1997 Ford F-150 complaints

1997 F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (05S28) WHICH INDICATED THAT EH DEACTIVATION SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT AND RESULT IN A FIRE. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED PICTURES TO THE MANUFACTURER AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE STATING THAT THE TRUCK WAS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO DETERMINE WHAT ACTUALLY STARTED THE FIRE. *NM

97 FORD F-150 4.2, BLEW A ROD AND THEY TELL ME THAT IS GONE COST ME ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 60,800 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE COST WAS MORE THAN THE TRUCK WAS WORTH. I HAD THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP 3 YEARS AGO FOR A WATER LEAK THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALERSHIP ASK ME IF THE MILEAGE WAS RIGHT ON THE TRUCK. I TOLD THEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND THE COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

1997 FORD F150 4.2L V 6 ENGINE. ENGINE HYDROLOCKED. #4 CYLINDER FULL OF COOLANT BENDING CONNECTING ROD AND OTHER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. POOR GASKET DESIGN BY MANUFACTURER ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEECH INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET REGARDING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SAME TYPE FOR THE SAME ENGINE TYPE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. $4000 REPAIR COST TO AN ENGINE THAT HAS LESS THAN 75K MILES ON IT. *JB

1. LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT 2.ENGINE DAMAGE KNOCKING COOLANT IN COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, ENGINE KNOCKING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE FROM DEFECTIVE GASKETS, 3 .FORD WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM. *NM

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L 6 CYL ENGINE AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH COOLANT LEAKING AND WATER PUMP GASKET FAILURES AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL FORD TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS 90,000 MILES AND I AM PAYING $1200 DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED. FORD HAS ISSUES TSB'S ON THIS ISSUE SINCE 1999 AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO REIMBURSE OR PROTECT THE CONSUMER FROM THIS RECOGNIZED FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT MADE TO OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS CONDITION RECTIFIED. *JB

BENT OR BROKEN CONNECTING ROD, DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *JB

ENGINE FAILURE BAD GASKETS LEAKED COLANT INTO ENGINE THREW A ROD. *NM

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 PURCHASED IN 2000 FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. I NEVER RECEIVED THE ONP RECALL ABOUT A FAILURE IN THE FRONT COVER GASKET AND NOW I AM FACING COSTLY REPAIRS. FURTHERMORE THE REPAIRS WERE NEVER CONDUCTED ON MY VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE DESPITE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL. *NM

FIRE TO MY 3 DAYS PARKED FORD F-150 . LUCKILY WAS NOT PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE AND WAS IN MY GATED OUTSIDE PARKING. ONLY FRAME IS REMAINING....BAD...*NM

ON THE NIGHT OF JAN. 19, 2006,1:30 AM, WE WERE AWOKEN BY AN EXPLOSION. MY HUSBAND AND I JUMPED UP AND STARTING RUNNING TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR WINDOW AND REALIZED THAT OUR 1997 FORD F150 WAS INFLAMED. MY OTHER VEHICLE WAS PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK, MEANING THAT THE GAS TANK WAS ABOUT 1-2 FEET AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS CALLED 911 WHILE RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO PUT CLOTHES ON. MY HUSBAND WAS OUTSIDE WITH A WATER HOSE TRYING TO PUT A HUGE FIRE OUT. WHICH KNOWING IN MY MIND THAT ANY MOMENT WE COULD ALL BLOW UP. BY THIS TIME I HURRIED AND GOT MY 5 MONTH OLD BABY, AND MY OTHER 2 CHILDREN AND RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE. WHILE MY HUSBAND IS STILL TRYING TO HOLD A HUGE FIRE DOWN WITH A HOSE PIPE, I AM WATCHING THE TOP OF MY CARPORT BURN THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVES AND TAKES CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. (GREAT JOB MCFD YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED) AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT. I THANKED THE LORD FOR MY FAMILY LIVES. THE NEXT DAY I REALIZED THE DAMAGES WE HAD. FIRST,WE HAVE NO TRUCK, OUR CARPORT IS DAMAGED, AND OUR OTHER VEHICLE HAS SOME BURNED DAMAGES. APRX 2 WEEKS LATER FORD HAS GOT IN TOUCH WITH US AND HAS DENIED OUR CLAIM. THEY TOLD US THAT THE TRUCK WAS SO BURNED THAT THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THANK YOU FORD FOR OUR TIME IN NEED WHEN IT IS NOT OUR FAULT.....PEOPLE GET ON THE COMPUTER AND CHECK FOR RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLES AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE FORD IN NOT FESSING UP. SINCE THE FIRE WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OUR 1997 FORD EXPEDITION ALSO HAD THE SAME RECALL(SPEED CONT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UP TO 40 MPH THE ENGINE LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED. HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AT HIS EXPENSE. A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND PRODUCE STEAM. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 V-6 MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAD 70, 126 MILES WHEN IT SUFFERED HYDROLOCK. I DROVE THE TRUCK ON A WEDNESDAY, AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. FRIDAY EVENING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT, I THOUGHT THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD. I PULLED THE BATTERY OUT AND HAD IT TESTED, AND IT WAS OK. INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO START THE TRUCK, WHEN I HEARD AN UNUSUAL "KICK BACK." I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED, BUT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE SMOKE HAD A SWEET COOLANT SMELL. I PERFORMED SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HYDROLOCK PROBLEMS. I PULLED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE GASKET. I THEN PULLED THE LEFT SIDE HEAD AND FOUND THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD WAS BENT. I PULL THE MOTOR AND PERFORMED A COMPLETE REBUILD. *JB

