NHTSA Complaint #10885645 — 2004 FORD F-150

I WAS PULLING A TRAILER OVER THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WITH MY FAMILY AND STOPPED TO GET GAS IN LEADVILLE, COLORADO. AS I WAS PUMPING GAS I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY TRUCK BED. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW FLAMES NEAR MY SPARE TIRE. I STOPPED PUMPING GAS AND RAN TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT I OBSERVED THAT MY TAIL-PIPE HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM MY MUFFLER. THE HEAT FROM MY EXHAUST HAD MELTED THE RUBBER COATING ON MY REAR RIGHT BRAKE CABLE. THE HEAT HAD ALSO MELTED SOME PLASTIC NEAR MY SPARE TIRE. THE MECHANIC IN LEADVILLE WHO WELDED MY TAIL PIPE BACK TO THE MUFFLER TOLD ME THE MELTED PLASTIC CAME FROM AN EVAPORATIVE FUEL EMISSIONS SYSTEM MOUNTED NEAR MY SPARE TIRE. (BAD PLACE TO PUT IT IF YOU ASK ME) MY TRUCK BED-LINER ALSO STARTED TO MELT FROM THE HEAT. I CALLED FORD TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM AND THEY ONLY RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I DOUBT I WILL EVER HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN. I'M NOT GOING TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED. I GUESS I'M JUST LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND THAT THE WHOLE GAS STATION DIDN'T BLOW UP.