NHTSA Complaint #10598351 — 2012 FORD F-150

WAS TRAVELING UP THE ROADWAY ON 6/1/14 IN OUR 2010 F-150 XLT AND WENT TO MAKE A TURN INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS RENDERED USELESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER, STEERING CAPABILITY, AND BRAKING WAS DIMINISHED TREMENDOUSLY. WE WERE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION WITH CROSS TRAFFIC APPROACHING AT 55MPH. WITH LITTLE TIME DUE TO ONCOMING VEHICLES, WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE ENGINE AND PROCEED, BEFORE ONCOMING VEHICLES APPROACHED US IN THE INTERSECTION. NOT VERY SAFE BEING THAT MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE TRUCK. FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE VAPOR CANISTER PURGE VALVE AND ITS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BEING THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS WHEN REDUCING SPEED (SUCH AS TURNING INTO INTERSECTIONS WITH OTHER ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING AT YOU). THERE IS NO RECALL IN LIEU OF THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THEY ARE CAUSING. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CANISTER CAUSES A TREMENDOUS VACUUM ON THE FUEL TANK, SO MUCH THAT IT DAMAGES INTERNAL COMPONENTS AND HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER IT IS AFFECTING THE STABILITY OF THE ACTUAL TANK ITSELF. WHEN YOU GO TO FUEL THE VEHICLE, THERE IS SO MUCH OF A VACUUM THAT YOU HEAR IT RELEASE THE PRESSURE WHEN INSERTING THE NOZZLE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER FUELING, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THEIR VEHICLE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROADWAY AND BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *JS