1997 Ford F-150 complaints

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

THE VEHICLE WITH 4.2L ENGINE COMMENCED TO RUN ROUGH AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

PARKED TRUCK AT AROUND 11:00 PM AND AT AROUND 9:00 AM TWO DAYS LATER HEARD HONKING SOUND, TRUCK WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT. PRIOR TO FIRE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL. SPEAKERS WERE AFTER MARKET, AND WERE INSTALLED YEARS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE HOUSE ON THE ROOF. VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY FARMERS INSURANCE POLICY #1904033-16-53. FIRE INVESTIGATOR WAS JEFF ABRAMS 281-558-9396.*AK

I HAVE ONE OF THE F-150'S 1997 FORD TRUCK THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH NO ONE IN THE TRUCK AND ENGINE OFF. TOTAL LOSS; CONTACTED FORD WITH NO SATISFACTION FROM THEM; THEY COULD HAVE CARED LESS. TRUCK IS IN MY BACK YARD AND CAN E-MAIL YOU PICTURES; IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ME WITH THE CORRECT ADDRESS. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE FOR 3 1/2 HOURS. OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. *AK *TC

LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE OR COOLANT BOTH DOORS STARTING TO CRACK REAR SLIDING WINDOW LEAKING. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

FORD 1997 F150 ENGINE FAILURE - COULD BECOME VAPOR LOCKED CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

1997 FORD F-150 FRONT ENGINE GASKET IS CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN WHICH HAS DAMAGED THE BEARINGS. I NOW NEED A NEW ENGINE. FORD HAD A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1999 BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE RECALL NOW. THEY STATE THE RECALL TIME FRAME HAS EXPIRED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE NEIGHBOR CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK......NO MONEY PAID TO CONSUMER BY INSURANC ECOMPANY.VEHICLE STILL STORED IN STAFFORD COUNTY AN DIS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND ADDITIONAL PHOTOS.

120K MILES, ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT OCCASIONALLY, FORD DEALER AND LOCAL MECHANIC CAN FIND NO REASON, CRANKED CAR ONE MORNING AND IT THREW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN... ENGINE WAS RUNNING SMOOTH UP TO THIS POINT... FORD REPLACED A GASKET FOR ME OUT OF WARRENTY WHEN THE TRUCK STRANDED ME 1500 MILES FROM HOME...COOLANT HAD LEAKED ALL OVER PARKING LOT AT THAT TIME...NOW I FACE A $4,000 REPAIR...I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3-4000 MILES. *AK

THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN WHILE IT WAS PARKED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY OWNER.*AK

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK SAT FOR A DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE MELTED THE ENGINE COMPONENTS, DESTROYED THE ENTIRE HOOD, AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *AK

WHILE BRAKING THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF ON ITS OWN. DRIVER LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ABS BRAKING MODULAR. THIS CAUSED SPARKS FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. DRIVER WILL CONTACT A MECHANIC FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK ON SECOND CALL. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION ABOUT 1 YEAR PRIOR TO THIS COMPLAINT. ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO THE FUSE ON THE CIRCUIT CONTAINING THE SCDS BLEW. REPLACED FUSES ABOUT 2 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE FUSE LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. THE SECOND ONE DID NOT LAST LONG. THEN LEFT FUSE OUT. NEXT TIME WAS UNDER HOOD AND REPLACED FUSE SAW SPARK AT SCDS AND FUSE BLEW AGAIN. ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON ON THE DASH AND STAYING ON. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE SCDS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. THE CRUSIE CONTROL STILL WORKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER DISCONNECTING THE SCDS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

MY 1997 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY 15 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. I DROVE HOME (APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES) THE MORNING OF JANUARY 1, 2005 AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER 15 MINUTES MY TRUCK SECURITY ALARM SOUNDED AND I WENT OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK MAINLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY PUT THE FIRE OUT. MY MECHANIC, GEORGE WATSON, INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THE FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT FORD HAS IDENTIFIED AS A HAZARD IN THE 2000 F150 MODELS.*AK

