TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR. ALSO, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE READING DROPPED TO EMPTY IN APPROXIMATELY FORTY FIVE SECONDS. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ROAD THEY HAD BEEN TRAVELING WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND BOTH STRAPS WERE MISSING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE STRAPS AND STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN GALLONS OF FUEL SPILLED OUT OF A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL TANK AND THE BOTH STRAPS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA11006 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF UPDATED 3/05/2012 *LN