Following an investigation by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ford Motor Company announced August 1st, 2011 they are recalling 1.1 million Ford/Lincoln trucks due to a defect in the fuel tank straps. The fuel tank straps may corrode over time and break, causing an accident and even vehicle fire. There have been 8 recorded cases of accidents related to fuel tank strap failure, several of which resulted in fire that consumed the entire vehicle. There has been 1 reported injury resulting from defective fuel tank straps.
The potential of a fuel tank strap failure is far more likely in regions which use de-icing agents on the roads during winter, or in environments where salt water corrosion is a particular concern. The recall requires dealerships to replace the factory straps with ones of higher corrosion resistance. The vehicles affected by the recall are: 1997 - 2004 Ford F-150, 1997 - 1999 Ford F-250, and 2002 - 2003 Lincoln Blackwood. Ford will be notifying owners of affected vehicles. Owners with concerns regarding the recall should contact their local Ford dealership.
Source: Ford Motor Company, ford.com