1997 FORD F-250 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT THE POINT OF IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND AN INJURY WAS SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 278,000.

REF:EEN19-47774 (TO BE FWD BY MAIL) THE FRONT TANK STRAP ON THE VEHICLE FAILED AND THE TANK DROPPED UNTIL SUPPORTED BY SKID PLATE. SOME DIESEL FUEL SPILLED IN GARAGE, CREATING FIRE HAZARD BUT WAS CLEANED UP W/O INCIDENT. I CONTACTED DIEHL FORD IN BELLINGHAM WA AS NO FORD DEALER IN JUNEAU AK AT THAT TIME. I ORDERED AND THEY SENT 2 STRAPS (F72Z-9054-BA), BOLTS&NUTS WHICH I FOUND OUT LATER WERE NOT AUTHORIZED BY SAFETY RECALL 11S21! I CONTACTED THE LOCAL (TEMPORARY) FORD REPAIR FACILITY--EVERGREEN MOTOR WORKS RELATIVE TO THIS REPAIR AND THEY DISCOVERED THE SAFETY RECALL 11S21 AND STATED THAT ALASKA VEHICLES WERE NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL.I COTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. BY EMAIL AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. AS A SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER I KNOW THIS IS TOTAL BS AS ALASKA HAS MUCH WORSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAN ANY OF THE :SOUTH 48" STATES COVERED BY SAFETY RECALL 11S21!! STANLEY FORD IS NOW THE LOCAL FORD DEALER BUT STILL COULD NOT FIX MY FORD F250 TANK STRAP UNDER THE RECALL BUT COULD FIX THE SAFETY RECALL 09S09 SPEED CONTROL MOD! IT SHOULD BE ALSO NOTED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED ABOUT THE SAME TIME!! FORD CO. DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN THIS PROBLEM. I REPLACED THIS IMMEDIATELY AS I FEEL SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT! SIGNED/ [XXX] SR. ENGINEER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED ON MY TRUCK CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO DETACH AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I HAD THE TANK AND RELATED PARTS REPLACED AT A LOCAL SHOP. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO RUSTED AND NEW STRAPS COULD NOT BE INSTALLED IN THE NORMAL MANNER. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT ATTEMPTED AN OFFICIAL REPAIR OF THE STRAPS BUT CONCLUDED THE MOUNTING BRACKETS WERE TOO DAMAGED TO INSTALL NEW STRAPS. WHETHER THE DEFECT WAS ALL CORROSION OR A COMBINATION OF CORROSION AND THE EFFECTS OF THE TANK BEING RIPPED FROM THE REMAINING MOUNTS WHEN THE STRAPS FAILED WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND I CALLED A FORD COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE WHO INITIALLY AGREED TO HAVE FORD COVER THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BUT THIS WAS LATER RESCINDED BY A SUPERIOR AND I LEFT WITH AN UNSAFE, INCOMPLETE REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO EXAMINE THE INCIDENCE OF STRUCTURAL AND MOUNTING BRACKET FAILURES DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION NOT LIMITED TO THE STRAPS THEMSELVES. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEY SEE THIS VERY, VERY FREQUENTLY ON FORD TRUCKS OF THAT VINTAGE. MY TRUCK WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE BRACKETS RUSTED AS THEY ARE. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE, I BELIEVE THIS BEARS VERY CLOSE EXAMINATION. FORD SAYS IT HAS NOT PROCESS TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS CONCERN. I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES BUT THEY ARE USELESS SINCE FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RELATED DAMAGE, DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE STRAPS AND/OR ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT VERY LIKELY EXIST WITH THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF SOME FORD TRUCK FRAMES. THIS TRUCK'S FRAME HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT FRAME BASED RUST DETERIORATION WHILE OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE SEEM TO FOLLOW A MUCH MORE NORMAL AGING PATTERN. *TR

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SLOW SPEED OVER A GRAVEL ROAD, THE STRAPS AND/OR THEIR ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE FRAME FAILED, ALLOWING THE TANK TO DROP AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. THIS WAS PRIOR TO FORD'S RECALL REGARDING THE STRAPS AND A REPAIR WAS MADE AT THE LOCAL SHOP. REPAIRS CONSISTED OF A NEW TANK, SENDING UNIT AND STRAPS. THE SHOP INDICATED THAT THE STRAPS HAD FAILED BUT NEW STRAPS COULD NOT BE FITTED BECAUSE, EITHER BECAUSE OF THE MECHANICAL ACTION OF TEARING AWAY THE TANK OR BECAUSE OF DETERIORATION, THE MOUNTING POINTS WERE NOT IN SUFFICIENTLY GOOD SHAPE TO REATTACH THE STRAPS. THE SHOP FASHIONED AN ATTACHMENT CONSISTING OF CHAINS SUSPENDING THE TANK FROM THE FRAME. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON RECEIVING FORD'S RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE STRAPS, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER WHO, AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR, INDICATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED MORE WORK TO IMPLEMENT THE CORRECTION. THE DEALER (AND I) SPOKE TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE WHO INITIALLY AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR BUT, WHEN THE EXTEND OF THE REQUIRED REPAIR WAS SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN ANTICIPATED, WAS OVERRULED BY SOMEONE ELSE AT FORD AND FORD DENIED THE REPAIR. THE TRUCK EFFECTIVELY COULD NOT BE INSPECTED IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND IT USE WAS LOST OTHER THAN OCCASIONAL USE ON THE PROPERTY. FOLLOW-UPS WITH FORD RESULTED IN THEIR CLAIM THAT FORD WAS ONLY LIABLE FOR THE STRAPS AND NOT ANY CONSEQUENTIAL OR RELATED DAMAGE AND NO OTHER RECOURSE WAS AVAILABLE. I WOULD LIKE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO LOOK INTO THE RAMIFICATIONS OF LIMITING A SAFETY RECALL OF THIS NATURE TO THE DEFECTIVE STRAPS ONLY AND NOT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEFECT.I AM ALSO REQUESTING AND EXAMINATION OF FORD'S WILLINGNESS TO SEND A VEHICLE BACK ONTO THE STREETS WITH AN UNCORRECTED KNOW SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NOVEMBER,2005 WOKE UP TO HEAVY ODOR OF GAS COMING FROM MY ATTACHED GARAGE FOUND MY 1997 F-250 TRUCK HAD LOST GALLONS OVERNITE TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME TANK RUSTY,UNDER SKID PLATE& SPARE TIRE. COST ME $734.27 I SAID IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THESE TANKS,WAS ASKED ABOUT RECALL WAS TOLD NO RECALL-WENT HOME CALLED FORD MOTOR CO.TOLD THEM MY SITUATION &COSTS FOR A GARAGE KEPT,RARELY SAW SNOW & METICULOUSLY KEPT UP INSIDE & OUT TRUCK ,THEY WERE NO HELP AT ALL. SOLD THIS TRUCK APPROX 2006 TO MY FRIEND WHO OWNS A LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON BUSINESS,IT IS STILL RUNNING AND LOOKING GREAT. THEN BOUGHT 1997 F-150 AT LOCAL FORD DEALER 5/14/12 THAT I GOT A RECALL ON FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, HAD WORK DONE FOR THEFUEL TANK/STRAP ASY TOOK IT IN DONE AT NO COST,I BELIEVE I AM OWED A REFUND & INTEREST ON THE $734.27 ON THE 1997 F250 IN MY GARAGE ALSO WERE 2 HARLEYS ONE BEING A COLLECTIBLE I FEEL FORD CHOSE TO KEEP THIS MATTER HUSHED AND I COULD HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. I BELIEVE I AM DUE A REFUND ASAP I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S MISTAKES AND ATTEMPTED COVER UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME & ATTENTION TO MY LONG OVERDUE MATTER, ANY HELP TO RIGHT THIS WRONG WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE BRACKET AND THE SPARE TIRE WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED HE SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,000. UPDATED 09/19/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 09/19/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR FACILITY FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT FIVE OF THE SEVEN SPOKES ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE OTHER THREE WHEELS EXHIBITED RUST HOLES AND CRACKS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,318. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND AFTER THE AXLE, HUB AND ROTOR WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1000.00. UPDATED 09/10/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING NEXT TO THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V385000 APPLIED TO HIS VEHICLE AND THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE WHEEL DETACHED COMPLETELY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SALT WAS LODGED INSIDE OF THE RIM, CAUSING THE RIM TO RUST. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 04/13/12 *BF UPDATED 05/12/2012 *JS