1997 FORD F150 4.2L V-6 WHEN FIRST STARTING ENGINE COLD IT WOULD MISS BAD FOR UP TO 30 SECOND AND THEN WOULD CLEAR UP AND RUN FINE. STARTED LOOSING ANTIFREEZE WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE, EVENTUALLY ENGINE STEAMED FROM EXHAUST. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED TRUCK AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND I FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER AGAIN. UPON REMOVING THE ENGINE AND CHECKING THE CONNECTING RODS I FOUND THAT THE NUMBER 1 ROD WAS BENT AND THE BOTTOM OF THE PISTON WAS BROKEN OFF FROM IT HITTING THE CRANK SHAFT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENGINE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A RECALL LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED. THE NHTSA RECALL, #05V388000 ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SEED CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

BLOWN HEAD GASKET IN 1997 FORD 4.2L V6. *NM

LOSS OF COOLANT IN 4.2 L. V-6 ENGINE. FORD F-150 PICK-UP TRUCK.

THIS CONCERNS A 1997 F-150 FORD PICKUP WITH A 4.2 L 6 CYLINDER MOTOR. I'VE HAD TO ADD COOLANT TO IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND COULDN'T FIND A LEAK OR ANY IN THE OIL. FIVE DAYS AGO WHILE TRYING TO START IT THE MOTOR GAVE A LOUD BANG AND WHITE SMOKE BOILED OUT. NOW IT KNOCKS LIKE A BENT OR BROKEN ROD AND BLOWS WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I FOUND A WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET WHERE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WITH TRUCKS HAVING THE SAME MOTOR ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BETWEEN 76000-110000 MILES. MINE HAS 109,000 MILES AND FROM THE REPORTS, FORD IS TRYING TO PUT ALL OF THIS ON THE DEALERS AND THE DEALERS ARE JUST WANTING TO FIX THE MOTORS @ $600 -$4000 DOLLARS. THE PEOPLE WITH THE PROBLEM SAY THAT IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THEY WERE RECALLED, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED THAT RECALL. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A MOTOR THAT WAS FAULTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE THING.*AK

#3 SPAKPLUG BLEWOUT OF MY 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 5.4 LITER ENGINE. I HAVE YET TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM . *AK

NO KNOWN EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE. ENGINE MADE A LOUD EXPLODING NOISE AND STARTED POPPING AFTER EXPLOSION. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN SPARK PLUG AND THAT THE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST $1600.*AK

GASKET FAILED ON 4.2 LITER FORD ENGINE, CAUSING A ROD TO BREAK. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE GASKET RECALL IN 1999. IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3000 TO FIX. FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS JUST LIKE MINE OUT THERE.*AK

