THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE FORD DEALER FOR A SAFETY RECALL PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING SYSTEM. THEY COULD NOT COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING FROM A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TANK HAD A PUNCTURE THAT WAS CAUSED BY SOME OBJECT THAT BOUNCED OFF THE ROAD. THE TANK IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAS NO SHIELD TO PROTECT IT FROM ROAD DEBRIS. HAD THIS BEEN A GASOLINE TANK INSTEAD OF DIESEL FUEL IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE EXPLODED WHEN THE OBJECT STRUCK THE TANK. THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND AT THE VERY LEAST A SHIELD SHOULD BE MOUNTED ON THE FRAME TO PROTECT THE TANK FROM BEING HIT BY FOREIGN OBJECTS.