAPS AND FRAME CROSS MEMBER BARS HOLDING THE CARGO BED IN PLACE HAVE ALSO DISAPPEARED FROM RUST CORROSION.

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

GAS TANK FRONT STRAP IS BROKEN RUSTED. THE BACK ONE IS GOOD. I JUST KNOTICED.

TANK STRAP HAS CORRODED OR BROKE AND GAS TANK LEAKS GAS

BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM SOMEONE AND BEFORE FINDING OUT ABOUT THE FUEL STRAP RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. FILLED FUEL TANK AND HAD A VERY NOTICEABLE LEAK OF FUEL FROM TANK. WHEN INVESTIGATED, FOUND THE FUEL STRAPS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD CAUSED CORROSION IN THE SEAM OF FUEL TANK, CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK FROM TANK. *JS

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

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 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.

2001 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING ROUTINE USE OF THE TRUCK, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE CAST STEEL GEAR WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHATTERED INTO TWO PIECES. IN OCTOBER 2009, DURING AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION, THE STRAPS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE CORRODED AND ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. IN THE SUMMER OF 2013, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, SENT THE CONSUMER A NOTICE, INFORMING HIM THE FUEL TANK STRAP WERE BEING RECALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT OVERLY CONCERNED, SINCE THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, FORD SENT ANOTHER RECALL. THE CONSUMER INFORMED FORD, HE HAD THE STRAPS REPLACED. FORD THEN ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO VISIT THE DEALER ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THE DEALER WANTED TO SEE WHAT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. ONCE THE TRUCK WAS ON THE LIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ORIGINAL FAULTY TANK STRAPS HAD CAUSED A WEAKENING IN THE SKIN OF THE FUEL TAN ITSELF AND THAT IT WAS LEAKING GASOLINE THROUGH THE SKIN OF THE TANK. THE TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE STRAPS RUBBED ON THE TANK. FORD WOULD ONLY HONOR THE RECALL, IF THEY REPLACED THE STRAPS. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE LEAKING FUEL TANK. *JB

I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-95 WHEN THE DRIVER OF AN ADJACENT VEHICLE ALERTED ME THAT THERE WAS FIRE SHOOTING OUT FROM THE AREA OF THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER ONTO THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN AND JUMPED OUT. THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AND THE CAB WAS ON FIRE. I BURNED MYSELF ON THE MELTING STEERING WHEEL AND WAS SINGED BY MELTING PLASTIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FUEL TANK WAS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED WHERE THE STRAPS WERE ATTACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY REFUSED TO INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DAMAGED FUEL TANK UNDER THE RECALL SERVICE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE SAME DAY AS THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE FUEL TANK BEGAN TO LEAK GASOLINE FUEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THIS IS REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK ON THE FORD F150 . FORD REPLACED THE STRAPS IN FEB. OF 2012, BUT NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE CORROSION ON THE GAS TANK THAT WAS CAUSED FROM THE FAULTY STRAPS.. A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR THE GAS TANK STARTED TO LEAK DUE TO THE RUST WHERE THE STRAPS WERE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE GAS TANK WAS NOT WARRANTEED UNDER THE RECALL. THIS IS RATHER CONFUSING. IF THE FAULTY STRAPS WHICH FORD AGREED TO REPLACE CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO RUST AND LEAK, WHY WOULD THIS NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL?? THE FAULTY STRAPS CAUSED THE CORROSION OF THE GAS TANK. THIS IS CLEARLY EXPLAINED IN THE NHTSA WEBSITE. I WAS FORCED TO ACCEPT AFTERMARKET PARTS IN ORDER TO AVOID THE FULL PRICE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000 FOR REPAIR. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY FORD 150 OWNER WHO HAS BEEN FORCED TO REPLACE THEIR CORRODED GAS TANK DUE TO DEFECTIVE STRAPS ON FORD'S PART. WE ALL KNOW A LEAKY GAS TANK IS THE RECIPE FOR DISASTER - DEATH. MY FINAL COST WAS $540 - ONLY BECAUSE I AGREED TO USE AFTERMARKET PARTS. THIS ENTIRE SITUATION IS A DISGRACE. I AM CONSIDERING BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MEDIA. SHAME ON FORD. *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

REPLACEMENT OF CORRODED GAS TANK ASSEMBLY REQUIRED FOLLOWING SAFETY INSPECTION IN 2012. I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED OF A RECALL [NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V385000. FORD RECALL NUMBER 11S21]. I CANNOT DETERMINE IF MY VEHICLE (BOUGHT USED) HAD THE RECALL REPAIRS PERFORMED ON IT. THE SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS TO THE FUEL SYSTEM COST $1472.84. IF I WAS SOLD THIS USED VEHICLE, I WANT TO HAVE THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE TRUCK COMPENSATE ME FOR THE REPAIRS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT BOTH STRAPS AND THE FILLER HOSE WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FILLER HOSE WAS BANDAGED. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER THE RECALL AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE CONTACT REFUELED THE VEHICLE, NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,344. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 166,000.

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

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