Purchased a 2006 Ford Explorer on 5/6/06 and took a road trip to Alabama and on the way back around ocala, fl, we started smelling gas smell as we got out of the car and walked around it. We were always stopped at convenient stores, which have gas pumps and didn't think much of it. We did look under vehicle and didn't see anything. We kept driving South to come home and around tampa, fl.. the smell got a little more strong. Luckily we made it home w/out blowing up. Once we pulled in our driveway, the smell was really bad. My husband got his flashlight and looked under the vehicle and gas was dripping out pretty steady. It was midnight on Sunday and we new that the Ford dealership was closed at that time, so we went to bed and first thing Monday morning, we called the dealership and then the towing truck. They told us to get fire dept out here to drain gas. The fire dept came and used putty to stop leak so we could have truck towed. We had truck towed to the Ford dealership to be fixed and once they looked at it, we were told that it was our fault and they would not cover under warranty. They said we ran over something. We would have known if we ran over something and if we hit rocks or pebbles while going down interstate and it caused that, then Ford has some serious fuel tank issues. We ended up turning over to our insurance co and paid to get truck fixed, which is fine. When our insurance adjuster looked at trucks fuel tank, he made us aware that there was never a skid plate put on to protect fuel tank. Per dealership, this is optional and we were never told about it. Supposedly, the fuel tanks are built now where they do not require a skid plate unless it is a four wheel drive. My families safety was put at risk and nobody at Ford that we talked to seemed to care and I think this should be investigated a little further, which is why I am writing this and letting you all know.

- Lehigh Acres, FL, USA