1997 Ford F-150 complaints

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK

DT: WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER SAW A SPARK AND SOME SMOKE AND WHILE CONSUMER WAS AFTER A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES AND EXPLODED AND WAS TOTALED. DEALER GAVE CONSUMER A NUMBER TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL GET BACK WITH CONSUMER THROUGH A REPRESENTATIVE. *TT

DT: I OWN A FORD F150 AND I WAS HIT, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS HIT IN THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRONT FENDER SIDE. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED APPROX 48 HOURS, CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, FLAMES COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT

VEHICLE PARKED, HEARD LOUD BOOM, WITNESSED VEHICLE ON FIRE - CRUISE CONTROL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY

DT: 1997, FORD, F-150 WITH 5.4 TRITON MOTOR AND IT BLEW THE SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. *AK

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE IN TUCSON AND READ ON THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE A 1997 F150 PICKUP HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET GO BAD CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMPLAINT WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION OR SOMETHING THAT IS COINCIDENTAL. I HAD TO HAVE MY ENGINE REBUILT AND IT WAS UNDER 100,000 MILES. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE GASKET.

MY '97 FORD F150 4.2L V6 FAILED IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING IT. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION, I HEARD LOUD KNOCKING AND BANGING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I SHUT IT DOWN. I FOUND OIL POURING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE # 2 CONNECTING ROD WAS SHATTERED WHICH TOOK OUT THE OIL PAN, THE OIL PICK UP TUBE, AND BENT THE CRANK SHAFT. REMOVED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND FOUND COOLANT IN THE REAR PORT OF THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

LOW AMOUNTS OF COOLANT LOSS, KNOCKING IN ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE RUNS POORLY. HAD THE ENGINE LOOKED AT BY THREE MECHANICS, INCLUDING CASTRUCCI FORD IN MILFORD, AND THEY ALL INFORMED ME THAT THE RODS IN THE ENGINE ARE BAD BECAUSE COOLANT IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. DIAGNOSIS: NEW ENGINE REQUIRED.

I'VE NOTICED THAT COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO MY ENGINE (BURNING FROM THE EXHAUST) AND THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED, I COULD HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED IN 2001.

STARTED THE TRUCK ONE MORNING IT HAD A ROUGH IDLE BUT SEEMED TO SMOOTH OUT. DROVE IT OUT TO A JOBSITE AND PARKED IT FOR A COUPLE HOURS. STARTED IT AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT AND THERE WAS A BANGING AND KNOCKING SOUND. TURNED IT OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME I HAD THROWN A ROD.

PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 10:00 AND AT 10:30 THE ALARM SOUNDED. WENT TO LOOK AT VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. PICTURES POSTED AT HTTP://PLAZA.UFL.EDU/BETHIE21/. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED BEFORE THE FIRE, AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN EARLY JANUARY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. WE REPLACED THE FUSE AND IT BLEW AGAIN. WE REPLACED IT 3 TIMES AND IT STOPPED BLOWING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY STATE FARM POLICY NUMBER 8922531-59 4.*AK *NM

OUR 1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED THERE SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING, ABOUT 6:30 P.M. AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 P.M. THE NEXT DAY, OUR DOORBELL RANG, IT WAS THE MAIL LADY. MY HUSBAND ANSWERED THE DOOR,AND SHE ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW HIS TRUCK WAS ON FIRE? IT TOOK A COUPLE OF SECONDS FOR IT TO REGISTER, AND HE SAID WHAT? SHE REPEATED IT. MY HUSBAND HOLLERED AT ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE TRUCK'S ON FIRE. I GRABBED THE CORDLESS AND HEADED TOWARDS THE FRONT DOOR. JUST AS I WAS COMING OUT THE FRONT DOOR, MY HUSBAND SAID TURN THE WATER ON. HE ALREADY HAD THE GARDEN HOSE IN HIS HAND, PULLING IT TOWARDS THE TRUCK. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, BY SPRAYING ON TOP OF THE HOOD, UNDER THE HOOD, UNDER THE FRONT WHEEL WELL, AND INSIDE THE CAB UNDERNEATH THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HAD THIS FIRE OCCURED FIVE MINUTES LATER, MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IT, ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK THE LORD, HE WASN'T! THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE DONE TO OLD BLUE, SO WE'RE WAITING ON OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND AN INVESTIGATOR FROM FORD TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE ONLY FOUND OUT THIS MORNING ABOUT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENGINE FIRES ON F-150'S.

