NHTSA Complaint #10143874 — 1997 FORD E-150

I HAD A FUEL TANK LEAK ON MY FORD E150 CONVERSION VAN IN 2001. THE VAN HAD 85000 MILES ON IT. HAD THE TANK REPLACED AT A DEALER; ORIGINALLY HE ORDERED THE WRONG TANK, THINKING I HAD THE SMALLER ONE, BUT I HAVE THE 35 GAL. MIDSHIP TANK LISTED IN 01V114000. THEY REPLACE THE TANK ABOUT THE TIME THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED. THEN, 85000 MILES LATER, I HAVE THE SAME LEAK, EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE VISITED TWO DEALERSHIPS, EVEN SPOKEN TO THE ORIGINAL SERVICE MANAGER WHO HANDLED THE REPAIR IN 2001; ALL DENY THAT THE RECALL APPLIES TO THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD AT THE NUMBER LISTED IN 01V11400; THEY DENY THAT I HAVE THIS FUEL TANK, EVEN THOUGH THEY INSTALLED IT SPECIFICALLY, ALTHOUGH OBVIOUSLY NOT ACCORDING TO THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS. I FIGURE BECAUSE IT WAS A CONVERSION VAN THEY MAY NOT THINK IT WAS THE "ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT". I HAVE NOW HAD THIS PROBLEM TWICE, AND PAID FOR IT THE FIRST TIME. I WANT THEM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE ORIGINAL REPAIR UNDER THIS RECALL, AND THEN TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR CORRECTLY, SINCE OBVIOUSLY THAT WASN'T DONE. I'M SURE THIS FUEL TANK LEAK HAS COST ME A LOT IN EVAPORATED GASOLINE TOO, PARTICULARLY AT TODAY'S PRICES. *NM