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2014 FORD F-53 — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

firecrash2 injured · 1297782 · 2016-07-13

Vehicle

Make
FORD
Model
F-53
Year
2014
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Miles at failure
2,900
Speed
55 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
2
Fire
Yes
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
Yes

Narrative

AN ALMOST NEW 2014 NEWMAR BAY STAR 3303 MOTORHOME WITH A FORD V10 GASOLINE ENGINE ON A FORD CHASSIS. MY FAMILY AND I WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE ON OUR FIRST BIG FAMILY OUTING IN OUR NEW RV. AT THE LAST MINUTE WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE A GASOLINE ODOR WAS NOTICED. UPON VACATING THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE WAS SEEN DRIPPING FROM THE HOT EXHAUST PIPES UNDER THE RV. THE RV WAS SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO A FORD TRUCK GARAGE. FORD TECHS DISCOVERED GASOLINE UNDER PRESSURE WAS SQUIRTING ONTO THE ENGINE EXHAUST AND WITHIN MINUTES OF LEAVING ON OUR VACATION THE GAS FUMES WOULD HAVE IGNITED AND EXPLODED. THE FIRE WOULD NOW HAVE BE FUELED BY GAS FROM A MELTED HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC GASOLINE LINE. THEN, AS A RV WITH THE ENGINE LOCATED BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS, THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION WOULD HAVE PREVENTED ANYONE FROM EXITING THROUGH THE DOOR. THE GASOLINE FUELED FIRE AND EXPLOSION WOULD HAVE INJURED OR KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY. FORD HAS NO REPAIR FOR THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THEIR HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE FOR THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS FORD'S NYLON/PLASTIC FUEL LINE IS INSULATED WITH A SOY BASED FOAM AND/OR OTHER INGREDIENTS THAT ARE NATURALLY GOOD TASTING FOOD PRODUCTS FOR RODENTS/CRITTERS. AS A FOOD BASED PRODUCT, THE FOAM INSULATION AND PLASTIC LINES ATTRACT RODENTS/CRITTERS TO EAT THE FOAM AND FUEL LINE THUS DAMAGING THE PLASTIC LINE CREATING A DANGEROUS GASOLINE LEAK. ON DISCUSSIONS WITH FORD THEY HAVE NO CORRECTION FOR THE PROBLEM. FORD RECOMMENDS PLACING MOTHBALLS UNDER THE VEHIC

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10884460
Machine
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