DT: CONSUMER PARKED TRUCK WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WHEN HE GOT BACK INTO TRUCK THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD START ONCE BUT NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR. IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE ENGINE WAS BARELY RUNNING AND MISSING. THERE WAS A SMELL OF SMOKE. TURNED ENGINE OFF DUE TO THE ODD SMELL. INSPECTED UNDER HOOD. THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE THAT EVIDENTLY BURNED OUT ITSELF. CRUISE CONTROL QUIT EARLIER. THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFRAID TO MOVE OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR ANYTHING FOR FEAR IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE AGAIN. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, NO RECALL ON THAT PARTICULAR MODEL, BUT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THOSE VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL. THE MOST FIRE DAMAGE WAS SEEN ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, SUSPECTED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID MAY HAVE HAD A HAND IN THE FIRE ALONG WITH THE SENSOR. WAS MISSING BRAKE FLUID UPON INSPECTION. *AK

ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS WE WERE PULLING UP TO OUR BACK GARAGE DOOR. WE OPENED THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK TO CHECK THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL. THAT AREA OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE! WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY PUT OUT THE FIRE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE BURNT (UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT THINK TO KEEP THE OLD PARTS). AS A SIDE NOTE, THE TECHNICIAN WORKING ON THE VEHICLE MENTIONED THAT FORD HAS A RECALL OUT FOR 2000 AND NEWER VEHICLES FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH - WHICH THEY HAVE DETERMINED IS THE CAUSE OF FIRES IN THESE MODELS. HE SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IN OUR VEHICLE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, THE VERY SAME PART THAT FORD HAS THE RECALL FOR. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THE REPAIR SHOP USED TO REPLACE THE BURNT UP ONE WAS OBTAINED FROM FORD AND IS THE VERY SAME PART THEY ARE USING IN THEIR RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR VEHICLE IS A 1997 FORD F150 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT FALLING WITHIN THE RECALL.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT A HOUR WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER HOSE. *AK THE FIRE STARTED AT THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP WORKING. *SC *JB

I HAVE 1997 FORD F150 4.2L PICK-UP THAT HAS THE "FAMOS" ANTI FREEZE INTERNAL LEAK THAT HAS RUINED MY MOTOR. I HAVE 56,000MI ON IT, AND FEEL FORD HAS SOLD MILLIONS OF THESE LEMONS AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT! IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR "US" WHO GOT SCREWED?

VEHICLE PARKED FOR APPROX 2 HOURS, COLD ENGINE, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DRIVER'S SIDE WHEELWELL UP THROUGH THE HOOD - FLAMES MOVED TO CAB - FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW FIRST

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 87,000 MILES ON IT. THE MOTOR IS A 4.2L V6. IT ALL BEGAN WHEN I NOTICED THE ANITFREEZE LEVEL SEEMED TO KEEP GOING DOWN EVEN AFTER I WOULD FILL THE COOLANT JUG TO THE PROPER LEVEL. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR SEEMED HARDER TO START AND THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO START MY TRUCK AND WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION THE MOTOR MADE A LOUD POP AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT EITHER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THE HEAD GASKET, OR THE TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET HAD FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER MY MOTOR. THIS CAUSED MY MOTOR TO COMPLETELY SEIZE UP. THE END RESULT IS THAT I NOW NEED A NEW MOTOR THAT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER $3,000. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE AND SINCE NO WARRANTY OR RECALL WAS IN EFFECT I WOULD RECEIVE NO REINBURSEMENT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD SINCE I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL WEB SITES SAYING THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL 4.2L V6 MOTORS. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE FORD PAY IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE OF POOR QUALITY.

