NHTSA complaint: 2017 FORD F-250 — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On Tuesday, [XXX], at approximately [XXX] PM, I was driving southbound on [XXX] near Coalinga, CA, when my truck suddenly experienced a failure. I noticed smoke in the side mirror and asked my passenger to confirm. Moments later, a "Low Fuel Pressure" message appeared on the dashboard, and smoke began coming from the hood. I immediately pulled over and attempted to pop the hood, at which point flames erupted from the engine bay. The fire quickly spread, fully engulfing the vehicle within minutes. Emergency responders, including Cal-Fire and CHP, arrived on the scene. The truck was towed by Cal-State Towing Service in Huron, CA. The Fire Captain on site provided an incident card, but the full fire report is expected to take at least a week to obtain. There were no prior indications of mechanical issues before this incident, and no recent repairs or modifications to the fuel system or engine. However, I recently became aware of an ongoing NHTSA investigation into fuel leaks and fire risks in Ford Super Duty trucks equipped with the 6.7L diesel engine (TFL Truck Report). The investigation highlights a potential issue with fractures in the secondary fuel filter housing, which could lead to fuel leaks and fire hazards. Given that my truck displayed a Low Fuel Pressure warning immediately before catching fire, I strongly suspect this failure may be related to the issue under investigation. The truck is currently in tow yard storage and is available for inspection upon request.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation