NHTSA Complaint #10534095 — 2012 FORD F-550

THIS VEHICLE HAS A BAF CNG FUEL CONVERSION. THE WELDS BROKE ON THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE RIGHT HAND FUEL TANK TO THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE RIGHT FRAME RAIL ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO DROP TO THE PAVEMENT. AS THE FUEL TANK WAS BEING DRAGGED ON THE PAVEMENT THE DRIVER SAW SPARKS FLYING IN BOTH REAR VIEW MIRRORS AND SO SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS SHE WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER THE FUEL TANK SLID OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND WEDGED IN FRONT OF THE LEFT REAR TIRES BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO AN ABRUPT STOP WITH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STILL PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE RIGHT HAND LANE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE TANK AT THIS POINT WAS THE 2 FLEXIBLE HOSES TO THE TANK. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE OR INJURIES BUT THIS IS A 30 PASSENGER TRANSIT BUS AND THERE ARE MANY MORE UNITS LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD WITH A SERIOUS PROBABLE DEFECT WHICH COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. *TR