The problem
Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year Ford f-150, 2004 model year Ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 Lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from June 20, 1995, through August 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals May cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle.
The risk
As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps May fail allowing the fuel lines to separate from the tank, or in some cases, causing the tank to contact the ground. Either scenario May result in a fuel leak presenting a fire hazard.
The fix
Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers May install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on September 16, 2011. Owners May contact Ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 11s21
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 11V-385 (11V385000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 11S21 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting |
| Report date | July 29, 2011 |
| Owners notified | September 12, 2011 |
| Vehicles affected | 1,100,000 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the fuel & propulsion system
- 1997 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 246
- 1998 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 201
- 1999 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 132
- 2000 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 152
- 2001 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 132
- 2002 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 86
- 2003 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 46
- 2004 Ford F-150 fuel system problems 74
- 1997 Ford F-250 fuel system problems 29
- 1998 Ford F-250 fuel system problems 6
- 1999 Ford F-250 fuel system problems 41
- 2002 Lincoln Blackwood fuel system problems 1
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 11V-385 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 1,100,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.