NHTSA Complaint #10414985 — 2009 FORD F-150

**CATASTROPHIC FUEL TANK FAILURE** TWO DAYS AGO MY 2009 F150 DIED IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT ACTED AS IF OUT OF FUEL EVEN THOUGH THE GAGE READ OVER HALF A TANK. I HAD IT TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS INITIALLY INFORMED THAT THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF GAS AND THE FUEL GAGE WASN'T WORKING. A NEW UNIT WAS ORDERED AND ONCE THE TANK WAS REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ISSUE WAS EXCEEDINGLY MORE SEVERE. THE MECHANIC AND A FORD ENGINEER CONCLUDED THAT THE CHARCOAL PURGE VALVE FAILED AND THE FUEL PUMP CREATED SUCH A STRONG VACUUM THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED ON ITSELF AND CRUSHED THE FUEL PUMP.ALTHOUGH THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 15,000 MILES IT IS NOT A WARRANTY REPAIR DUE TO A SALVAGE TITLE ON THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE INSPECTION IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL TANK UNIT WAS NOT DAMAGE OR EFFECTED BY ANY INCIDENT AND WAS IN STANDARD OPERATING CONDITION WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED.I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY REPAIR, FORD WILL NOT BE COLLECTING THE PARTS FOR FURTHER EVALUATION. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MISTAKE! I HAVE ASKED TO KEEP THESE PARTS AND WILL PROVIDE THEM TO FORD IF NEED BE. AS AN ENGINEER I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD PRESENT A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. *TR