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V-6 ENGINE BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT BEGAN HAVING AN ERRATIC STARTING PROBLEM. IT THEN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I CHECKED THE COOLANT SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE GAUGES, AND EVERYTHING SHOWED TO BE FINE. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE WHITE SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THEN I WENT TO START IT THE OTHER MORNING AND IT TURNED OVER THE ROD IN THE #4 CYLINDER IS BENT DUE TO COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE, AND THINK THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! . THE TECH THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE F-150S HAVE HAD A TREND PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FOR YEARS; COOLANT WOULD LEAK INTO A CYLINDER CAUSING TOO MUCH COMPRESSION RESULTING IN A BENT OR BROKEN ROD. IT COST ME OVER $2000 FOR SOMETHING FORD KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. I SENT A LETTER (ATTACHED) TO FORD AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY TELLING ME IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THIS VEHICLE WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL BUT, BECAUSE OF AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE ENGINE FAILED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE AT HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15 . I FINED IT EXTREMELY UNFAIR THAT I AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF REPLACING A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *JB

I'LL HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 FOR NO REASON MY MOTOR BLEW A ROD I'LL READ IN THE INTERNET ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE MOTOR ARE DEFECT, ISN'T FORD DEALER DURING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT I'LL WENT TO WORK IN MY TRUCK CAME HOME FROM WORK, 3-HOURS LATER STARTED MY TRUCK THE ENGINE KNOCK CONTINUES TO BANG, I TURN IT OFF I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK BLEW A ROD. THIS IS VERY ON FAIR I CAN'T AFFORD A ANOTHER CAR. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS YOU. *NM

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD IN 4.2L V6 (FORD F150) FAILED (MELTED) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER RESULTING IN HYDRO-LOCK. THE PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD IN THAT CYLINDER WERE DAMAGED (PISTON SKIRT BROKEN, ROD BENT). SINCE THEN I HAVE LEARNED THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALMOST SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW ('97) AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT TO OWNERS EXCEPT WHERE THE GASKET FAILED DURING THE REGULAR WARRANTY PERIOD. AS I UNDERSTAND IT FAILURE IS INEVITABLE, AND EVEN SO FORD DID NOT MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT OWNERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IN MY CASE FORD'S REFUSAL TO PROVIDE A WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM TURNED A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE REPAIR (REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET) INTO OVER $1300 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT STEERING LINKAGE AND TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A SOLUTION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

I HAD PURCHASED A USED FOR F-150 FOR THE DEALER IT WENT THROUGH INSPECTION AND WAS WORKING VERY WELL. HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF USE IT STARTED TO LOOSE COOLANT, BUT DOT VISIBLY. IT WOULD RUN HOT , I WOULD ADD COOLANT AND CONTINUE. THEN IN APRIL OF 2005 THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD HYDROLOCKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. *NM

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V-6 ENGINE BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT BEGAN HAVING AN ERRATIC STARTING PROBLEM. IT THEN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I CHECKED THE COOLANT SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE GAUGES, AND EVERYTHING SHOWED TO BE FINE. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE WHITE SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THEN I WENT TO START IT THE OTHER MORNING AND IT TURNED OVER AND FIRED ONCE. THEN IT MADE A REAL LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. I CONTINUED TO WORK WITH IT, AND FINALLY GOT IT TO CRANK AGAIN, AND IT WAS KNOCKING. THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE OIL PAN. I PULLED THE ENGINE OUT, AND TOOK IT APART. THE ROD IN THE #4 CYLINDER IS BENT DUE TO COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE, AND THINK THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! *NM

LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALLY DUE TO KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN GASKETS. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL LEAKS, JUST DISAPPEARING COOLANT LEVELS AND CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER THE COOLANT WAS TOPPED OFF, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULDN'T START DUE TO HYDROLOCK. WHEN IT DID FINALLY START, THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD PINGING SOUND (SUCH AS A ROD KNOCK). I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GOING FURTHER INTO THE ENGINE TO ASSESS DAMAGE. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT TO THE MANUFACTURER AS THEY HAVE RELEASED A TSB TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE THIS IS ONLY SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC AFTER DAMAGE IS DONE. PLEASE HELP! *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGNS 05V388000 AND 98V007000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK

1997 F-150 4.2 ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO KNOWN (BY FORD) DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK IN TO ENGINE AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ([XXX] FAILED AT MY SON'S SCHOOL OVER 100 MILES FROM HOME. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT REALIZE THIS UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED. THERE ARE MANY FORD CUSTOMERS ANXIOUS FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO REQUIRE A RECALL TO HELP FINANCE THIS VERY EXPENSIVE (~$4,000) PROBLEM. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

