NHTSA Complaint #10355553 — 1997 FORD F-150

THIS INFORMATION IS FOR A 1997 FORD F150 XLT TRUCK. IN LATE APRIL/MAY LAST YEAR I NOTICED ONE OF MY FUEL TANK STRAPS HAD RUSTED AND THE TANK WAS HANGING DOWN. I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND PURCHASED 2 STRAPS TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE TANK STRAPS THINKING IF THE ONE RUSTED OUT I MIGHT AS WELL CHANGE BOTH STRAPS. I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE BOTH STRAPS MYSELF SO I THOUGHT I WAS GOOD. I DID NOT OVER TIGHTEN THE BOLTS BECAUSE THE BOLT MEETS THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK BEFORE YOU CAN OVER TIGHTEN THE BOLT. HOWEVER, A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER I NOTICED MY TANK WAS LEAKING IN THE AREA WHERE THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK IS SHAPED TO ACCEPT THE STRAP. I REMOVED THE STRAP IT APPEARED THAT THE RUSTING PROCESS HAD WEAKEN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE STRAP. I HAD TO ORDER A NEW FUEL TANK FROM AN ONLINE SUPPLIER TO SAVE MONEY(PARTS TRAIN) AND WENT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY AGREED FOR A FEE TO INSTALL THE NEW AFTERMARKET FUEL TANK. I DID HAVE ADDITIONAL COSTS TO REPLACE A FUEL TAKEN SENSOR ASSEMBLY BECAUSE THAT WAS RUSTED AND WOULD NOT BE REUSABLE WITH THE NEW FUEL TANK. MY TOTAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WERE APPROXIMATELY $350.00. *TR