NHTSA Complaint #10563547 — 2000 FORD F-550 SD

FORD TRUCK BEGAN LOOSING POWER. BECAME UNABLE TO CLIMB HILL AND CONTINUE UP ROAD. DRIVER WAS IN VERY REMOTE ALASKA IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES IN WORK TRUCK (AS MOST F550S ARE) MILES FROM HELP. PLOWING A FIREWOOD ROAD FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA. WE MAINTAIN OUR TRUCKS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY TO PREVENT SUCH A LIFE THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCE. DRIVER CALLED ME FOR HELP. I WAS ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND FIND ENOUGH INFORMATION (KNOWING IT WAS NOT A FILTER OR PUMP OR MAINTENANCE ISSUE I DUG DEEPER) TO DEDUCE THE FUEL TANK HAD DELAMINATED AS LATELY HAS BECOME "COMMON" WITH THESE TRUCKS. UNDER MY ADVICE DRIVER (BEING A MECHANIC) WAS ABLE TO BLOW COMPRESSED AIR FROM A COMPRESSOR HE HAD ON BOARD BACK INTO THE TANK AND TEMPORARILY GET THE TRUCK RUNNING CORRECTLY AND GET BACK CIVILIZATION. TRUCK CLOGGED AGAIN AND HAS BEEN RUN STARVING FOR FUEL FOR HOURS BEFORE IT GOT TO THE HILL. WE ARE COMPLETELY UPSET AT THE PRICE FORD WANTS TO REMEDY AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. THESE TRUCKS ARE USED ALL OVER THIS NATION AS EMERGENCY SERVICE VEHICLES. I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE 3 FOR THAT PURPOSE. I BELIEVE MY 2008 WILDLAND FIRE ENGINE MAY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE (2008 F550) AS THE 2000 F550 PLOW TRUCK I WROTE ABOUT ABOVE. THESE TRUCKS ARE RELIED ON WITH LIVES TO NOT BE BURNED OVER DURING FIRE BURNOUTS AND OPERATIONS. OTHERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE ARE AMBULANCES, WRECKERS, ETC. I TALKED TO A FORD TECH AND ALL DEALERS THAT WORK ON THESE HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHY DIDN'T I. MY DRIVERS ARE IN DANGER AND GOOGLE TOLD ME ENOUGH TO GET FORD TECH'S TO TELL ME, AND IT'S MY FINANCIAL LOSS???? PLEASE LOOK INTO THE DELAMINATING TANK ISSUE FOR F550 TRUCKS. $3,000 AND RISK OF STRANDED IN FRONT OF THE FLAMES IN SUMMER AND REMOTE ALASKA FREEZING TEMPS IN WINTER. SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THAT SHOULD BE STAMPED INTO THE DASH IF ITS KNOWN ON THESE EMERGENCY SERVICE TRUCKS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR