Ford Motor Company, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is recalling approximately 1,100,000 vehicles due to a fire hazard caused by potentially severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle. This corrosion may be caused by prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals. The corrosion may cause both fuel tank straps to fail, causing either the fuel lines to separate from the tank or the tank falling to the ground. The safety recall will begin on approximately September 12, 2011.
The recalled vehicles include certain model year:
- 1997 through 2003 Ford F-150 pick-up trucks;
- 2004 Ford F-150 Heritage pick-up trucks;
- 1997 through 1999 F-250 pick-up trucks less than 8,500 lbs. gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR); and
- 2002 and 2003 Lincoln Blackwood pick-up trucks.
The aforementioned vehicles were manufactured from June 20, 1995 through August 4, 2004 and were originally sold or are currently registered in the following states:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania,
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- District of Columbia
Ford will notify owners of the affected vehicles and instruct them to take their pick-up truck to a Lincoln or Ford dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with ones that have an increased level of corrosion protection. If replacement straps are not available, the dealer may install a support cable under the strap as a temporary repair, or, a steel reinforcement over the strap as a permanent repair. Any remedy will be done at no-cost to the vehicle’s owner. For more information, owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236. The recall campaign number is 11S21.
Since auto manufacturers are responsible for the safety of consumers who purchase their products, the negligent manufacture or design of auto parts that cause injury can result in the auto company being held responsible for the injuries, losses and damages that result.
At Blume Forte, our experienced gas tank defect attorneys in New Jersey can examine the circumstances of your accident and determine whether you have a meritorious claim. To learn more about your legal options, contact us at 973-845-4421 for a free consultation.