1997 Ford F-150 complaints

HOOD PRIMARY LATCH MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE. FORD WOULD NOT PAY RESTITUTION FOR THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THE PARKED IT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED LATER ON, IT EXPLODED. THE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER TRIED TO MAKE A RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT. VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A DITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO VERIFIED THAT THE STEERING ARM FELL OFF THE STEERING BOX. *AK

WHILE AT FORD DEALER HAVING STATE INSPECTION DONE, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUSGHT ON FIRE.

HORN STOPPED WORKING, KEEPS BLOWING FUSES. TRAILER TOW LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. DEALER REPORTS THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BAD AND REPLACED. ALSO FOUND A SHORT CIRCUIT AT THE STEERING COLUMN

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A V6 4.2 LITER MOTOR. LAST WEEK TO MY SURPRISE MY TRUCK STARTED KNOCKING. I FOUND THE REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET DESIGN BY FORD. I HAD CHECKED FOR RECALLS ON MY TRUCK MANY TIMES BEFORE, AND AS EARLY AS JANUARY, 2000 (WHEN I STILL HAD MY WARRANTY) I CHECKED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL, BUT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS PROBLEM LIKE MANY OTHER 1997-1998 4.2 LITER OWNERS. TODAY THIS LEAVES ME WITH A USELESS TRUCK THAT NEEDS AND $4000 ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I JUST FEEL THAT I SHOULD OF BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS DESIGN FLAW BEFORE IT HAPPENED, AND MY TRUCK SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WITH UNDER 100,000 MILES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *LA

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 3 HOURS WHEN A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT

ELECTRICAL LIGHTS/WINDOWS, AND LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO COME ON. CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION THIS WEEK. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY SEEMED TO BE DEAD. THE NEXT DAY THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DRIVER COULD HEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED WATER HAD SEEPED DOWN INTO THE CYLINDERS. *JB

JUST LIKE THE THREE OTHER PEOPLE I FOUND ON THIS SITE MY HUSBANDS F150 CAUGHT FIRE. WE HAD WENT TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE AND HAD BEEN PARK ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF WHEN THEY ANNOUCED THAT A TRUCK WAS ON FIRE! WE RAN OUT TO FIND IT WAS OURS. THE FIRE DEPT. SAID IT WAS AN ELECTICAL PROBLEM THAT STARTED THE FIRE. M.V. IN LA. *AK

MY 19'97 FORD F-150 HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE YESTERDAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER THIRTY MINUTES WHEN SOMEONE TOLD ME IT WAS ON FIRE. AFTER I PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. THEY SAID THE FIRE STARTED AROUND THE FUSE BOX AREA. I HAVE READ THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME FIRE I HAVE HAD.*AK

MY 1997 FORD F-150, WHICH HAS BEEN PRIMARILY DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HAS BEEN WELL-MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT IT'S LIFESPAN, JUST THREW A ROD AT 107,000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT THIS LOW MILEAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY COMPLAINTS ON RECORD REGARDING THIS AND THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE IT WITH FORD. *JB

FAILED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS IN FORD 4.2 LITER ENGINES. I THINK ENOUGH OF THESE HAVE FAILED TO REQUIRE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR OR REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED OR HAD TO REPLACE OUR ENGINES DUE TO THE FAILURE.*AK

I HAVE A FORD F150 TRUCK WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE. VIN # FTDX1725VKA71538 MY LEFT LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED. THIS ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THE DAMAGE IS DESCRIBED IN FORD'S TSB ARTICLE # 99-20-7.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR FIVE HOURS. *PH CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT CRUISE CONTROL, TAIL LIGHT FAILED. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNKNOWN, HOWEVER, CONSUMER HAD A TELL TALE INDICATION THAT CRUISE CONTROL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH COULD BE THE CAUSE. SINCE THE SWITCH WHEN IT CATCHES FIRE IT IGNITES THE BRAKE FLUID THUS CAUSING VEHICLE TO BURN. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INCIDENT. *LA

