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NHTSA Expands Investigation into Ford F-150 Trucks for Fuel Tank Explosion Risks

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it is expanding its investigation into a potential fuel tank safety issue with the Ford F-150 trucks.  According to the agency, it is currently reviewing around 300 complaints from pickup truck owners that the fuel tank straps can corrode and fail.  In 243 of these instances, the tank dropped and was dragged, and in 95 cases, the tanks began leak fuel. At least two of the reports mentioned fires that broke out after these fuel straps failed.

The fuel tank straps are meant to hold the fuel tank in place, but when the straps corrode, they can drop the tank from its position.  The tank could possibly drag on the road, and could begin to leak.  This could cause an explosion or fire.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is investigating Ford F-150 pickup trucks of the 1997-2001 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that at least nine owners of the pickup trucks found their fuel tanks dropping below position, and being dragged along the road.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened its investigation into the Ford F-150 pickup trucks in September.  The investigation came after the agency received two complaints about strap failures.

According to the agency, there have been no reports of injuries caused from the strap failures.  However, when the fuel tank makes contact with the ground, the dragging action of the tank generates sparks, and could puncture the tank, leading to fuel leakage.  The sparks from the dragging tank could ignite the fuel, with devastating consequences.

Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalled Kia Spectra cars for similar tank safety issues.  The recall involves Kia Spectra sedans sold in certain parts of the country.  Kia Spectra sedans of 2004-2007 model year were included in the recall.  In the case of the Kia Spectra recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the straps that secured the fuel tanks could corrode after continuous and prolonged exposure to the elements.  This could cause the straps to fail and the tank to fall, possibly leading to explosions.

For Ford Motor Company, this investigation into the 4F-150 pickup trucks is the latest blow.  Earlier this year, Los Angeles defective product attorneys had warned about the recall of more than 1.2 million Ford F-150 trucks because of faulty airbag issues.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the faulty wiring in the airbags could cause the driver’s side front airbags to deploy suddenly and unexpectedly.  In the initial recall, Ford had recalled only about 150,000 pickup trucks.  The recall was expanded to more than 1.2 million trucks.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of fuel tank explosions. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire to discuss a personal injury matter,  you can reach us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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