1997 Ford F-150 complaints

GASKET FAILURE CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE CYLINDER ROD TO KNOCK AND THE ENGINE TO FAIL. MUST REPLACE THE ENGINE AS A RESULT. *AK

VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY FAILURE. CAUSED BY PIECE OF PLASTIC BREAKING OUT OF FILLER NECK. THEY WANT $300 TO REPLACE.*AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND POPPED HOOD TO INVESTIGATE. THE BACKFIRE CONTINUED UPON STARTING ENGINE. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. FORD HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THE ENTIRE ENGINE HEAD SHOULD BE REPLACED. $3400. FURTHER, I SAW THE SAME REPORT ON KARE 11 NEWS BY JANE SHORTAL. CHECK OUT KARE11.COM FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

COOLANT LEAKING IN TO CRANK CASE DUE TO DEFECTIVE GASKETS, PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.LEAKINGFORDS.COM/ FOR DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A SEVERE SHAKE IN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO COME LOOSE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR RIGHT FRAME BROKE ABOVE THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS.*AK

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 AND JUST HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT THE HEAD. I HAVE DONE A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS 5.4 WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB

RECALL 97V147000,TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THIS WAS DUE TO TA DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V196000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP SLAMMING IT. *JB

VEHICLE HAD A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE THAT RAN PARALLEL WITH THE GAS LINE WHICH HAD CORRODED AWAY. OWNER CALLED THE DEALER WHO WANTED TO CHARGE HIM $450.00. PLEASE PROVIDED FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT ELECTRICAL LIGHT,WINDOWS, AND LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION THIS WEEK. *AK THE A/C UNIT, DOME LIGHT, AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *SC

TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL.*AK

THE TRUCK HAS A ROD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET AND MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER. AT COLD START, THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE PISTON ROD TO BREAK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $5000. *NM

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND REAR BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE BRAKES WERE 60% DEFECTIVE. *AK THE DEALER LATER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S REAR ABS VALVE WAS STICKING. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING POWER. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

CRACK IN DRIVER'S DOOR AT CORNER OF WINDOW APPROX. 3/4 INCHES LONG.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED ANTIFREEZE INTO MOTOR AND RUIENED MOTOR. HAD TO HAVE MOTOR REPLACED.*AK

REAR WINDOW LEAKS WATER AROUND WINDOW SEAL.*AK

THE FUSE WHICH CONTROLLED THE ABS SWITCH ON AND OFF BURNED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE AND 25 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A LOT SMOKE COMING FROM THE ABS. *JB

THE PICK UP ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE PICK UP WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WILL INSPECT THE PICK UP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.*AK THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

FIRE ORIGINATED IN LR QUADRANT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. OWNER HAD PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY 15-30 MINUTES PRIOR TO FIRE. VEHICLE NOT RUNNING AT TIME OF FIRE. ORIGIN IS AT OR NEAR MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD 150 4.2 L V6 TRUCK . DO TO FORD USING A FALTY GASKETS TO BUILD THE ENGINE I HAVE EXPERIANCED ENGINE FAILURE. FORD IS NOT WILING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THEY RECALLED THE ENGINE FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DURING A SELF INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE 'SAND PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *AK *TS

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE THEN SEIZED UP. *JB

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 996754 WITH MY 1997 FORD F150 ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ONLY. EVEN THOUGH THE CRACK IS NOT YET VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR REMOVAL OF THE BELT MOULDING WILL MOST LIKELY REVEAL THE CRACK (FORD ENGINEERING DESIGN FAULT) IS PRESENT. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND EVEN THE THOUGH VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIRS TO FIX THEIR ENGINEERING PROBLEMS.*AK

FIRESTONE TIRE - 235/70 R16 WILDERNESS HT DOTW208IPT186. WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRE ONLY HAD 24000 MILES ON IT. *JB THE TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, FRAME BRACE AND MUFFLER BRACKET. *NM