LEAKING FRONT GASKET AND/OR INTAKE GASKET CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE ON A 1997 FORD PICKUP V6 4.2 . I WAS NOT ADVISE AT NO TIME OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND PAID FOR THE GASKET REPAIRS MYSELF. ONLY NOW AFTER A MAJOR FAILURE HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT THE FORD TSB 99-20-7 AND/OR ON P99B29 AND THE DEALER IS LEAVING ME STRANDED. I'M DISABLED, AND NEARLY BROKE. ALSO LATER IN THIS FORM I DON'T KNOW WHAT OEM IS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE WITH THE OFF SWITCH OR THE BRAKE PEDAL. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES HARD FOR APPROXIMATELY A MILE AND A HALF. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON THE ENGINE WAS IDLING HIGH. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A SERVICE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK

RECALL ON FORD TRUCK THAT I DID NOT RECIEVE, WHICH MY HAVE SAVED ME FROM GETTING A NEW ENGINE. RECALL#99B29. *NM

I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150 FROM A JACKSONVILLE RESIDENT IN DECEMBER OF 2004 ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I WENT OUT TO START IT AND HEARD LOUD BANGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED BY BELLOWS OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND, AFTER THE TECH CHECKED IT OUT, WAS IN FORMED THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. HE THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE F-150S HAVE HAD A TREND PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FOR YEARS; COOLANT WOULD LEAK INTO A CYLINDER CAUSING TOO MUCH COMPRESSION RESULTING IN A BENT OR BROKEN ROD. IT COST ME $4220.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FORD KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. I SENT A LETTER (ATTACHED) TO FORD AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY TELLING ME IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THIS VEHICLE WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL BUT, BECAUSE OF AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE ENGINE FAILED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE AT HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15 . I FINED IT EXTREMELY UNFAIR THAT I AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF REPLACING A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *NM

FAILURE OF SPARK PLUG ON F150 1997 4.6L. NO EXTRA CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT COST OF REPAIR OF A FEATURE THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE FAILED. *NM

1997 FORD F150 DEC. 7, 2005 - AIR CONDITIONING CONTINUED RUNNING WITH ENGINE OFF. DEC. 8, 2005 - ENGINE REPEATEDLY TRYING TO TURN OVER WITH TRUCK IN PARK WITH IGNITION OFF AND NO KEY IN IGNITION. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *JB

OUR 1997 FORD F150 BURNED DEC 5,2005. THE FIRE PROCEED TO OUR 1993 CHVY BLAZER PARKED IN FRONT OF IT AND THEN PROCEED TO OUR HOME. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AROUND END OF SEPT BEGINNING OF OCT. FOR THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THE RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY AND PARTS WOULD NOT BE IN UNTIL NOV. OUR CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, WE WERE NOT REAL CONCERNED AT THE TIME. WE RECEIVED A POSTCARD THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE, STILL STATING A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND NOW PARTS WERE NOT TO BE IN UNTIL FEBRUARY 2006. NO WHERE ON THESE RECALLS ARE THE DANGER OF A FIRE DISCUSSED. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATORY!! WE CAME HOME AROUND 7:00 PM AND THE FIRE STARTED AROUND 3:00 AM OUR BLAZER ONLY HAD LIABILITY AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BE COVERED. THE INSURANCE IS PROCESSING TWO CLAIMS ( 2 - $1000.00 DEDUCTIBLES) AND WE ALSO HAVE AN MEDICAL CLAIM FOR OUR DAUGHTER GOING IN FOR TOXIC SMOKE INHALATION. WE HAD 6 PAYMENTS TO GO, NOW WE WILL BE LUCKY TO PURCHASE ONE DECENT VEHICLE AND DEFINITELY NEED TWO, WE BOTH WORK! FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE CONSUMERS! I HAVE MY DOUBTS THAT WE WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. MY GRANDFATHER HAULED NEW CARS FOR FORD FOR YEARS, BUT I HAVE NO LOYALTY WHEN I FIND WEBSITES GALORE ABOUT THIS RECALL AND NOTHING IS HAPPENING. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER OR DIE BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF!! *JB

COOLANT LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. RESULTING IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPLACING THE ENTIRE MOTOR FOR WELL OVER $4,000. THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT MANY MORE. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH FOR FAULTY GASKETS IN 97 4.2L ENGINES. GO TO HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=10&PP=15 FOR MORE INFO. *JB

