2001 Ford F-150 fuel system, gasoline 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.”

“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.”

“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”

“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…”

“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”