DRIVING ALONG AT 40 MPH, SEVERE ROD KNOCKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF 4.2 MOTOR. ANTI FREEZE IN OIL PER TIMING CHAIN COVER, ACID ETCHED CRANK TO ROD BEARING. FORD REFUSED TO FIX-3000 MILES OVER WARRANTY. I PAID $1000 FOR XTENDED WARRANTY TO FIX. DEALER PUT IN NEW REBUILT 4.2, 35,000 MILES ON 2ND ENGINE WHEN ROD KNOCKING ON DRIVER SIDE OF ENGINE. ANTI FREEZE IN OIL, ACID ETCHED CRANK TO ROD BEARING AGAIN! TRUCK SITS IN BACK YARD, EXCELLENT CONDITION. $4000 TO PUT IN NEW ENGINE. FORD CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR TERRIBLE CRAFTSMANSHIP ON 4.2 ENGINE.

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WHERE SEAT BELT IN THE FRONT/PASSENGER VEHICLE WILL NOT CLASP ANY MORE. THERE IS NO DEBREE IN THE MECHANISMS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE SEAT BELT FROM CLASPING TOGETHER. HAVE REC'D ESTIMATE FOR $200+ TO FIX THE "ONE" SEAT BELT. CAN I TRUST THE OTHER 3 SEAT BELTS (ONE OF WHICH IS AROUND A BABY SEAT IN THE BACK). I CALLED THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE CONSUMER SERVICE LINE AT 800-392-3673 AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED CARSON. CARSON LOOKED UP WARRANTIES ON MY VEHICLE, WHICH I KIND OF FOUND COMICAL. ON A VEHICLE OF ALMOST 9 YEARS OLD, THERE DOES NOT EXIST A WARRANTY. HE ASKED IF I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND PROMPTLY LET HIM KNOW THAT THAT WOULD HAVE EXPIRED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND YES, I DID HAVE THAT. HE SAID THAT THE WARRANTY ON SEAT BELTS IS LISTED AS 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? ARE AIR BAGS THE SAME? I HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ON SEAT BELTS FOR THE FORD F150, ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. SHOULD THERE BE A FULL SCALE RECALL OF ALL FORD VEHICLES IN AND AROUND THE YEAR 1997 THAT INSTALLED THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF SEAT BELT? I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 SEAT BELTS (AND ONE BEING OVER THE BABY SEAT IN THE BACK) AND ABOUT ALL THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE IN DANGER OF THEIR SEAT BELTS JUST GIVING WAY DURING AN ACCIDENT. DONT' WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN AND KILL SOMEONE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO MY SEAT BELT, I WAS SHOCKED. THAT IS THE ONE PART OF THE CAR,

I PURCHASED A FORD F-150 IN JAN 97 WITH 4.2L V-6 ENGINE, I HAVE FOLLOWED THE SERVICES RELIGIOUSLY, ON OR AROUND JAN 2000 I TOOKED THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER IN PUERTO RICO BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT GASKETS TO BE REPLACED, I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ASCHEDULED AN APPMT. I TOOKED THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERD 4 DAYS LATER THEY CALL ME AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DONE. I WENT TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS NO WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT REPLACED THE GASKETS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT DID NOT NEEDED THE GASKETS REPLACED. CAME TO UNITED STATES SINCE I AM IN THE MILITARY IN FORT LEONARD WOOD. I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOSS IN COOLANT THIS CONCERNED ME AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP THEN IT STARTED LEAKING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET SO I REPLACED THE COVER THE GASKET AND THE WATER PUMP GASKET ONCE MORE COSTING ME AROUND $900.00. THEN THIS PAST WINTER ONE MORNING I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO MAKE THIS KNOKING KNOICE VERY LOUD KNOICE SO I TURNED OFF AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HERE IN ST ROBERT MO, DEALER SELLER SEXTON THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE AND THEN IS WHEN I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAS BROKEN A PISTON ROD BECAUSE COOLANT HAD GOTTEN IN THE OIL. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME AROUND $4,500.00 I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THOSE TYPE OF EXPENCES. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE GASKETS. I CONTACTED FORD FOR ASSISTA

