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.

NHTSA ID

11624022

Incident

Aug 26, 2024

Mileage

93,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11287776

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED EXTENSIVE RED SMOKE AND FIRE UNDER THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A FIRE INSPECTION REPORT WAS PROVIDED. TWO VEHICLES HAD BEEN IMPACTED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD NOT YET INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OR NOTIFIED OF A SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION FROM JANUARY 27, 2005 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS OF JULY 29, 2011. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 275,000.

NHTSA ID

11207711

Incident

May 9, 2019

Mileage

275,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11089085

Incident

Jan 8, 2002

Mileage

120,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11082101

Incident

Mar 18, 2018

Mileage

154,600 mi

GAS TANK FELL OUT OF VEHICLE,TEARING FILLER HOSE. TANK STRAPS AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURES RUST THRU, FAILURE. DRIVERS' SIDE REAR SHOCK DROPPED FROM VEHICLE BECAUSE METAL BRACKET IT WAS ATTACHED TO ROTTED THRU. BED RAILS COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU. FRAME HAS RUSTED THRU HOLES. COMPLETE RUST FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 90K MILES ALWAYS MAINTAINED, WASHED UNDERNEATH WEEKLY IN WINTER. VEHICLE IN MOTION WHEN PARTS FELL ON RTE 58 AND THE SHOCK ON TOWN STREET..$900 TO REPAIR GAS TANK. SHOCK INCIDENT HAPPENED TODAY 11/26/2017, GAS TANK 9/12/2016

NHTSA ID

11048496

Incident

Sep 12, 2016

Mileage

85,910 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11020621

Incident

Aug 23, 2017

Mileage

161,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10945094

Incident

Oct 10, 2012

Mileage

96,310 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10872268

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

TANK STRAP HAS CORRODED OR BROKE AND GAS TANK LEAKS GAS

NHTSA ID

10820348

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

Mileage

275,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10661726

Incident

Oct 23, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP STRAP AND FRAME WERE CORRODED. ALSO, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DETACHED AND LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

NHTSA ID

10641095

Incident

Sep 9, 2010

Mileage

171,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10595159

Incident

May 19, 2014

Mileage

172,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10594637

Incident

May 28, 2014

Mileage

152,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10563048

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

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

NHTSA ID

10557709

Incident

Dec 14, 2013

Mileage

103,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10531769

Incident

Jul 18, 2013

Mileage

118,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10493172

Incident

Jan 2, 2013

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.

NHTSA ID

10487862

Incident

Sep 11, 2012

Mileage

161,344 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10482233

Incident

Oct 23, 2012

Mileage

112,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10480700

Incident

Oct 11, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND IT SOUNDED LIKE PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GAVE WAY. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD. THE ONLY ONE TO EVER TOUCH THE ENGINE WAS FORD AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A SPARK PLUG SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I GOT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THESE SPARK PLUG EJECTIONS. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM ? THE FACT THAT THE SUPER-HEATED AIR AND MIXTURE FUEL SPRAYING ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF THE HOOD IS A EXTREME DANGER, IT WOULD SEEM THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459778

Incident

May 19, 2012

Mileage

103,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10442071

Incident

May 19, 2011

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

NHTSA ID

10441779

Incident

Dec 7, 2011

Mileage

129,400 mi

ATTEMPTING TO PARK VEHICLE IN PARKING STALL WITH FOOT ON BRAKE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED FORWARD STRIKNIG THE VEHICLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARKING STALL. THE RESULTING CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE 2011 GMC SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE AND TO THE FRONT OF THE 2001 FORD F-150. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AN INCIDENT SIMILAR TO THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN AUGUST 2011. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED A SIMILAR PHENOMENA OCCURRED WHEN THE OWNER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE PARKING STALL, THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OVER A CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE STREET AS THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE FORD F-150. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO AVOID STRIKING A VEHICLE AFTER ENTERING THE STREET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10440148

Incident

Dec 9, 2011

Mileage

202,534 mi