NHTSA Complaint #10328389 — 2000 FORD F-450 SD

A FAULTY FUEL LINE ON A 2000 FORD F450 BRUSH FIRE TRUCK FAILED, SPRAYING DIESEL FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE, CAUSING A SMALL ENGINE FIRE, DURING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO A FIRE. FIRE WAS QUICKLY CONTROLLED WITH ONBOARD AFFF/WATER MIXTURE. CALLED TO HAVE REPAIRED, MECHANIC CAME OUT TO STATION, AND REPLACED 2 STEEL FUEL LINES. MECHANIC STATED HE IS SURPRISED THESE FUEL LINES WERE NEVER RECALLED, HE HAD CHANGED HIS OUT FOR A SAME FAILURE WEEKS AGO. APPARENTLY, THE SUPPORT BRACKET, THAT CAME ON THE ORIGINAL LINES, THE RUBBER INSIDE THE BRACKET WEARS OUT, SO THE LINE RUBS AGAINST METAL AND WEAKENS IT. THE NEW REPLACEMENT LINES DO NOT COME WITH THIS LINE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC. OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE, MECHANIC THREW IT AWAY. *TR