I filled the fuel tank and let the vehicle set in my drive over night. In the morning as I was approaching the vehicle in preparation to drive to work, I smelled a strong odor of gasoline. I looked under the vehicle and saw a wet spot about 3 feet in diameter. The wet spot was gasoline. As i was investigating the leak, I noticed the front fuel tank retaining band rusted in two and fuel tank hanging low. Further investigation revealed there was a leak from the fuel pump access seal and hose connecting the filler neck to the tank. I had just driven the vehicle 130 miles the day before filling the fuel tank. If it hadn't been for the leaking fuel, I would have not have discovered that the tank was only secured by one badly rusted retaining band and would have continued to operate the vehicle normally and probably ultimately the second band would have broken allowing the fuel tank to fall from the vehicle. Ford informed there was a recall and the vehicle had been repaired in 2011. I purchased the vehicle in Jan. 30, 2012 and drive it daily.
1997 Ford F-150: fuel leak
51 of the 2,746 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 describe fuel leak.
- owner complaints
- 51
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 132,000
- recalls
- 3
Fuel leak by model year
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. While the vehicle was parked, there was a strong odor of fuel coming from the vehicle. In addition, fuel leaked from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 258,000.
Had fuel tank strap recall done on 3/16/2015 on my 1997 ford f150. Picked truck up from dealer on 3/20/2015 and took it to my home and parked it by the house. I left my house with my other car for a couple of hours and when I returned home I could smell a strong odor a gas. Upon inspection of my truck I found gas leaking from the fuel tank at the location of the fuel tank straps. I contacted ford and they sad they are not going to do anything about it. My truck was fine when I took it in for the recall and now after the recall the tank is leaking because the old straps corroded and damaged the tank. Truck goes in for safety recall and comes back undrivable because of a fire safety issue ( leaking fuel tank ) how can this be acceptable or safe.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that the fuel tank straps fractured. Two years prior, the vehicle was serviced according to the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline). The dealer stated that the vehicle was no longer eligible for any repairs. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,000. Updated 11/20/14*lj the consumer stated there was gas leaking from the top of the gas tank. It was discovered that the rubber portion of the gas line connected to duct bill clip fitting rotted away. Updated 5/4/2015
The f150 fuel tank is prone to severe and dangerous rust at the base of the filler neck. So severe that it will rust through causing the fuel to spill profusely through the cracked neck. I am sure this is a design flaw because after checking the salvage yards to try and replace the part I discovered that it's not a removable part of the tank and that all the tanks I checked had the same cracked rusted area. Meaning that if the f150's are still on the road they will eventually suffer this dangerous fuel leakage.
1997 ford f-150. Consumer writes in concerning safety recall 11v385000 regarding fuel tanks *tgw the consumer stated the fuel tank straps were replaced on september 28, 2011. Prior to the replacement, the consumer did not have any problems fueling his tank. After the straps were replaced, he started having problems with fuel leaking on the ground after filling the tank. The consumer returned to the dealer. An inspection revealed a crack on the filler neck on the tank. The dealer stated they were not responsible as they only replaced the straps. The hose clamps, fuel tank and filler spout were rusted.
The dealer repaired the fuel straps under the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting), but the defective straps created a hole in the fuel tank and caused a fuel leak. Both the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but denied any assistance with repairs because the fuel tank was not included in the recall. The fuel tank was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileages were 81000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that the dealer repaired the fuel straps under the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting), but the defective straps created a hole in the fuel tank and caused a fuel leak. Both the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but denied any assistance with repairs because the fuel tank was not included in the recall. The fuel tank was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileages were 133,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that one of the fuel straps fractured from the fuel tank and caused the tank to hang abnormally from the vehicle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v385000 (fuel system gasoline: tank: assembly: mounting) and received repairs under the recall however, the fuel tank continued leaking fuel and the manufacturer refused to replaced the tank. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 246,000.
