1997 Ford E-150 complaints

I DROPPED A ROD TODAY IN MY 1997 FORD-F150 WITH 77,000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SEEMS TO COME ON EVERY 1000 MILES. HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT I WOULD NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. MAYBE 1997 MODEL WAS A PROBLEM WITH FORD ACKNOWLEDGING PROBLEM. *NM

WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK ON MY 1997 E-150, GASOLINE BEGIN LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHERE THE FILLER TUBE AND TANK MEET, A TEAR HAD DEVELOPED IN THE RUBBER HOSE. THE REPAIR SHOP CONTACTED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ON ANY POSSIBLE RECALL INFORMATION. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, BUT THIS WAS A "COMMON" PROBLEM. THIS IS AND CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED FUEL TANK WITH CRACKS IN TWO PLACES. ALSO, FILLER WAS CRACKED. *AK

I TOOK MY 1997 FORD E150 CONVERSION VAN IN FOR SERVICE, WITH THE COMPLAINT OF THE STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE WORSE AFTER I FILL IT UP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IN HIS REPORT THAT THE TOP OF THE TANK WAS WET WITH GASOLINE AND HE SUSPECTS THAT IT IS CRACKED. HE ALSO TOLD ME A SEARCH CAME UP WITH A FORD RECALL FOR 1997 E150 VANS WITH THIS ISSUE. I CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL FOR MY VAN. I LOOKED ON YOUR WEB SITE AND FOUND RECALL #01V114000, WHICH SEEMS TO PERTAIN TO MY VAN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VAN, WITH GAS LEAKING AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TANK WOULD BE $400 + LABOR TO REPAIR. *JB WHAT NOW? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP SINCERELY, BRIAN HOLGATE. *JB

THE PARKING CABLE WAS DESIGNED TOO SHORT, AND WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. *JB

TEMPERATURE WAS STUCK ON COLD. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET TO MODERATE. *DT

AFTER CONSUMER FILLED THE VEHICLE FUEL TANK WITH GAS THEY SMELT GAS FUMES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD A LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

TREAD SEPARATION ON 2 TIRES WITHIN 1,000 MILES OF EACH OTHER. *AK

WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION CONSUMER SAW FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED. THERE IS RECALL O1V014000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED, DEALER DETERMINED THAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD MELTED ON ONE SIDE, AND MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED.*AK

GAS TANK IS LEAKING FLUID AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

EXHAUST IS SMOKING BAD, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TSB REGARDING THIS, TSB 99-20-7. *SLC

VEHICLE IS STALLING WHEN BACKING UP AND COMING TO A STOP. THIS BECAME PROGRESSIVLY WORSE. DEALER CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILLE PULLING OUT INTO THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS HOOKED UP TO A MONITORING DEVICE WHICH HAD DETECTED A FAULTY E DPFE SENSOR (PROBLEM STILL OCCURS, EVEN THREE WEEKS LATER). CONSUMER WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK (AUG 19TH). *SCC

WHILE HAVING TIRES REPLACED MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. *AK *JG

CABLE WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE FELL TO THE GROUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CABLE BROKE AT THE WELD JOINT. *SLC

CONSUMER STATED THE AFTER MARKET STEERING COLUMN EXTENSION DEVICE THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE THAT ASSISTS THE DRIVER IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT SAFE, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TAKEN OFF OF THE SPLINED SHAFT AND THE NEW PART IS PUT ON, IT DOES NOT HAVE A SPLINED CENTER TO FIT TIGHT ON THE SHAFT AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS HOLDING IT TOGETHER IS 2 SETS OF SCREWS, IF ONE OF THE SETS OF SCREWS WERE TO BECOME LOOSE, OR IF THE STEERING WHEEL WERE TURNED TOO HARD, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT OR VICE VERSA, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALUMINUM PART IS NO LONGER BEING USED BECAUSE IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE KIND OF STRESS THAT A STEERING WHEEL GOES THROUGH.*JB

TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. UPON TRYING TO REPLACE THE LIGHT FOUND OUT THAT HOUSING STRUCTURE FOR BULB HAD BEEN RECONSTRUCTED. CALLED DEALER. PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO HEAT: DUE TO PLASTIC DOOR BROKEN IN AIR PLENUM; POOR DESIGN BY THE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REPORTED. *AK

I WAS INFORMED BY A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC, THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICHLE IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE FORD 4.2L V-6 ENGINES. THE SEAL FOR THE INTAKE OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CRACKS AND CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS. A CYLINDER WILL EVANTUALLY CONTAIN SO MUCH COOLANT THAT ON START UP OF THE ENGINE THE PUSH ROD OR MAIN BEARING FOR THE PISTON WILL BREAK. THE REASON BEING, COOLANT CAN NOT COMBUST , CAUSING SO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE CYLINDER IT BREAKS EITHER THE PUSH ROD OR MAIN BEARING. I HAD ALSO TALKED TO OTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT MANY OF THE 4.2L V-6 ENGINES IN THESE VANS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO REVERSE, ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH T EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED IT ROLLS BACKWARDS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE BACKING UP INTO PARKING SPACE,WHEN I STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT GRAB. IT SEEMED LIKE THE VAN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I SQUEEZED BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD AND I HEARD ABS CLICKING. I STILL DIDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER.*AK

CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED GOODYEAR. CONSUMER RECEIVED A PARTIAL REBATE ON FOUR TIRES, P23575R15. CONSUMER FEELS THAT GOODYEAR SHOULD REIMBURSE ENTIRE AMOUNT. *AK TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA, GOODYEAR KEPT TIRES SO DOT NUMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE, GOODYEAR AGREED TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, SEPARATION OF SIDEWALLS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *SLC

THIS IS TO REPORT A CONTINUAL PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. I HAVE TALKED TO OVER 30 FORD VAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FRONT BRAKES DEVELOP AN INCURABLE "SHIMMY" AND PREMATURE WEAR CAUSING MINOR DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS AND ALSO EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR. IN MY CASE, REAR BRAKES WERE PREMATURELY WORN TO THE POINT THAT ABS ENGAGED AND CREATED FURTHER "PULSING". THIS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AS FORD PROBLEM WITH CALIPERS TO FORD PROBLEM WITH ABS ON LATE MODEL VANS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE POSSIBILITY OF A PROBLEM. FIVE BRAKE REPAIRS IN 30,000 MILES WOULD INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS AND IS ALSO DANGEROUS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE? *AK

COOLANT LEVEL DROPPED, CONSUMER FOUND TIMING COVER LEAKING, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK IN OIL.*AK *JB

DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES(DEALER INFO) PART IS INCORPORATED INTO NEW DESIGN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

HAD TURNED ON HEATER AND IT FAILED TO WORK. CAN HEAR CLICKING SOUNDS AS IF TRYING TO COME ON. ALSO, VENTS DO NOT OPEN OR CLOSE FOR HEAT.*AK

NOTIFIED BY AUFFENBERG FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT TIMING COVER SEAL ALLOWED MOISTURE INTO ENGINE BLOCK RESULTING IN BLOWN ENGINE. ADVISED BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM WITH THE 4.2 LITER ENGINES ON THE F-150 WHICH IS ALSO THE SAME ENGINE INSTALLED ON THE E-150 VAN SERIES. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VANS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE MAINTAINED AS WELL AS THIS ONE WAS WOULD DEVELOPE THIS TYPE OF A MAJOR PROBLEM AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. A SYNTHETIC BLEND WAS USED FOR THE OIL WHICH WAS CHANGED AT THE RECOMMENDED INTERVALS AND MONTHLY DURING THE WINTERS. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL SERVICE DEALERS IN THE AREA, I WAS LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF DEFECTIVE PARTS INSTALLED BY FORD MOTOR CO.. TWO OF THE LOCAL INDEPENDANT SERVICE CENTERS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM RECENTLY ON THE E-150'S WITH FORD DENYING ANY PROBLEMS. *AK