MY FORD 1997 F-150 CAUGHT FIRE OUTSIDE A COFFEE SHOP. IT HAD BEEN OFF FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. SOMEONE CAME AROUND AND TOLD ME THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS REPORTED TO BE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND LED TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I HAVE NOT FIXED THE TRUCK YET. *AK

AN ENGINE ROD WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN UPON START-UP.*AK

PARKED FORD F 150 (1997) IN DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 9:30 P.M. NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL EXCEPT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD BEEN GLOWING AFTER THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED. APPROXIMATELY AT 11:30 P.M. WE WERE AWAKEN BY OUR DOG, AND FOUND THE F 150 ON FIRE. THE HOOD AREA WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAME AND FLAMES WERE REACHING 20 FEET IN THE AIR. F 150 WAS TOO DAMAGED TO FIND CAUSE, PER INSURANCE COMPANY. INSURANCE CLAIM PAID $10,000.00. DAMAGE CAUSED TO HOUSE, PAINT BUBBLED EXTENSIVELY ON WOODWORK, RAIN WATER DRAIN ALONG ROOF MELTED. A NUMBER OF ITEMS WERE LOST IN THE FIRE THAT WERE IN THE CAB. EMOTIONAL TRAUMA OF EVENT IMPACTED WHOLE FAMILY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCE. VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE HOOD MELTED, AS WELL AS THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHTON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

WHILE BEING PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL.*AK

AFTER BEING PARKED 45 MIN. MY 97 FORD F-150 WAS SEEN BY A FRIEND TO BE ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (THE SAME ONE USED ON 2000 AND 2001 MODELS THAT FORD IS VOLUNTARILTY RECALLING) WAS THE CULPRIT. THE TRUCK WAS EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY QUICK AND IT IS VERY EASY TO SEE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD QUIT WORKING PRIOR TO THIS FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF PARK.*AK VEHICLE WAS INSURED. BUT NOT REPORTED. PHOTOS WILL BE SENT TO BRUCE YORK.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM IT. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON FREEWAY CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION FROM ENGINE. WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR HE SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

GASKET LEAKED WATER INTO CRANKCASE OF MY 97 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2 ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN $4000.00. FORD KNOWS OF PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT COMPENSATE COST. THERE ARE A LOT OF ANGRY FORD OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY FORD TRUCK HAD ONLY 68000 MILES ON IT.*AK

TIE ROD BROKE AT A VERY GENTLY USED 40,000 MILES. *AK

WHEN USING THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER THE WHOLE LIGHTER GOT TOO HOT AND WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE DASH. IT BURNED THROUGH PLASTIC AND WIRE BURNED IN HALF. VERY DANGEROUS. THIS COULD HAVE BURNED UP THE WHOLE DASH. BURNED MY WIFE'S HAND AFTER IT WENT THROUGH THE HOLDER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK THE PART THAT WAS ON FIRE WAS THE DEACTACH SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CRUSE CONTROL. *SC *EH

THE CONSUMER ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WITH OUT WARNING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. AFTERWARDS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL.WHILE AT WORK ON 9-23-2004, AROUND 12:00 A.M., MY TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR EIGHT HOURS. IT WAS PARKED IN A GORE AREA ON I-70 WHERE WE WERE WORKING. THE FIREMEN SAID IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.*AK *TC

I HAVE AN 1997 F150 FORD TRUCK. IT WAS PARKED AT 5:30 BETWEEN 9:30-10:00PM IT CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO REASON. IN THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT IN THE WIRES THE HOT SPOT BEING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PARKED AT 5:45. AT 10:00 PM HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE THUNDER. NEIGHBOR CALLED AND INFORMED OF TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BURNED AND EXPLODED. THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE MORE INTENSE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE CAR PORT. HAVE PHOTOS AND WILL E-MAIL TO BRUCE YORK. PRIOR TO THE FIRE A FUSE HAD BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL BUT DO NOT KNOW IF IT WORKED THE MONTH BEFORE FIRE BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN USED. VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY STATE FARM. CLAIM #53E484047. CLAIM REP KELLY JACOBS. *JB