AN EXPLOSION WOKE US UP AT APPROX 4:00 AM ON JULY 06. OUR 1997 FORD F150 PICK UP WAS ON FIRE AND DESTROYED A 2001 4 RUNNER, 2001 LARSON BOAT, CARPORT ETC.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 2 DAYS AND MOVED ONCE A VERY SHORT DISTABCE DURING THAT TIME. THE FIRE SEEMED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CRUSIE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND WE HAD TO REPLACE A FUSE BECUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. WE REPLACED THE FUSE 3 OR 4 TIMES. ON THE LAST TIME WE JUST PARKED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT DRIVE IT. THE ONLY ELECTRONIC AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT WAS A STEREO PROFFESIONALY INSTALLED A YEAR BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE DID NOT SPREAD TO THE HOUSE BUT DID SPREAD TO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR PORT, AND A BOAT. 35MM PHOTOGRAPHS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND WILL BE SENT TO BRUCE YORK. VEHICLE WAS INSURED LIABILITY ONLY.

FORD HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GASKET PROBLEM. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT PROVES OF THIS EXISTING PROBLEM WITH 1997 F-150 SERIES TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN AT NORRIS FORD FOR 3 MONTHS, THE BILL IS 4600.00 TO DATE. *AK

WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT, AND NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE TURN INWARD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH INNER TIRE RODS HAD POPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, ENGINE STEAMED A WHITE MIST. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. GENERAL, GRABBER ST, P235/70R16. THERE WAS APPROXIMATED 50,415 MILES ON THE TIRE. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING TO THE LEFT. STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING INTO CIRCLES. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF OVERDRIVE. OVERDRIVE WILL GO OUT ALL AT ONCE, LOOSING SPEED AND BECOMING A HAZARD IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. *AK

I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150 JUNE 11, 2001 FROM TWO RIVERS CHEVEROLET ON 2/04/02 A HOLE WAS PATCHED IN THE RADIATOR OF THE VEHICLE. ON 9/02/02 THE RADIATOR HAD ANOTHER HOLE IN IT AND THIS TIME HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON 9/27/02 THE HEATER CORE BEGAN LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICAL BACK TO THE RADIATOR SPECIALIST AND HE SUGGUESTED THAT THE VEHICAL MIGHT HAVE ELECTRYOLISIS, SAID TAKE THE VEHICALE TO THE FORD . I DID THEY REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND I HAD SUGGESTED TO THE SERVICE TECHNIAN THAT IT COULD HAVE ELECTROYLISIS. THE SERVICE TECH. SAID THAT, THAT WAS NOT VERY POSSIBLE. ON 12/03/02 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME FORD GARAGE FOR LEAKING OF ANTIFREEZE, THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON 3/10/03 I WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY AND THE HEATER CORE WENT AGAIN I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD GARAGE IN THE AREA THAT I WAS IN AND THEY REPLACE THE HEATER CORE AGAIN. ON 5/21/03 THE HEATER CORE WENT AGAIN AT THIS TIME I WAS IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY AND AT EVERY FORD GARAGE I WENT TO I TOLD THE STORY TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR. THE HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED. ON 10/29/03 THE HEATER CORE AGAIN FAILED AND I TOOK IT BACK THE SAME FORD GARAGE THAT I LAST HAD IT AT. AGAIN THEY REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND THIS TIME TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ELECTRYOLISIS IN THE VEHICALE. THEY REPLACE HEATER CORE. ON7/12/04 THE HEATER CORE WENT AGAIN I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME FORD GARAGE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULD R

COMPLAINT REGARDING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ON 1997 FORD F150. *MR *SC *JB

I OWN A 97 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.2L, V6. ON JULY 16, 2004, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO 2 MECHANICS AND BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER. AT COLD START, THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE PISTON ROD TO BEND. MECHANICS STATED THAT NEW ENGINE WOULD COST $3,000 - 3,500 TO REPLACE. *LA

