NHTSA Complaint #10508873 — 2000 FORD RANGER

WHILE HOME FROM COLLEGE FOR THE WEEKEND I INVESTIGATED THE SMELL OF GAS MY SON WHO DRIVES THIS EXTENDED CAB RANGER XLT NOTIFIED ME OF. UPON LOOKING UNDERNEATH I NOTICED A SMALL SHINNY SPOT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK WITH NO DRIPS OR RUNS. AFTER RETURNING TO COLLEGE LATER THAT WEEK HE STATED IT WORSENED TO LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND OF DUEL 4" SPOTS, ONE ON EACH SIDE BELOW THE TANK. AFTER VIEWING A PHOTO OF THE BOTTOM OF THE WET TANK I NOTICED DROPS ON THE FORWARD STRAP. I DROVE THE TRUCK TO MY LOCATION THIS PAST WEEKEND AND PULLED THE BED OFF TO ACCESS THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP WHICH HAD STANDING FUEL. UPON TURNING THE KEY TO ACTIVATE THE FUEL PUMP I SAW A FINE PINHOLE SIZED STREAM PUMPING FROM THE PLASTIC 90 DEGREE FITTING ON TOP OF THE PUMP. UPON CLOSER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THIS LEAKING FITTING HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE ABRASION AT THE OUTSIDE TURN. I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A REPLACEMENT FITTING AND REPLACED IT FIXING THE LEAKAGE PROBLEM. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR TO ME WAS THE 8 HOURS VACATION TIME AT $28 PER HOUR I WAS REQUIRED TO USE TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIR AND THE COST OF THE NEW FUEL LINE FITTING. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FITTING FAILURE AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IT WILL HAPPEN TO SOMEONE WITH LESS AWARENESS OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS WHILE DRIVING THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE. HAD THIS FAILURE GONE UNDETECTED, IGNORED OR EVEN SPRAYED FUEL ONTO THE ADJACENT HOT EXHAUST THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. FORD AND THE NHSTA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO FIRST WHAT CAUSES THE DAMAGE TO THESE FITTINGS AND IF REPLACING THIS PLASTIC FITTING WITH A STEEL ONE WOULD BE A WAY TO PREVENT THIS CRITICAL PART FROM BECOMING DAMAGED OR WORN TO THE POINT OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE REPAIR COST SHOULD BE REIMBURSED TO THE OWNERS OF THESE 2000 FORD RANGERS BY FORD SINCE THIS IS AN UNADVERTISED EXPENSE TO US WHO PURCHASED THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. *TR