1997 Ford F-250 Fuel System Problems

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.

FUEL TANK 1 SEEMS TO PUMP FUEL INTO TANK 2. FUEL SWITCH ON "FRONT" SEEMS TO INDICATE PROPER AMOUNT OF FUEL. FUEL SWITCH ON "REAR" ALWAYS READS FULL. SOMETIMES FUEL WILL FLOW OUT OF REAR TANK AS SOON AS FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. I DROVE ABOUT 75 MILES WITH THE FUEL SWITCH ON "REAR". WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION, I UNSCREWED REAR TANK CAP AND FUEL SPEWED OUT.......MAYBE A GALLON OR SO.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM LOW GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED HE SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 09/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 09/19/2012 *JS

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 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.

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.

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

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 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

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.

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

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.

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 FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED ON MY TRUCK CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO DETACH AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I HAD THE TANK AND RELATED PARTS REPLACED AT A LOCAL SHOP. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO RUSTED AND NEW STRAPS COULD NOT BE INSTALLED IN THE NORMAL MANNER. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT ATTEMPTED AN OFFICIAL REPAIR OF THE STRAPS BUT CONCLUDED THE MOUNTING BRACKETS WERE TOO DAMAGED TO INSTALL NEW STRAPS. WHETHER THE DEFECT WAS ALL CORROSION OR A COMBINATION OF CORROSION AND THE EFFECTS OF THE TANK BEING RIPPED FROM THE REMAINING MOUNTS WHEN THE STRAPS FAILED WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND I CALLED A FORD COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE WHO INITIALLY AGREED TO HAVE FORD COVER THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BUT THIS WAS LATER RESCINDED BY A SUPERIOR AND I LEFT WITH AN UNSAFE, INCOMPLETE REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO EXAMINE THE INCIDENCE OF STRUCTURAL AND MOUNTING BRACKET FAILURES DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION NOT LIMITED TO THE STRAPS THEMSELVES. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEY SEE THIS VERY, VERY FREQUENTLY ON FORD TRUCKS OF THAT VINTAGE. MY TRUCK WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE BRACKETS RUSTED AS THEY ARE. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE, I BELIEVE THIS BEARS VERY CLOSE EXAMINATION. FORD SAYS IT HAS NOT PROCESS TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS CONCERN. I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES BUT THEY ARE USELESS SINCE FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RELATED DAMAGE, DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE STRAPS AND/OR ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT VERY LIKELY EXIST WITH THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF SOME FORD TRUCK FRAMES. THIS TRUCK'S FRAME HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT FRAME BASED RUST DETERIORATION WHILE OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE SEEM TO FOLLOW A MUCH MORE NORMAL AGING PATTERN. *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

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.

WE RESPONDED TO FOMOCO RECALL #07S57 ON MARCH,08, ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WERE PROVIDED, ORIGINAL RECEIPTS,ETC. AFTER SEVERAL FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, ON JUNE,08. WERE TOLD ALL IS IN ORDER AND APPROVED AND THE REIMBURSEMENT CHECK FOR $ 318.41 FOR REPAIR IS IN THE MAIL. SO FAR, AS OF SEPTEMBER 08 NO WORD FROM FORD...AND NO CHECK. *TR