MY 1997 F-150 THE DOME LIGHTS WONT GO OFF . I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 3 OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM

I HAD A TUNE-UP PERFORMED BY THE FIVE-STAR FORD DEALERSHIP IN NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS IN JULY 2001. ON JULY 3, 2004, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I LATER FOUND THAT THE #3 SPARKPLUG HAD BLOWN FREE FROM THE ENGINE AND HAD STRIPPED ALL THREADS FROM THE ALUMINUM HEAD. THE FORD DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE HEAD OR FOR DAMAGING THE HEAD BY IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE SPARKPLUG. *LA

FIRE IN 1997 FORD F-150. WITNESS SAW INITIAL FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVERS SIDE NEAR BULKHEAD. RECOVERED HEXPORT BODY BUT SWITCH CONTACTS MISSING. *LA

VEHICLE ENGINE EXPLODED AS CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. *MR A PROFESSIONAL EXPLAINED TO CONSUMER THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED. *LA

MAY 27TH, 2004, I DROVE MY FORD F150 PICK UP FROM A WORK SITE TO MY HOME ARRIVING AT ABOUT 9:40 P.M. I NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON, AND DOUBLE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE BRAKE WAS OFF. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND I THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK THAT OUT ON THE WEEKEND. THE TRUCK RAN NORMALLY ON THE RIDE HOME. I WENT TO SLEEP AND WAS AWAKENED BY OUR DOG'S BARKING AT 12:30 A.M. TO DISCOVER THAT THE FORD F150 PICK UP WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND BEGINNING TO SPREAD TO THE CAB. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY ARRIVED QUICKLY AND IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WITH THE HOSE FULLY ON THE FIRE TO PUT IT OUT. THERE WERE PERSONAL ITEMS LOST IN THE TRUCK, THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE, PAINT BUBBLED, PLANTS WERE KILLED, THE DRIVE WAY WAS STAINED AND DAMAGED, AND WE WERE ALL TRAUMATIZED.*AK

VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAS SEVERE MOTOR DAMAGE.*MR WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A TICKING SOUND WHICH DEVELOPED INTO A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. THE GAUGES SHOWED A RAPID LOST OF OIL AND A RISING TEMPERATURE, BUT NOT TO A CRITICAL LEVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN PISTON ROD THAT HAD EXITED THE MOTOR THROUGH THE OIL PAN. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED CONSUMER WAS READY TO SHIFT PARK PAIL INTO REVERSE AND BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD. DEALERSHIP SERVICED VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE. *AK

REAR SLIDING GLASS WINDOW LEAKING IN THE INSIDE TOP LEFT SECTION. TAKEN TO FORD DEALER WHO IN TURN SUBCONTRACTS OUT TO A LEAK SPECIALIST. I WAS INFORM BY THE SERVICE DESK THAT HE INFORM THEM THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW AT A COST ESTIMATE OF A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. I IN TURN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND OF COURSE MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 82,000 MILES. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD MOTOR CO. THAT THE DEALERS ARE FRANCHISED AND WHAT EVER POLICY THEY HAVE IN PLACE FORD CO. CAN'T CONTROL. *AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL ENGINE STARTED. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER DRAINED THE OIL PAN AND FOUND A HALF A CUP OF WATER BEFORE THE OIL CAME OUT. THE CONSUMER FOUND ON A WEB SIGHT THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH TWO GASKETS ON THE ENGINE. THE DEALER IS NOT CLAIMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *LA

LOCATION OF EXHAUST PIPE IS AFFECTING BRAKE EQUIPMENT. *MR DUE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE BEING PLACED IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE, THE HEAT DETERIORATES THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PANEL AFFECTING THE BRAKES AND SHATTERING THE CENTER WHEEL HUB. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER OF HAVING THE MUFFLER TAIL PIPE RE-ROUTED TO THE REAR OF THE TIRE AS SUBSEQUENT MODELS OF THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB