The contact owns a 1998 Ford F150 pickup truck. The contact was driving 5 mph when the fuel tank fractured from the vehicle and fell to the ground. The straps that were holding the fuel tank were corroded and rusted, causing the tank to fracture. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic shop where the contact was awaiting repairs. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 85,000.

- Rochester, NY, USA

My fuel tank straps are rusted out and falling off my truck allowing my fuel tank to be less secure.

- Toledo, OH, USA

I own a 1998 Ford F-150 4X4 and I am send this report after reading an article online that you were investigating the mounting strap's one the fuel tank. I wanted to report that I have had the same problem with mine. I was driving down the highway after filling up my truck when I started smelling gas fumes, I pulled over and upon inspection I found my fuel tank was almost on the ground the rear strap had broke due to rust. I had leaked raw fuel for about 6 miles and had lost about 1/4 of a tank. The tank falling resulted in the tank pulling away from the filling neck at the tank connection and stressed the fuel line connections. I have since fixed the problem at the cost of $45.61. I just wanted to report this problem. Thank you

- Tipton, MO, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford F150 pickup. The contact stated that while driving 5 mph the gasoline tank fell out of the vehicle. The straps that held the tank in place corroded causing the failure. The vehicle was temporarily repaired. The failure mileage was 224,000.

- Grand Haven, MI, USA

On Sunday October 24,2010 at 7:15 am on my way to church, heard something dragging under truck. Stopped to find fuel tank hanging from under truck both straps had rusted and broken. Dragging fuel tank caused hole in tank which was leaking into road. Local fire and police were dispatched luckily no one was hurt. Local haz-mat company was also call to clean up fuel spill. Updated 08/01/11 the consumer stated while driving, he heard something dragging from car. When he looked in the rear view mirror, he saw a fire trail behind the vehicle. He stopped the vehicle, got out and looked under the vehicle. He saw the fuel tank had dropped and the front portion was contacting the ground, with a hold in the front corner of the tank. The fire had extinguished by this time. Updated 08/22/11

- Lenoir, NC, USA

I have a 1998 Ford F-150 truck. My gas tank fell off of my truck as I was leaving my driveway, the strap holding it broke into. This is a safety issue and these parts should be made out of material that will not break. Updated 08/01/11 the consumer provided photos.

- Muncie, IN, USA

Gas tank straps broke from 1998, F-150. The gas tank fell to the street while driving down the road. I did not immediately realize this, but saw sparks in rear view mirror and pulled over. I had been dragging a leaking gas tank for several hundred yards. I could have blown up.

- Rochester, NY, USA

I recently read about straps supporting gas tank on my type vehicle rusting out. I checked my vehicle and found one of the straps supporting the gas tank had rusted out and has broken loose. It is presently in the process of being repaired.

- Middletown, NY, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford F150. While driving approximately 70 mph the fuel tank fell off of the vehicle. The contact stated the straps on the fuel tank were covered with rust. The contact stated that he had to call the fire department because gasoline was spilling onto the highway. The vehicle was towed to his home. The contact replaced the fuel tank, fuel line and straps. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 200,000 and the current mileage was 200,800.

- St Louis, MO, USA

Fuel tank mounting straps are failing due to rust and corrosion cause to possible fuel tank damage and loss. Tank not secure and wearing through tank it self because of rubbing resulting in holes in fuel tank. Explosion is possible !

- Norton, OH, USA

This is regarding a 1998 Ford F150. I was driving on a normal asphalt road, about 30mpg, just through an intersection. The front of the gas tank dropped suddenly. By the time I could safely pull over the road abraded a hole clean through the front bottom edge of the tank. It was raining heavily, otherwise I believe there would have been a fire. This left a trail of gas about 1/4 mile long on a busy road, and a large gasoline puddle that grew for 15 minutes after we stopped. We got away from the truck as fast as possible. We lost the full tank of gas and had to be towed to the dealership. The gas tank was replaced by the dealership at a cost of over $700. I do not have the original gas tank. The problem is that the front strap broke and dropped the tank without any warning signs. I just heard about the investigation, I'm only guessing about the date of the incident.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

The strap on my gas tank on my 1998 Ford F-150 XL has rusted apart from the weld and is hanging off.

- Macomb, IL, USA

Gas tank straps on 98 F150 rusted through. 1 of straps rusted off and tank was being held on by the other strap which was rusted almost through as well. Luckily I noticed the first strap rusted in half before the other gave way. I replaced the straps already however now my gas tank will also need to be replaced as it is also rusting out under where the rusted in half gas tank strap was and gas tank has fuel condensation on outside.

- Twin Lake, MI, USA

Gas tank straps rusted real bad and caused my gas tank to drop out from under the truck.

- Hermitage, PA, USA

1. noticed the front strap on gas tank had rusted through and tank was tipping down. 2. rear strap still intact but rusty. 3. replaced front strap, monitoring rear strap. 1998 Ford F150.

- Grand Rapids, MI, USA

My son was driving my truck and the gas tank dropped to the ground because the strap broke that was holding it up. We had to replace the tank because when it hit the ground it put a hole in it. Good thing my son was at a stop light and not driving. The tank was still full of gas and attached so he had to drive with the tank dragging a short distance to get the vehicle off the road. Gas was leaking all over the driveway and parking lot of a car dealership. Updated 08/01/11 the consumer stated both straps broken in the middle and both were corroded. Updated 08/02/11

- Grosse Ile, MI, USA

At approximately 165,000 miles I had the gas tank strap replaced on my 1998 Ford 150. I noticed that one strap was broken and took the truck in to have both straps replaced.

- Clinton, UT, USA

My son filled the gas tank on my 1998 F150 pickup truck with gasoline and drove a few blocks when the gas tank strap broke allowing the gas tank to fall down and drag on the pavement. It punctured the tank and fuel leaked out. Fortunately, he stopped right away and it did not spark to cause a fire or possible explosion. I had it towed in and a replacement gas tank and new straps are being installed. I have never lost a gas tank on any vehicle I have ever owned.

- Sterling, IL, USA

I have a 1998 Ford F150 pick up in well maintained condition with 165K miles. On a recent trip we were driving at a low speed (thank god) through port huron Michigan. Unknown to me, one of two metal straps that hold the fuel tank to the frame had corroded through. The entire weight of the gas tank was supported by one remaining strap. After fueling (3/4 tank), while approaching a traffic light, the last strap broke and the tank fell to the pavement. The grinding of the tank on the pavement rubbed a small hole in the tank and caused a minor leak. Because we were traveling so slow, we quickly pulled over and the damage was contained. With the help of a police officer, I raised the tank enough to get my car jack under it and then strapped it to the frame rails with a section of rope. The only thing holding the tank to the truck was the fuel line which was not severed so I was able to start it and I drove to nearby Ford dealer for repairs. This failure could have been a disaster if it had happened at highway speed. I was only one mile from getting on I94 when the tank fell down. Ford had no recalls for this issue and offered no compensation, even though there was no design detail to prevent the tank from falling to the road when the straps fail. This design was released in 1996 so many owners could soon experience the same corrosion failure that led to my incident. A serious fire or injuries could easily be prevented by stainless steel straps or a frame detail that prevents the tank from coming down to the pavement. The total repair including a new tank, straps, valve, sensor and line repair was $750.

- Commerce, MI, USA

While driving my 1998 Ford F150, the gas tank dropped out of place and I dragged it a couple of hundred feet before I could safely pull over. The metal straps supporting it rusted and broke. The mechanic replaced the tank and straps.

- Forest Hill, MD, USA