NHTSA Complaint #10329444 — 1999 FORD F-150

1999 FORD F150 2WD TRUCK WITH 80,000 MILES THE FUEL TANK FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAS CORRODED APART. WHEN RE-INSTALLING NEW STRAPS, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL FILL TUBE WAS CORRODED, AS WELL, WITH SEVERAL HOLES IN IT. ALSO, WHILE RE-ATTACHING FUEL TANK IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR THREE CROSS-MEMBERS WERE ON THERE WAY TO CORRODING INTO TWO PIECES, AND HAD ALREADY COMPLETELY BROKEN IN OTHER PLACES. UPON REMOVAL OF PICK-UP TRUCK BED FOR EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE PINS HAD CORRODED AWAY, LEAVING NO SUPPORT. FURTHER, THE FRAME RAILS WERE CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THEY COULD BE BENT BY HAND- NO TOOLS USED! THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL BY FORD AS AN UNSUSPECTING USER HAULING A TRAILER MAY LOOSE THEIR TRAILER, DESPITE SAFETY CHAINS ATTACHED, CAUSING INJURY, OR DEATH, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO THE FUEL TANK FALLING OFF THE TRUCK, WHILE DRIVING. IT COULD BURST INTO FLAMES, DUE TO HOT EXHAUST, OR ROAD SPARKS. THIS ALSO POSES THE SAFETY HAZARD OF FUEL SPILLAGE ON A ROADWAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TRUCK MANUFACTURED BY FORD THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE, BUT THIS IS THE WORST I HAVE SEEN, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY MORE CASES KNOWN TO OTHER MECHANICS, AS WELL AS SOME THAT HAVE GONE UNDETECTED AS OF YET. *TR