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 97 FORD F150 AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND WIRING HARNESS AT THE SWITCH. ALSO IT BLEW A FUSE IN THE CIRCUIT THAT KEPT IT FROM BURNING FURTHER. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK BECAUSE THE ABS CIRCUIT WAS DISABLED. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT MATERIALS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE. AFTER WHICH FORD HAD RECALLED LATER MODEL PICK UPS. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND OTHER YEARS WERE AFFECTED ALSO. *JB

DT: IN OCTOBER OF 2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING NEAR THE CARBURETOR. *TT

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN 1997 FORD F150 4.2L V6 ENGINE 70899 MILES. ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. WHEN ENGINE STARTS RESULTING "HYDRO-LOCK" SHEARS OFF CONECTING ROD AND DESTROYS ENGINE.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE OF HIS SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. . THE CONSUMER STATED MAYBE IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE HE HEARD THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HEAD TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS 3300 DOLLARS. *JB *JB

DT: TURN SIGNALS HAVE NEVER FUNCTIONED RIGHT SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT. YOU HAVE TO JIGGLE THE TURN SIGNAL STOCK TO GET THEM TO BLINK. AND YOU HAVE TO HOLD THEM A CERTAIN POSITION BEFORE THEY BLINK. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. HAVE TALKED TO FORD AND THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST THE CONSUMER $800.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HAVE TALKED TO DEALER ALSO, AND THAT WAS NO HELP. *NM

1997 FORD F 150 PICK UP, 4X4 EXTENDED CAB DRIVER'S SEAT NYLON FABRIC IS WORN AND FRAYED. I CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SEAT BELT GET FRAYED AND WORN OUT IN SUCH A MANNER. I HAVE 18 YEARS AS A FIRE FIGHTER AND HAVE CUT DOZENS OF PEOPLE OUT OUT CARS AND NEVER COME ACROSS A WORN OUT SEAT BELT BEFORE. IF THIS BELT FAILS IN A CRASH IT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I WILL GET IT REPLACED BUT I THINKS THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT NOT OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILTY.

1997 FORD F150 SUFFERED FROM PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S GASKETS.*MR THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCKUP EITHER FROM COOLANT IN CYLINDER BORES OR CRANK BEARING FAILURE. AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD CAUSE SKID AND LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO COOLANT LEAKS OUT FRONT OF ENGINE ON GROUND AND TIRES WHEN GOING FORWARD. *BF *NM

UNDER HOOD FIRE ON A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. THE FIRE OCCURED ON MARCH 29, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM WHEN A NEIGHBOR CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO REPORT THAT OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE AND THEY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE ALREADY THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND COMING OUT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. MR. CARNES WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED HOWEVER, THE BULK OF THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. MR. CARNES SIMPLY PREVENTED ANY FURTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ANYTHING NEARBY. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THEIR FIRE IINVESTIGATOR HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. WE CONTACTED FORD THE SAME DAY AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT US IN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. TODAY IS 5/5/05 AND WE HAVE STILL NOT HEARD FROM FORD. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT THIS WILL PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM HAVE TO ENDURE THIS TRAUMA. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY THE CLAIM UNTIL THEY HEAR FROM FORD. WE WAIT IN LIMBO.

