Gas Tank Strap problems of the 2003 Ford F-150

Sept 2011 - receive recall notice advising fuel straps rust prematurely. 31 oct 2011 - discover gas tank leak. Take truck to dealer (1) day early for work. Take picures, fuel tank appears to be in good shape. Leak is directly under rusted tank strap. Contact with strap appears to have rusted through tank. 01 Nov. 2011 - call with dealer. Dealer did not advise of leak. I had to request confirmation. Service tech checked with mechanic who advises that replacing strap will probably make leak worse. Dealer would have replaced straps and returned truck to consumer with leaking gas tank and not advised? delar advises Ford will not replace tank. 01 Nov. 2010 - call to Ford customer relationship center. 1-800-392-3673. Cofirmed Ford will not replace tank. Approx. Cost $400.

Driving approx 25 mph on a side street when a thud was heard. Stopped vehicle to find gas tank on ground and gas straps broken. Gas tank was punctured by falling on the road. Two tank straps were found to be rusted through. Ford f150 xl truck from 2003.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact was driving approximately 40 mph when the fuel tank detached from the vehicle and the contact drove over the tank. The contact discovered that one of the straps had fractured and was completely rusted. Approximately one fourth a tank of fuel spilled onto the highway. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic and they advised him that he needed to replace the tank and straps. In addition, the vehicle would need body repairs from the contact driving over the fuel tank. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 141,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 mph she began to hear the vehicle dragging an object under it. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed the fuel tank was partially detached from the vehicle. The contact stated one of the straps which held the fuel tank in place was fractured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the failure had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were 112,000.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the fuel tank started leaking fuel while he was driving approximately 55 mph. The contact noticed the straps were rusted and caused a hole to open in the fuel tank. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be repaired. The failure mileage was 96,404.

I saw on the news that you are investigating rusted out fuel tank straps on the Ford f 150 pickup truck, model years 1997 - 2001. I want to tell you that the rear strap failed on my 2003 f 150 last year. I paid to have the straps replaced. The new straps were Ford parts and were stainless steel, unlike the originals.