NHTSA Complaint #10667822 — 1989 FORD F-250

SEVERAL YEARS AGO AFTER FILLING THE REAR TANK OF MY DUAL TANK 1989 FORD F250, I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND SOON NOTICED FUEL POURING OVER THE LEFT REAR TIRE. I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND STOPPED USING THE REAR TANK FOR THE NEXT 5 OR 6 YEARS ONCE BURNING OUT ALL THE FUEL. A FEW MONTHS AGO I DECIDED TO GET A FEW THINGS FIXED ON THE TRUCK AND ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SEE IF HE COULD ISOLATE THE LEAK IN THE REAR TANK. SURPRISINGLY AFTER DOING A PRESSURE AND SMOKE CHECK, HE FOUND NO LEAK AND RECOMMENDED I PUT A FEW GALLONS IN AND SEE HOW THE TRUCK RAN. THE TRUCK RAN FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT, WHILE RUNNING ON THE FRONT TANK, I HAD SOME HESITATION PROBLEMS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP. THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE FUEL INJECTORS AND CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP IN THE REAR TANK (BASED ON A LOW PRESSURE READING) IN ORDER TO TRY TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM POSSIBLY TO ONE OF THE TANKS. HE ALSO CHANGED THE FUEL QUANTITY SENSOR SINCE IS HAD FAILED YEARS AGO. I FILLED THE REAR TANK (18 GALLONS TOTAL) AND AFTER DRIVING A 30-MILE ROUND TRIP FOR SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, NOTICED THE REAR FUEL GAUGE ONLY SHOWED 3/8 OF A TANK. I FIGURED I HAD RECEIVED A BAD FUEL SENSOR AND DECIDED TO FILL THE TANK TO MAKE SURE. THE TRUCK TOOK A TOTAL OF 7.5 GALLONS OF FUEL. SINCE AT NO TIME DID I NOTE ANY FUEL LEAKAGE, I FIGURED THE FUEL HAS FLOWED TO THE FRONT TANK. DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB I FOUND NHTSA RECALL 91V146 (FORD #91S39) WHICH DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO A TEE. THE RECALL INCLUDES 1989 F250 PICKUPS BUT ONLY THOSE SOLD AFTER FEBRUARY 28, 1989. I PURCHASED MINE IN NOVEMBER 1989; HOWEVER, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE EXACT SYMPTOMS AND SAFETY ISSUES. I RECOMMEND THE NHTSA BROADEN ITS RECALL 91V146 TO INCLUDE 1989 F-250S PURCHASED PRIOR TO THE FEBRUARY 1989 START DATE TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE SAFETY INCIDENT OR WORSE. THANK YOU. *TR