Complaint 529568

Complaint Summary

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Owner Narrative

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY VAN LOST ALMOST ALL POWER, DROPPING FROM 65 MILES PER HOUR TO 25 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY TRY AND MOVE OVER TO THE SLOW LANE. I QUICKLY LOST ALL POWER AND MY STOPPED RUNNING. PART OF MY LEFT REAR WAS SLIGHTLY OUT IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY VAN TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT MAINTAINS MY VAN. THE DEALER INFORMED ME MY FUEL TANK HAD "DELAMINATED", THE INSIDE COATING HAD DETERIORATED AND HAD CLOGGED THE ENTIRE FULE SYSTEM AND THAT THE TANK, FILTERS, PUMPS AND ALL LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND MOVING PARTS FAILING, BUT I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A FUEL TANK FAILING EXCEPT THROUGH PUNCTURE OR EXTERIOR DETERIORATION THROUGH RUSTING. REPAIRS WILL COST SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SAY THIS HAS OCCURED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WITH FORD DIESELS, RANGING IN MILEAGE FROM 30,000 TO 200,000. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS SAID THE CAUSE IS FROM USING ADDITIVES OR FROM THE FUEL. I DO NOT USE ADDITIVES AND HAVE USED ONLY PROPER FUEL FROM REPUTABLE COMPANIES. I APPROACHED FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR ASSISTANCE IN COVERING THE COST OF REPAIRS BUT WAS TOLD THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM CAUSED BY EITHER A POORLY ENGINEERED OR INCORRECTLY APPLIED INTERIOR TANK LINING THAT FAILS WITH NO WARNING AND CAUSES EITHER TOTAL OR NEAR TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. IF THIS OCCURS ON A CROWDED, FAST MOVING FREEWAY, THE DANGER IS OBVIOUS. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT A TIME OF DAY WHEN THERE WAS LITTLE TRAFFIC. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THEIR DIESEL FUEL TANK LINING MATERIAL. I NOW AM HAVING A NEW TANK BEING PUT INTO MY VAN, BUT WHAT IS THERE TO ENSURE ME THAT THE SAME SITUATION WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN? IT IS NOT MILEAGE DEPENDENT ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO SHOULD KNOW, THE FORD MECHANICS. SUCH A SITUATION IS NOT ONLY UNSATISFACTORY, BUT EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR BOTH MYSELF AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD.*AK

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.