STEERING FAILURE: MY 1997 FORD F150 HAD A STEERING FAILURE. VIN:[XXX]. THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE POWER STEERING BOX. THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTION IS ALUMINUM AND THE GEAR ON THE POWER STEERING BOX IS STEEL. THE ALUMINUM WORE AND THE STEEL, NATURALLY DID NOT. BASIC ENGINEERING FAILURE. DESCRIBED EXACTLY IN RECALL NO. 03S02 A VERY THOROUGH SEARCH SHOWED NO RECALLS OR MAINTENANCE NOTICES. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A 1997, FORD F150 HAVE THE CONNECTION OF THE STEERING SHAFT TO THE POWER STEERING BOX CHECK IMMEDIATELY. I CANNOT IMAGINE A WORST FAILURE IN A VEHICLE. NO STEERING. *NM *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I AM SENDING IN A FULL LETTER TO EXPLAIN THE "FAILURES". IT CENTERS AROUND TSB 99B29 AND LACK OF OWNER NOTIFICATION OF A BAD FRONT COVER DESIGN THAT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH OCCURRED IN THIS CASE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD A TIE ROD FAILURE THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LATER BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, MY CRANK SHAFT PULLEY / DAMPENER ASSEMBLY FELL OFF WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING (70 MPH). THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING DOOR LOCK / KEY STICKING.*AK CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V196000 COMPONENT: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR. THE ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED. *TC THE SERPENTINE FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN AKWARD SHIFT, THE WIPERS OPERATED PERIODICALLY BY THEMSELVES ON HIGH SPEED, THERE WAS LITTLE HEAT COMING FROM THE VENTS THROUGH THE FLOOR. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RUBBER CAP CAME OFF THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. FIRESTONE. WILDERNESS, P235/70R16. *AK

REAR WINDOW OF 1997 F150 LEAKS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDOW, AND NEW UNIT LEAKS. PROBLEM SEEMS TO EXIST IN 1997-2003 F150'S.*AK

1997 FORD F150 IN ACCIDENT, FRONT COLLISION WITH ROAD SIGN AT 65 MPH, THEN ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDING ON ITS TOP. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN LEFT REAR TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE REAR LEAF SPRING POPPING OUT. DRIVER FELT LUCKY THAT HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INSTEAD OF A RIGHT TURN BECAUSE LEAF SPRING COULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE GAS TANK. *AK

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150. I RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I REPLACED IT WITH AN ENGINE FROM A 2000 MODEL. ONE YEAR LATER I'M HAVEING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE NEW ENGINE. WHILE RESOVLING THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING I LEARNED SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. IT SEEMS THAT TSB #99-20-7 WAS ISSUED BY FORD. IT DESCRIBES MY PROBLEMS IN DETAIL. I CAUGHT IT MUCH EARLIER THIS TIME AND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET BEFORE ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO MY 2000 ENGINE. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESONSIBILITY AND FIX THE ISSUES RELATED TO THEIR TSB #99-20-7. ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IS THE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE IS NOT WIDE SPREAD. THE ISSUE IS OFTEN MIS-DIAGNOSED AS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WHICH IS TWICE THE COST TO FIX. SO CONSUMERS ARE PAYING THE PRICE FOR FORDS COVER-UP. A WEB SITE IS SETUP WITH A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION REGADING THIS ISSUE. WWW.LEAKINGFORDS.COM. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE FRONT WHEELS. THE DRIVER FEELS LUCKY HE WASN'T DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR ON HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER SAYS, "TIE ROD ENDS ARE FAILING." PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

1997 F-150 REAR WINDOW LEAKING - TOOK IN TWICE DURING WARRANTY AND TOLD THEM ABOUT HEARING WATER IN TRUCK THEM CHECKED DRAIN IN DOOR AND SAID NOTHING WRONG - ONLY HAVE 62000 ON TRUCK SO I DID NOT DRIVE IT MUCH BUT NOW I FOUND WERE WATER WAS COMING IN THROUGH GASKET AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM AND DEALER SHIP ARE HAVING OUTSIDE VENDORS DOING WORK I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THEY KNEW THIS PROBLEM AND CHANGED DESIGN

I HAVE HAD THREE KELLY SAFARI TIRES,235-70-16,SPLIT IN THE SIDEWALL,THESE THREE TIRES HAVE SPLIT IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. *AK

FORD F-150 COMPLAINT ON 4.2L /V6 ENGINE. ENGINE HAD TOTAL FAILURE AT 69K DUE TO ENGINE COOLANT LEAK INTO MOTOR. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR GASKET PROBLEM NOTED IN OWNER NOTIFICATION BULLETINS AND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED BY FORD. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM DUE TO POORLY ENGINEERED FAULTY PARTS USED BY FORD IN THIS MOTOR. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ALL V6 F-150 OWNERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR DAMAGES BY FORD. I NEED TO PAY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