UNDER HOOD FIRE ON A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. THE FIRE OCCURED ON APRIL 29, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM WHEN A NEIGHBOR CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO REPORT THAT OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE AND THEY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE ALREADY THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND COMING OUT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. MR. CARNES WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED HOWEVER, THE BULK OF THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. MR. CARNES SIMPLY PREVENTED ANY FURTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ANYTHING NEARBY. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THEIR FIRE IINVESTIGATOR HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. WE CONTACTED FORD THE SAME DAY AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT US IN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. TODAY IS 5/5/05 AND WE HAVE STILL NOT HEARD FROM FORD. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT THIS WILL PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM HAVE TO ENDURE THIS TRAUMA. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY THE CLAIM UNTIL THEY HEAR FROM FORD. WE WAIT IN LIMBO.

WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL99B29 FOR A TIMING COVER/WATER PUMP GASKET ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 [XXX]. IN NOVEMBER 2004 I WAS LOSING COOLANT AND TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE GAVE ME AN EST. OF $1500.00. AT THAT TIME I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP FOR $800.00. I HAD JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FROM A CO-WORKER WHO ALSO HAS A VEHICLE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT SHOULD BE DUE REBURSTMENT OF THE REPAIRS FOR THAT FACT I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RE-CALL.THEIR RECORDS WILL SHOW THAT OTHER RECALLS I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT! *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1. PURCHASED FORD F-150, [XXX], WITH 4.2 L SIX AT 15,000 MILES AT SUN STATE FORD OF ORLANDO FL. 2. IN 2004, NOTICED UNEXPLAINED COOLANT LEAKS. 3. ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29, BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT KNOWN AT THAT TIME; FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS TRUCK, BUILT 03/97, IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29, INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. 4. ON 4/22/05 AT 66,713 MILES, LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER, LEADING TO A THROWN ROD AND ENGINE FAILURE. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7. 5. DEALER REFUSED TO HELP EXCEPT TO OFFER A REBUILT ENGINE FOR $4500; FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CALL CENTER RELATED THAT THE RECALL COVERED UP TO 12/31/96, AND THIS TRUCK WAS MADE 3/97. NO OFFER OF HELP NOR APPEAL THERE, EITHER. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

CONTACT STATES: SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF HEAD WHILE DRIVING, WAS GOING SLOW BUT CAUSED A JERKING OF THE VEHICLE-NO ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD EVER HAPPENED. NO REPAIR WORK OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS.*AK

PICK UP TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER THEN STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO DUE A CRUISE TO CONTROL SWITCH.

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND HALF TO ONE HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK *BF *NM

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED ON THE STREET. THIS OCCURRED 15 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY FOR A CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT COULDN'T DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF IT, JUST THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND OR WARM WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. *SC *JB

I PURCHASED A 1997 F150 ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005. TRUCK WAS SEEMINGLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I DROVE THE F150 TRUCK TO WORK AROUND 40 MILES ON TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2005, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE. ABOUT 2 HOURRS LATER I SAW SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED ON/NEAR THE BRAKE SYSTEM/BRAKE BOOSTER. WE PUT OUT THE FIRE WITHIN ABOUT 1 MINUTE FROM SEEING THE SMOKE. THE DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE DRIVER?S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING; BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR/BOOSTER, POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX/FUSE BOX, WIRING ALONG FIREWALL, HOOD AND PAINT, WINDSHIELD, WIPER MOTOR/WIPER, VENT BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD, DASH, INNER DRIVER?S SIDE FENDER. INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, OUTCOME PENDING.*AK

PARKED F-150 IN GARAGE. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER GOT A CALL TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. FIRE REPORT SAID UNDERHOOD FIRE. TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRING OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *SC *JB

