NHTSA Complaint #10148773 — 1987 FORD F150

MY 1987' FORD F150 HAS DUAL FUEL TANKS, WITH THE TANK SELECTOR SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON 01/25/06 AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN I PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY BEFORE SHUTTING IT OFF. I LEFT IT RUNNING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK, AND GAS WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE FILLER HOLE FOR THE FRONT TANK. I ONLY RAN OFF THE REAR TANK. EVIDENTLY, THE FUEL SWITCHING VALVE WAS PUTTING THE UNUSED FUEL IN THE FRONT TANK INSTEAD OF THE REAR TAN, , CAUSING THE FRONT TANK TO OVERFLOW. IT WAS A POSSIBLE FIRE RISK. ! I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER & THE SVC/PARTS MANAGER WHO WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS EXISTING PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WOULD BE $400 TO FIX IT. FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SYSTEM IN 1990 , BUT DIDN'T ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE TRUCKS PRIOR TO THE CHANGE. *AK