1997 Ford F-150 complaints

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOUR A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE AT WORK, APPROXAMATELY 1 1/2 HRS AFTER RETURNING FROM LUNCH. THE FIRE DEPTA\RTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE TRUCK. THEY DID FILE A REPORT. *AK

AFTER SITTING UNUSED FOR 2 DAYS, THE CRUISE CONTROLL SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT QUICKLY AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND PUTTING SODA ON THE SWITCH. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY NORMAL REPAIR SHOP FOR CORRECTION. IT WAS CORRECTED WITH A NEW SWITCH. I BELIVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ENTIRE COST.*AK

LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURING CAUSED BY RUST.*AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 6 HOURS CONSUMER NOTICES SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SWITCH ATTACHED TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WHICH WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

1. TICKING NOISE SIMILAR TO VALVE TRAIN NOISE. ENGINE SEEMED DIFFICULT TO START LAST USAGE DAY PRIOR TO FAILURE. 2. ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. ENGINE DETERMINED TO BE HYDRO-LOCKED. WON'T TURN OVER. 3. ENGINE REPLACED WITH REBUILT ENGINE. (GOOD DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM IS AVAILABLE FROM JASPER ENGINES AT HTTP://WWW.JASPERENGINES.COM/PDF/38_42_TB.PDF). A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-224.HTML

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND A NEIGHBOR BOUGHT THE FIRE TO CONSUMER'S ATTENTION. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OFTHE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

CAUGHT PROBLEM BEFORE TRAGEDY

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, CONSUMER CAME OUT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, AND SAW SMOKE, AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE OF THE 4.2L V6 IN A 1997 FORD F150 TRUCK. BROKEN ROD ON NUMBER 6 PISTON. THIS IS AN APPARENTLY KNOWN PROBLEM AND IS EFFECTING MANY VEHICLES. ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS EQUAL TO THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. ($4000.00)*JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 9 HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER A THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 2/28/2006 - THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT IT HAD STOPPED WORKING ON 2-18-05. *NM

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V0170000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR SOME 8 HOURS WHEN THE SMOKE DETECTOR WENT OFF. CONSUMERS IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE HOME, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED. THE HOME AND TWO VEHICLE WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE. *AK

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON IT'S OWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT. TEN MINUTES LATER,THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH STARTED THE FIRE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. *AK

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L ENGINE LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT, LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70 MPH OIL PUMP FAILED AT 89200 MILES CAUSING ENGINE TO THROW A ROD AND SPIN BEARINGS. THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK I PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED 4.2L ENGINE FROM FORD TO REPLACE THE FAILED ENGINE. LD ENGINE CORE WAS TURNED IN FOR CREDIT. *AK

'97 FORD F150 V6 4X4 4.2L, 2000 RECALL TO REPLACE MOTOR. REPLACED BY FORD. REPLACED WITH SAME PROBLEMATIC ENGINE. FORD KNOWING THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN SOLVED. ONLY 48,000 ML ON RECALLED ENGINE THAT WAS REPLACED. WITH ONLY 48,000 ML ON NEW ENGINE, LEADS TO MANAFOLD GASKET LEAKAGE, HEAD LEAKING AND THROWING A ROD. WHICH ALLOWED WATER IN THE OIL. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ASSIST IN CORRECTIONG THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. AT FAULT REPLACING A RECALLED ENGINE WITH SAME ENGINE KNOWING THE PROBLEM WOULD ARISE AGAIN. *AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BURNING VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE BEFORE THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK *SC *JB

ONCE THE ENGINE IS STARTED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR. THERE IS AN OVERRIDE PROCEDURE BUT IT IS INCONVENIENT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY TOLD ME FORD HAD PUT A STOP ON SUPPLYING THE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE SWITCH. SO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET THIS REPAIRED UNTIL FORD REPLACES THE PART WITH ONE NOT DEFECTIVE. AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION, THEY REMOVED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO AVOID FIRES AT OR AROUND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. HOWEVER, BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE PART AND DRIPPING. IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD TO REFILL THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TWICE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION UNLESS THE PART IS REPLACED. THE DELIMMA SEEMS TO BE FORD WILL NOT ALLOW THE PART TO BE REPLACED AND YET THEY DO NOT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE.

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE PARKING . LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. HOW THE FIRE GOT STARTED WAS NOT DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THE CONSUMER LEFT A VOICE MAIL TO THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

1997 FORD F-150 PICK UP. CAUGHT FIRE IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE. VEH HAD BEEN IN DRIVEWAY FOR OVER ONE HOUR. TOTALLY DISTROYED

FORD F150 4.2 V6 W/110K MILES FAILED IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING TWO DAYS AGO. AFTER TURNINIG THE IGNITION I HEARD LOUD KNOCKING AND BANGING COMINIG FROM THE ENGINE AND SHUT IT DOWN. I NEVER GOT A RECALL I HEAR THERE WERE TWO OF THEM. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. THE FAILURE IS PREVALENT AND CONSISTENT WITH NO OFFICIAL ADMITTANCE YET FROM FORD THAT I'VE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN EXPLAINED TO ME THEY UNDERSTOOD IT AS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT OF EXPECTATION. WHAT ELSE DOES IT TAKE? SO I ASK NHTSA FOR YOUR HELP PLEASE!!!!

WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE HOME. EIGHT HOURS LATER,THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH OUT THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK *SC *JB

TRUCK WOULD SUTTER AT STOPS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING WITH LOSS OF COOLANT.*AK

ENGINE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH SHORTED OUT, FLAMES APPEARED AND BURNT THE BRAKE BOOSTER.*AK

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK POSSIBLE DEFECT OF "TIE ROD ENDS". *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. *JB

WHILE PARKED FOR 30 MINUTES VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

MY TRUCK IS A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 140000 MILES LAST WEEK I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE AUTO SHOP BECAUSE I COULDNT FIND OUT WERE THE ANTIFREEZE WAS GOING I WAS TOLD THAT 4.2LITER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A HEAD GASKET WAS THIN AND-ANTIFREEZE LEAK IN MOTOR AND WASHING OUT BEARING. *AK

LUGS:NUTS CAME LOOSE ON BACK REAR TIRE.........HUB CAME LOOSE AND RUINED THE WHEEL PULLED IN DRIVEWAY AND HUB WAS JUST HANGING THERE WITH THE LOOSENED LUGNUTS.HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO AND HAD IT SUPPOSEDLY FIXED....TOOK TO FORD DEALER AND WAS CHARGES $500.00. *AK

PARKED VEHICLE AT 7:40 AM AND 10 MINUTES LATER A WITNESS SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. HAD NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL IN A VERY LONG TIME. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD SOMETIMES CLICK VERY FAST, INDICATING A BULB WAS OUT, BUT NO BULBS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR OR MORE. A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. NO AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT. VEHICLE WAS INSURED, BUT A CLAIM WAS NOT MADE DUE TO MINOR DAMAGE. MECHANIC, WHO REPAIRED VEHICLE, INDICATED THAT SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK

WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150, WITH A 4.2 LITER ENGINE, AND 82,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS I NOTICED A GRADUAL DECREASE IN THE COOLANT LEVEL, HOWEVER, I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE THE LEAK WAS OCCURRING. ALSO, FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE OCCURRENCE, I NOTICED THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK WHEN I WOULD START IT UP. IN OCTOBER OF 2004, AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK, I SAW WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE AND HEARD THE #1 PISTON RATTLING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OWNERS OF '96 THRU '98 MODEL FORD CARS AND TRUCKS, WITH 3.8L AND 4.2L ENGINES. I HAVE ALSO SEEN FORD TSB'S THAT PROVE THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS, THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKETS HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURE, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CRANKCASE. ALSO, THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS CAN FAIL, WHICH CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE #1 CYLINDER. WHEN AN ENGINE IS STARTED WITH WATER IN THE CYLINDER, THE PISTON ROD IS LIKELY TO BED OR BREAK. THE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PROBLEM, AS WELL AS THAT OF MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS. THE REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM IS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT, COSTING ABOUT $4,000. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT, LEAVING MANY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THEIR FAULTY ENGINES. I HAVE NOT HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED YET. *JB

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. CONSUMER REPLACED THIS SWITCH BACK IN MAY,2004. CURRENTLY, THE REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS BEGINNING TO LEAK AGAIN.*AK CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE MASTER CYLINDER SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AGAIN. *TT

ON NOVEMBER 23,2004 VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. CONSUMER HEARD A HORN BLOWING, WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND SAW VEHICLE BURNING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *TC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR 2-3 HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED.

FORD F150 1997 DEFECT GASKETS AND COOLING SYSTEM LEAKED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

IN FALL OF 2003, HAD COOLANT LEAK AT 60,000 MILES. COOLANT WAS POORING OUT OF FRONT OF MOTOR. FORD DEALER SAID IT NEEDED NEW FRONT ENGINE GASKET. THEY SPLIT THE $500 COST WITH ME. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER, THE TRUCK BEGAN KNOCKING LOUDLY. HAD NEW HEADERS PUT IN . . . DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NO HELP FROM FORD. VERY GOOD CARE IS GIVEN MY VEHICLES. THE TRUCK WAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED ON SCHEDULE, NEVER USED OFF ROAD OR FOR TOWING. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT A TRUCK TREATED LIKE A CAR WOULD HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS.

WHILE PARKED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATES TWO DAYS PRIOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

05V017000/FORD CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER 9 HOURS. THE NEXT MORNING THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. OWNER ALSO CONTACTED THE FORD MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD THE OWNER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DEFECTIVE GASKETS CAUSED COOLLENT TO LEAK INTO MY ENGINE - BENT THE ROD AND DAMAGED THE VALVE - REBUILT ENGINE -

CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BURNT. *AK

PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 7:30 PM AT 3:30 AM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE FUSE IN THE SHIFT INTERLOCK CIRCUIT BLEW 2 TIMES KEEPING THE CONSUMER FROM GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE CONSUMER DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL THEREFORE DOES NOT KNOW IF IT WAS WORKING. NOT INSURED. WILL E-MAIL PHOTOS. *NM

HAVE OWNED A 1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AND HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT IT HAS A THROWN ROD (SECOND TIME IN THE LAST 2 YEARS). *JB

THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ON THE ROAD TO 80 MPH WHILE IT WAS DOWN HILL. THE DRIVER HAD TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

I HAVE A 97 FORD F150 XL WITH A 4.2L 6CYL ENGINE. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SMALL LOSS OF COOLANT AND NEITHER FORD SERVICE TECHS NOR PRIVATE MACHANICS COULD EVER FIND THE LEAK. WELL IN JAN 2005 AFTER THE TRUCK SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS AND I STARTED THE TRUCK AND THE ENGINE BLEW. TOWED IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE DAMAGE. $4000 PLUS TO FIX IT. AFTER SERCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. I AM TRYING TO SELL THE TRUCK TO GET A LITTLE MONEY TO HELP BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HELP!*AK