The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS. IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE SPRING CAN OCCUR. THE CENTER LEAF OF THE SPRING CAN FRACTURE AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SPRING SEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CONTACT THE FUEL TANK.
The risk
FUEL TANK CONTACT CAN DAMAGE THE TANK AND RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SPRINGS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP ON THE FORWARD END OF THE REAR SPRINGS TO PREVENT FUEL TANK CONTACT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAF FRACTURE. ANY FRACTURED SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 1997, 1998 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 1997 | 2,758 | 14 |
| Ford F-150 | 1998 | 1,381 | 8 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 1998
40 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 98V332000 23 Dec 1998 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 98V318000 14 Dec 1998 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 98V312000 7 Dec 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V302000 1 Dec 1998 | POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 98V294000 10 Nov 1998 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 98V289000 9 Nov 1998 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 98V287000 9 Nov 1998 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 98V269000 27 Oct 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998