Ford Motor Company will soon announce a massive recall of more than 1.1 million pickup trucks because of the risk that gas tanks on these trucks could detach and fall off, possibly creating an explosion hazard.
Documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirm that several F-150 pickup truck models from 1997 through 2003 model years, Heritage models from 2004, F-250 trucks from 1997 through 1999 and Lincoln Blackwood vehicles from 2002 and 2003 have been included in the recall. Only vehicles sold in some states, including Missouri, have been included in this recall.
According to the company, the problem lies with damaged straps that hold the gas tanks in place. In states like Missouri, authorities use a lot of deicing techniques, including the use of road salt, during winter months. Prolonged exposure to the road salt can cause corrosion of the straps, holding the gas tank to the vehicle.
The corroded straps can cause the gas tank to come loose, and drag on the road while the vehicle is in motion. The gas tank may even completely detach, and fall off on the ground. Sparks that are caused by the gas tank being dragged on the road, may even ignite causing an explosion. Gasoline can even leak from the tank, posing an even more serious explosion hazard.
If you are the owner of any of the Ford vehicles involved in this recall, contact your local Ford dealer for information about what to do next. Ford is likely to contact all consumers soon to tell them to take their vehicles to a dealer for repairs. The repairs will include replacing the fuel tank straps with new ones that come with increased corrosion protection.
Doug Horn is a Missouri product liability attorney, representing persons who have injured by the use of defective products, across Missouri.
