Gas Tank Problems in 2.7 Million Ford F-150 Pickup Trucks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95WP1kch604&feature=player_embedded

Safety experts at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have stepped up their investigation of more than 2.7 million Ford F-150 trucks because of more than 300 complaints that the metal straps used to attach the fuel tanks to the vehicle’s chassis failed. These metal straps can corrode and fail, leaving the vehicle to drag a potentially leaking gas tank down the road.

"The thought of a vehicle dragging its gas tank down the road while leaking fuel and generating a shower of sparks is frightening. And it is what allegedly happened to a number of Ford F-150 ownders…." [Jonathan Welsh at The Wall Street Journal].

NHTSA’s investigation involves Ford F-150 pickup trucks manufactured from 1997 through 2001.

Learn More:

• Officials investigate fuel tank problem on F-150s [AP via Bloomberg]
• Ford F-150 Gas-Tank Investigation Intensifies [Jonathan Welsh at WSJ]
• Investigation into Ford F-150 trucks’ fuel-tank straps is expanded [Tiffany Hsu at LA Times]
• Ford F-150 truck probe expands to 2.7 million [Bernie Woodall at Reuters]
• Feds expand F-150 gas tank probe to 2.73M trucks [Mike Levine at USA Today and pickuptrucks.com]
• Ford F-150 Gas Tank Problems Under Investigation [AP via NPR]
• Officials Investigate Ford F-150s for Fuel Tank Problem [Fox Business Video]

(c) Copyright 2011 Brett A. Emison