I own a 1997 ford f150 in which I noticed gas leaking as I would fill the tank. I first noticed it in july and it progressively got worse. I heard that ford was soon sending out a recall for replacing gas tank straps on vehicles such as mine. So I waited until a recall was sent to me before attempting to address a fix on the leak. When I took my f150 to the ford service mechanics in october, I was informed that it was the filler neck for the tank that was corroded and that this was not part of the recall. They could replace the straps, but one of the straps was by the skid plate and it would do no good to replace that one, as the skid plate was holding the tank, and the other strap was not in bad condition. I would have to pay for the replacement of the filler tank on my own without coverage from ford. And....by the way....the filler neck is no longer manufactured, so the ford service group would have to order another component and do some fabrication to replace my filler neck. I asked the service tech why my gas tank wasn't corroded, nor were the straps very corroded, buy my filler neck, which was up under the truck box body was the part that was corroded and leaking. This was clearly a safety hazard, but not covered as a defect by ford.the tech gave me his opinion that there was a design flaw for my particular model in relation to the wheel well, such that when driving through snow and salt, the tires would overspray snow and salt up under the wheel well and onto holding areas around the filler neck, in which, after time, salt corroded the metal and caused the corrosion and leaking. I believe that ford is at fault for this design issue and had created a safety hazard and should be held responsible for the replacement of the filler neck. I was told that I needed to fix the filler neck, that I should file a complaint, and that I should hold onto my receipts.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. While parked, the contact smelled an odor of fuel and noticed fuel leakage near the driver's side fuel tank strap, which was completely fractured. The fuel tank was damaged due to the faulty fuel tank straps. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting); however the contact stated that the fuel tank replacement should also be included in the recall. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unavailable.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The vehicle was included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number: 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting) and was repaired. After the repair, the contact noticed that fuel was leaking near the rear strap of the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the technician advised that the fuel tank was not covered under the recall. The contact stated that the corroded straps fractured was what caused the failure and the manufacturer should replace the fuel tank as well. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 113,628.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
- What is wrong
- Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year ford f-150, 2004 model year ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from june 20, 1995, through august 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, 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, and the district of columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle.
- Risk
- As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may fail allowing the fuel lines to separate from the tank, or in some cases, causing the tank to contact the ground. Either scenario may result in a fuel leak presenting a fire hazard.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a ford or lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers may install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 11s21
Recall number 11V385000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks manufactured at the kansas city or norfolk assembly plants. The front fuel line assembly could have a hole rubbed through in one of two locations. The first location is below the fuel rail connection where the flexible hose is crimped to the steel tube. The bracket that attaches the front fuel line to the transmission could have been bent during assembly. The second location is at the rear steel tube section forward of the rear bracket. During installation the rear steel tubes of the front fuel line assembly could have been bent downward. In vehicles equipped with a manual 4xz4 transfer case shifter, the shifter linkage may contact the steel tubes as it is being shifted between 4h, 4l, 2l and neutral.
- Risk
- This condition could result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect these lines and replace the front fuel line assembly if necessary. Owner notification began october 27, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.
Recall number 00V231000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. If the vehicle is overloaded, the rear leaf springs can be overstressed. A fatigue fracture of the spring can occur. The center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.
- Risk
- Fuel tank contact can damage the tank and result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rear springs and install an additional clip on the forward end of the rear springs to prevent fuel tank contact in the event of a leaf fracture. Any fractured springs will be replaced.
Recall number 98V161000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1997 Ford F-150 fuel leak
Is fuel leak a common problem on the 1997 Ford F-150?
51 of 2,746 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 (2%) mention fuel leak. The model year with the most reports is 1997.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1997 Ford F-150?
There are 3 recalls and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1997 Ford F-150
Fire or smoke 210Tire blowout 127Engine failure 121Adaptive cruise 118Knocking 81Overheating 71Ball joint 69Wipers 62No deployment 60ABS 53Brake failure 51Power steering loss 36Stalling 32Check engine light 31Grinding brakes 21Misfire 20Sudden acceleration 18Water leak 18Door locks 17Won't start 17Pulling 16Hesitation 14Won't shift 14Headlights 13Fuel smell 12Seat belt 12Airbag light 11Harsh shifting 11Transmission failure 11Coil spring 10Jerking 10Steering noise 10Steering lock-up 9Loss of power 8Premature wear 8Rollaway 5
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