ENGINE FAILURE 4.2 F150 1997. 110,000 MILES FRONT GASKET REPLACED RECALL. NO LOST OF COOLANT UNTIL NOW. MORNING ENGINE MISSED FOR 15-20 SECONDS FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO FAILURE. DAY OF FAILURE ENGINE TURNED A SMALL AMOUNT AND WOULD NOT MOVE BY STARTER. ALLOWED TO SET AND STARTED LATER AND WHEN STARTED IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. ALL LUBRICANTS CHANGED REGULAR WITH SYNTHETICS. APPARENTLY A ROD BROKE WHEN COOLANT RAN INTO CYLINDER AND STARTING CAUSE THE ROD TO BEND AND STARTING LATER CAUSED THE BEND TO BREAK. *JB

INTAKE GASKET WENT OUT CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO PISTON AND WHEN TRUCK WAS CRANKED UP IT BENT ROD BROKE PISTON REPAIR BILL WAS $1685.00 SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOWN ABOUT THIS. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM JUST LOOK UP 1997 F150 INTAKE FORUM THANKS. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED ON COLD STARTS. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE BRAKES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECCURED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A V-6 4.2L ENGINE. THIS ENGINE RAN ROUGH AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WAS THEN SLOWED TO NORMAL CITY SPEEDS. THIS WAS INVESTIGATED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND EACH TIME. AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES THIS TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE SHOP WHICH SERVICED IT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT SPARK IN THE RIGHT HALF OF THE ENGINE, BUT CAME UP WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTIONS. I NOTICE THAT I WAS LOOSING COOLANT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND BLINK OCCASIONALLY. THIS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I TURNED ON THE ENGINE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND AN OBNOXIOUS CLATTERING. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED INTO A DEALER AT WHICH POINT I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH COST $4200. AFTER 55,000 MORE MILES I STARTED LOSING FLUID AGAIN AND EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND TOOK THE TRUCK INTO A DEALER WHICH FOUND NO TROUBLE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE A FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND NO HEAT WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON. ALSO, LOOSING FLUID WITH WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. FROM OTHER POSTINGS ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS I FOUND OUT THIS WAS A CLASSIC FAILURE FOR THE 4.2L V6 WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I SEEM TO BE ON THE VERGE OF ANOTHER BLOWN ENGINE. WHEN I CALLED A DEALER TO SCHEDULE A RETURN VISIT I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE TAURUS 3.8L WITH A LONG STROKE HENCE MAKING THE DISPLACEMENT 4.2 LITERS. ALSO, I WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE HAD THE SAME TROUBLE AND MANY HAVE T

1997 FORD F-150 I MADE A LEFT TURN ,STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL & THE PEDAL STAYED TO THE FLOOR. ABOUT 100 YARDS LATER I HIT HEAD ON INTO A GUIDE RAIL. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. *NM

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V-6 TRUCK STARTING KNOCKING THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE MOTOR. 60,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE HAS LOST ALL OIL PRESSURE AND IS KNOCKING TERRIBLY. I USED IT 2 DAYS AGO AND THIS MORNING IT'S BROKEN. HAPPENED WHILE SITTING UNDER THE CARPORT OVER NIGHT. PROBABLY THE ALL FAMILIAR LEAKING GASKETS THAT HAS PLAGUED EVERY 4.2L V-6 FORD OWNER. *JB

OUR 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS, SITTING IN OUR PARKING LOT, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 23, 2005. THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. UPON HEARING THE FIRE AND COMING OUT TO THE PARKING LOT TO INVESTIGATE, WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO OTHER CARS OR BUILDINGS CAUGHT ON FIRE, ALTHOUGH SOME NEARBY HOSES AND BOTTLES OF AUTOMOTIVE FLUID WERE DAMAGED. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 05V017000 ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT TO GET ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER FORD F150 HAD NO STEERING. *TS (11/16/05) THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMERS FOUND THAT A PIECE ON THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY THAT WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM HAD WORN OUT. *SC

FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 1997 FORD F150. *TS *JB

97 FORD F150 4.2 L ENGINE, NO GASKET RECALL NOTIFICATION, THROWN ROD DURING STARTUP JUST LIKE THE LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME FAILURE ON HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SOLUTION FOR CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE CRUISE WAS DISABLED AS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 05V017000. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD.*AK