COIL SPRING FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE IDLE. *AK

ORIGINAL TIRES ON FORD, E150 1997, P23575R15. REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE GOODYEAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND TIRE BLEW UP, NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK DOT # PDHLTH4R476. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, SLOWING OR STOPPED FOR TRAFFIC , CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STALLING IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY IGNITION. NLM

TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF AT 55 MPH IN NEW ORLEANS, LA. TIRE REPLACED IN SLIDELL, LA. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VMILIXA TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

FAULTY ENGINE (NEW) REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTURED ENGINE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70-15 )

TREAD SEPERATING FROM TIRE IN CENTER. FIRESTONE INSPECTED TIRE, ADVISED PROBLEM, BUT NOT IN RECALL, DIFFERENT PLANT( DOT NUMBER: 8XHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER IS BLOWING HOT AIR, DUE TO A LOOSE HOSE THAT RUBS AGAINST THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE DRIVER SEAT IS BROKEN ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER CAUSING A ROCKING CHAIR EFFECT. *YH

TRIED TO STOP AND VEHICLE WENT THROUGH INTERSECTION. AFTER SEVERAL BRAKE ATTEMPTS THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE SITS IN RAIN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS ABOUT THE 10TH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO FIGHT WITH STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ABOUT 70MPH TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND GOT DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED FREE WHEELING. ABS LOCKED UP, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER.

VEHICLE HAS A VIBRATION PROBLEM, MOST NOTICABLE AT BETWEEN 58 AND 65 MPH. THE DEALER HAS MADE EIGHT ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 30 DAYS. I MET WITH A MANUFACTURE REP AT FLAGLER FORD WHO TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE ME BACK ALL OF THE MONEY PAID ON THIS VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR $700.00 FOR MILAGE USED PROVIDING I BOUGHT ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. DURING MY SEARCH I TEST DROVE THREE OTHER FORD VANS, ALL OF WHICH HAD SIMILAR VIBRATION PROBLEMS. I FINALLY FOUND ONE THAT I WAS WILLING TO ACCEPT, AND WHEN THE MANUFACTURERS REP WAS CONTACTED, SHE DID NOT LIVE UP TO HER COMMITTMENT. I AM NOW ASKING FOR ARBITRATION AND RELIEF UNDER THE LEMON LAW.

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD ON FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS FORM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT. NOW THE ABS ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY IN MY OPINION. ON WET OR SNOW COVERED ROADS AT 15 MPH OR LESS THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE VEHICLE. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO A FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT THE BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN WET OR SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME OUT? THANKS

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, ALSO, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AT 29,000 MILES ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS PREMATURLEY BLEW OUT, CAUSING COOLANT LEAK, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

ELECTRICAL DRIVERS SEAT IS NOT STABLE, WHEN ADJUSTING, IT SLIP OFF TRACK AND INTO THE LOWEST POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT END SUSPENSION DEFECT CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOOSE CONTROL WHEN TRAVELLING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES OR BUMBS IN THE ROAD AND CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR.

WHEN APPLYING FRONT BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATES, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.DEALER HAS TURNED ROTORS AND REPLACED PADS. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

MOTOR ACTS LIKE IT IS CHOKING AND WON'T TAKE GAS. IT SOMETIMES DIES AND HAVE TO RESTART. VEHICLE SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN AT INTERSECTION,CAUSING YOU TO STOP IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. BRAKES ARE NOT GOOD. WHEN APPLIED HARD THEY VIBRATE VERY BAD.

THE HEATER CASE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE HEATER DEFOGGER TO BE INOPERATIVE WHICH MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS. DLR REPLACE HEATER CASE. PROBLEM REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. QCAW

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A VEHICLE COLLISION.

BRAKES SQUEAL AND LOCK UP.

GROUND WIRE TO THE AIR BAG AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WAS CUT.