LIKE JB, WHO FILED AN EARLIER COMPLAINT MY 1997 FORD F-150 ALSO SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS OVER NIGHT. THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN RUN, WAS NOT HOT, AND HAD NO MALFUNCTIONING PARTS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I WAS AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF MY TRUCK'S HORN. THE FIRE BURNED THE ENGINE COMPLETELY, DESTROYED THE HOOD, CAB, AND THE ENTIRE OF THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT COULD BE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE MARSHAL INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF MALICIOUS INTENT OR VANDALISM. ACCORDING TO THE FIRE MARSHAL, THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ELECTRICAL RELAY JUNCTION BOX LOCATED OVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE. CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP ACCELERATION. *AK *MR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN ICY HILL, THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK. THE DRIVER HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE THROTTLE FROM STICKING. DRIVER LOST POWER BRAKES AND STEERING, BUT WAS ABLE TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. *AK *JB

UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG COOLANT ODOR. CONSUMER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TO TRACE FROM WHERE THE ODOR WAS COMING. CONSUMER, WHO WAS A MECHANIC, DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WITHOUT A RECALL OR PAYMENT.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 WITH 55000 MILES. ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH I HEARD A LOAD POP THE TRUCK THEN BEGAN POPPING AND MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. LOST POWER IMEDIATELY WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER WHICH FOUND THE SPARKPLUG BLOWN OUT AND REPLACED THE CYL HEAD AND NUMEROUS OTHER PARTS TO THE TUNE OF $4000.OO. AFTER SEARCHING THE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSIDENT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS ENGINE DEFECT AND THEY WERE UNINTERESTED IN MY PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED A FEW VEHICLES AND MOST I HAVE KEPT TILL WELL PAST 100,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD.*AK

UNDER HOOD FIRE AFTER VEHICLE PARKED FOR 6.5 HOURS. CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING ON 11/27/03 AND WAS NOT REPAIRED.

NOTICE ENGINE COOLANT EXTREMLY LOW ADDED 1+GALLONS NOTICED STILL LOOSING COOLANT. TOOK 1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L V6 AND ONLY 75,700 MILES ON ENGINE TO FORD DEALER FORD DEALER STATED "NO EXTERNAL LEAK FOUND AND CAN NOT FIND ANY POSSABLE INTERNAL LEAK. BUT NEED TO REPLACE INTAKE SET PART#F652-9433-C, EGR GASKET PART#F6AZ-90476-B, TIMMING GASKET PART#YF2Z-6020-AA, F. CRANK SEAL PART#F18Z-6701-A, W/P GASKET PART#F65Z-8507-BA, INTAKE BOLTS PART#N606526.5100 AND N605894.5309, T-BODY GASKET F75Z-9E936-AA, AND IMRC BUSHINGF5RZ-9F955-AB" APARENTLY FORD HAS AND HAS HAD A GASKET PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE DELT WITH.*AK

WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ALL 4 TRUCK WHEELS SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE DEALERSHIP IS CURRENTLY SERVICING THE TRUCK TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *NLM THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE. *NM

LOWER INTALKE MANIFOLD LEAK ON 1997 F-150 4.2L CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO SPEMD 3000.00 ON A NEW MOTOR.*AK

BREAK FAILURE FORD 1997 F150 VIN. [XXX]. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 45 MIN. BEFORE STARTING OUT, I DROVE TO A STOP SIGN (ABOUT 200 FT) WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED (10-15 MPH) NOTHING HAPPENED, I USED BOOTH FEET ON THE PETAL AND APPLIED ALL THE FORCE I COULD TO SLOW DOWN AND IT TOOK ABOUT 75 FT TO STOP. I WENT TO A SIDE STREET AND PARKED WITH ENGINE OFF, CHECKED THE BREAK FLUID IT WAS FULL. TOOK TRUCK TO NEAREST REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK OUT. TRUCK WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MIN. WITH ENGINE OFF WHEN MECHANIC STARTED IT AND TESTED BRAKES THEY WERE WORKING AT THAT TIME (ABS LIGHT WAS ON). TOOK TRUCK TO FORD DEALER IN OSCODA MICHIGAN ( ZUBEK AUTO SALES 511 STATE ST, OSCODA MI. 989-739-3261) AFTER CHECKING IT OUT THEY FOUND A BAD ABS SENSOR, THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHY I HAD NO BRAKES. BUT THEY HAD ANOTHER F150 IN THEIR SHOP THAT HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY HAVE HAD TECHNICIANS FROM FORD (DETROIT) LOOK AT THE TRUCK AND THEY DONT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE STUCK, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT A HIGH RATE. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS OF NO AVAIL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT ENGINE GASKET LEAKING CALLED DEALERSHIP ANY TELL ME THAT MY TRUCK WASNT A RECALL . BUT SEEMS TO ME THAT OTHER FORD TRUCK OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHIT THE FRONT ENGINE GASKET LEAKING. IT WILL COST ME ABOUT $700.00 TO REPAIR. HOPE THE FORD COMPANY DOES SOMETING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

