NHTSA Complaint #10356939 — 2001 FORD F-150

ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010 THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2001 FORD F-150 TRUCK BROKE FREE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND WAS DRAGGED APPROXIMATELY 200 METERS BEFORE I COULD SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, I WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, I SMELLED STRONG GASOLINE FUMES AND OBSERVED GASOLINE RUNNING FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. I MOVED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A TOW SERVICE. FROM A DISTANCE (APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET) THE GASOLINE TANK WAS CLEARLY RESTING ON THE ROAD SURFACE. ONCE HELP WAS ON THE SCENE, GRANULAR ABSORBENT MATERIAL WAS ADDED TO THE GASOLINE WHICH HAD SPILLED ONTO THE ROAD. THE NOW EMPTY GAS TANK WAS SECURED BY ROPE TO THE TRUCK UNDERCARRIAGE, REVEALING A LARGE HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE STRAPS HOLDING THE TANK HAD BROKE. THE TRUCK WAS REMOVED FROM THE SCENE ON A FLAT-BED TRUCK. THE TOTAL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAS TANK STRAPS BREAKING IS $841.00. *TR UPDATED 08/01/11 *BF THE STRAP FAILED WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK FRAME. THE STRAP ENDS APPEARED TO BE MORE WORN THAN THE STRAP BODY. APPROXIMATELY, 22-34 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS SPILLED. UPDATED 08/02/11