ON MARCH 7TH AT 3 AM IN THE MORNING MY 1997 FORD F-150 BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 12 HOURS. I WAS AWOKEN BY TWO LOUD BOOMS AT 3 AM. I CHECKED MY HOUSE (BRAND NEW HOUSE 1.5 YEARS OLD) AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS NOTED. I OPENED THE DOOR LEADING FROM THE HOUSE TO THE GARAGE, THE F150 WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY HOUSE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE ENSUING FIRE.*AK

ON 03/09/2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:50 P.M. (TX TIME) MY NEIGHBOR INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND SHE HAD NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS A 1997 FORD F150 QUAD CAB (I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 08/12/2001 FROM A USED CAR LOT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARK FOR ONLY ABOUT 20 MINUTES, AS I HAD JUST COME HOME FROM WORK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. I DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR THE THE INCIDENT; THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY ALL THAT DAY. I PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE AROUND 11 A.M. ON THIS DATE AND CHECKED THE OIL AS WELL, TIRES, ETC.; AS FAR AS I COULD TELL EVERYTHING WAS OK. ON 03/24/2005 THE NBC NEWS AIRED A STORY CONCERNING THE FORD F150, INVESTIGATING A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL EMISSION WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE INAVERTANTLY CATCHING ON FIRE. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED (AND I DO HAVE PICTURES). MY CONCERN NOW IS THAT THE FINANCE COMPANY (UNITED AUTO CREDIT) IS EXPECTING TO RECEIVE CAR PAYMENTS AND ARE HARASSING ME AND MY HUSBAND DAILY. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CALLED ON 03/10/2005, I CONTRACTED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE SITUATION AS WELL, I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD COMPANY THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS IN MY VEHICLE AT ALL (WHICH ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORTS IS NOT TRUE). *AK *NM

I HAVE A 1997 F-150 IN WHICH I HAD TWO WHEELS RUST THROUGH SO THAT THE TIRES LEAKED AIR. THE OTHER TWO WHHEELS WERE EX ESSIVELY RUSTED AS WELL. THE ONLY SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE 4 WHEELS. I SAW NO RECALLS, SO I SUSPECT THIS IS A REGIONAL ISSUE ( SALT IN WINTER) AS I'VE SEEN OTHER 1997 F-150S WITH SIMILAR RUSTED WHEELS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURER RECALL.*AK

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OWNER WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE TORSION BAR. CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS HAVING A VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A HEAVIER SUSPENSION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE OWNER'S DRIVEWAY ALONG WITH 2 OTHER VEHICLES WHICH WERE BURNED ALONG WITH THE F-150 WHICH WAS ENGULFED BY FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER 5 HOURS BEFORE THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. *AK

WENT TO START TRUCK BEGAN KNOCKING FROM MOTOR UPON STARTING.MOTOR THROWN ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED.THIS 1997 F-150 ONLY HAD 93000 MILES NOT EVEN MECH.LIMIT WHAT A LEMON FORD BUILT HERE .*AK

WHILE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A FIRE STARTED FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1997 FORD F-150 WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 DAYS. THE HORN STARTED BLOWING, AND CONSUMER'S WIFE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. PUT WATER ON VEHICLE FROM HOSE, BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO STOP FIRE. CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE COMPANY CAME VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. ALSO, THE HOUSE ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING ABOUT 1 OR 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. CHECKED THE FUSES, AND THEY WERE FINE. ONE EVENING, BEFORE THE FIRE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. FOUND THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT THE PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED THAT SWITCH. THEN, FOUND A BRAKE LIGHT BULB OUT. REPLACED THAT BULB, AND VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BLINKED REAL FAST, AGAIN THE BULB WAS REPLACED. THIS TROUBLE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL WAS INTERMITTENT. REAR GLASS LEAKED, AND DOOR PANELS WERE CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. GEICO INSURANCE SENT AN ADJUSTER TO TAKE PICTURES. OWNER FELT CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK

UNDERHOOD FIRE ON 1997 F-150 POSSIBLE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. VEHICLE WAS SITTING WIT THE KDY OFF AND CAUGHT FIRE.*AK