FOIA REQUEST ANY RECORD RELATING TO FIRE RISK TO THE FORD F150 TRUCK WITH ENCLOSED VIN NUMBER, AS TO WHY IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN V-231, VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED BY FUEL SYSTEM FIRE. *PH (NAR) *CB *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK

RECENTLY MY 1997 FORD 150 4.2L STARTED CLATTER.. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER 4.2L EFI OWNERS FROM 1997-2001 THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE HAS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM OF SORTS.. I WAS WANDER IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS? IT IS GOING TO COST ME BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.. WHILE MY TRUCK HAD A BIT OVER 100,000 MILES I'VE MET AND SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MILEAGE WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. I'VE MAINTAINED THE TRUCK WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS.. DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENT, IS WAS USING 1QUART OF OIL PER 2,000 MILES WHICH SEEMED A BIT DISTRESSING. ARE THERE ANY PENDING CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST FORD MOTOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION AND IF SO WHERE CAN I BE INFORMED OF THE PROCESS? *LA

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE STUCK. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO DRIVE INTO A DITCH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1997 FORD F150 W/ 4.2L ENGINE. THE GASKETS FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING A BLOWN ENGINE. RECALL FOR FRONT COVER GASKET WAS COMPLETED AND I STILL HAD THE ENGINE FAILURE. TERRIBLE. 5000 DOLLARS FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *CB

"LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7." *CB

WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE THROTTLE BECAME STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A DITCH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

I STARTED UP MY 1997 FORD F-150 XL WITH A 4.2L V-6 AFTER WORK ONE DAY TO HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING. I OBSERVED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW HOWEVER THERE WAS NO MILKY LOOK TO THE ENGINE OIL. I RAN A COMPRESSION TEST ON MY ENGINE TO FIND THAT THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER 1 INDICATING THE CONNECTING ROD HAD BROKEN. I AM AWARE THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR A GASKET FAILURE HOWEVER IT HAS EXPIRED. *CB

REQUEST FOR ANY NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL OF FORD F-150, AND FIRES CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL LINE. *PH (NAR TRANSFERED TO EXE SEC FOR CONTROL) *CB *JB

WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONSUMER HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY F-150 TRUCK ON HIGHWAY S-22, WEST OF BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OVER TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME PUT OUT FLAMES IN THE CAB WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THEN THE CAB BURSED INTO FLAMES AND HE PULLED ME AWAY FROM THE TRUCK AND CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ON HIS RADIO. THOUGH THE TRUCK WAS TURNED OFF THE FIRE CONTINUED AND ENVELOPED THE TRUCK IN FLAMES, DESPITE THE WATER PUMPED ONTO IT FROM THE FIRE TRUCK. I LEARNED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR F-150 TRUCKS FOR A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE THAT COULD (NO DOUBT HAS) CAUSE FIRES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY CLAIMED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS MADE IN WAYNE AND ONLY F-150'S BUILT IN NORFOLK AND KANSAS CITY WERE INVOLVED. YET MY TRUCK BURNED TO A SHELL. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT THE FIRE WAS SUCKING FUEL FROM THE TANK EVEN THOUGH I HAD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, OBVIOUS THAT THE LEAKING FUEL HAD IGNITED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE FIRE GOT WELL-ADVANCED BEFORE I WAS EVEN AWARE OF IT AND WAS TOO BIG TO BE PUT OUT BY A HAND-HELD EXTINGUISHER. FORD HAS DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DISASTER TO ME. THEY CLAME THE CASE IS CLOSED. I REOPENED MY CASE AGAINST FORD IN DECEMBER, 2003 BECAUSE I LEARNED OF COMPUTER WEBSITES DEDICATED TO ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY DEFECTS IN MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLES. *AK

GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR.*AK