The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is opening an investigation into 210,960 Ford vehicles following reports of diesel fuel leaks and risks of fire, reports Detroit Free Press.
Following NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation receiving 27 complaints on the issue–including 12 involving fires and a total of four injuries–it has launched a preliminary evaluation into Ford F-250, 350, 450, and 550 Super Duty vehicles from model years 2015 through 2021 with 6.7L diesel engines.
The issue stems from the secondary fuel filter, which may fracture. With it being near sources of high heat in the vehicle, the rupture presents the risk of fires and auto-ignition thermal events.
Following contact made with the filter’s manufacturer, Allevard Sogefi USA, NHTSA has said the secondary fuel filter is tested to run under pressure levels lower than what the vehicle’s fuel system is capable of.