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING THROUGH THE ENGINE'S FRONT GASKET. LEAKING A JUG OF COOLANT EVERY TWO TO THREE HOURS. WILL COST ME OVER $700 TO FIX. CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX, SO I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC PROVIDED ME WITH A DOCUMENT FROM FORD ADVISING DEALERSHIPS THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED, BUT DIDN'T RECALL THE VEHICLE. GOT STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER AN HOUR IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER. LUCKY MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS NOT WITH ME. IF THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLE. *NM

FORD F 150 SAFETY ISSUE. *BF THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED ON 08/14/03 AND DIED BY 03/01/04. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ODOMETER STOPPED AT 69K MILES, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP, THE BRAKES WENT OUT DUE TO CALIPER PIN FALLING OUT AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER THE FLY WHEEL CONSUMED THREE STARTERS AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AGAIN. *SC *JB

RECALL 97V147000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE GEARS WOULD POP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP.*AK *TC

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THEN,FIRE INSPECTOR INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 2-2.5 HOURS WHEN OWNER HEARD LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE (PROBABLY LF TIRE BLOWING). WENT OUT AND FOUND TRUCK ON FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS STILL INTACT AT THAT TIME. HE DIDN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, SO DIDN'T KNOW IF IT QUIT WORKING OR NOT. #13 (SPEED CONTROL), #14, #24 AND #25 FUSES BLOWN. OWNER: KURT VANDERWEST (WHO OWNS A FIRE SPRINKLER COMPANY!), PHONE 714-521-5878 PHOTOS E-MAILED TO BRUCE YORK

CONSUMER SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. LATER, CONSUMER ENTERED THE VEHICLE. TURNED THE IGNITION ON, AND VEHICLE STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THEN, CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE , OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THERE WAS A FIRE INSIDE THE HOOD. THE DEFECT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL RELAY. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONSUMER.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES LEAKED FLUID. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER STARTED TO LEAK ON THE ABS WIRING AND STARTED THE FIRE. *SCC *JB.....*AK

THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH AND TIE ROD CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE REPORT LISTED THE CAUSE AS A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH STARTED IN THE ENGINE. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

MY ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET HAS FAILED IN LINE WITH FORD'S RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY LEAKING A GREAT DEAL OF COOLANT THROUGH THE FAILED FRONT COVER GASKET. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF HELPING ME OR FIXING MY TRUCK. *JB

COOLANT LEAK IN #4 CYLINDER. WHITE SMOKE FROM BURING COOLANT IN ENGINE. ROUGH IDLE AND HARD START UP. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. CURRENTLY AT FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE GASKETS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER'S HIT A FENCE POLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

ON THE 1997 FORD F-150 BOTH THE DRIVER DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR ARE COMMING APART, AND I HAVE SEEN THIS ON OTHER FORD F150'S OF THE SAME YEAR, ITS WERE THE DOOR MEETS THE WINDOW FRAME,. *AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V231000; FORD ISSUED A FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS EXPERIENCED FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V231000; FORD ISSUED A FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER WILL INFORM MANUFACTURER.*AK

BALL JOINTS. *JB

PICKED UP 1 YARD OF MULCH AND WAS UNLOADING, SMELLED BURNING RUBBER, AND SAW FLAMES IN WHEEL WELL. PUT OUT FIRE WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. OPENED HOOD, AND SAW FENDER BURNED, PLASTIC BRAKE NEAR MASTER CYLINDER BURNED, AND FUSE BOX AND WIRING BURNED. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS BAD WIRING. MECHANIC FELT IT INVOLVED THE BRAKES. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT WORKED FOR NEARLY SIX MONTHS BEFORE FIRE.*AK