1997 Ford F-150 complaints

DRIVING VEHICLE IT HARD SHIFTS FROM 1 - 2 AND SOMETIMES FROM 2 - 3 AT SPEED LESS THAN 30 MPH AND WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2 - 1, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DICK PARKER FORD DEALER AND HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED ON RECOMENDATIONS. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK AND ASKED FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM I STATED WAS NOT WHAT THE MECHANIC WAS LOOKING FOR. RESTATED THE PROBLEM AND TOOK THE MECHANIC FOR A TEST RIDE WHERE HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A HARD SHIFT. LEFT VEHICLE WITH MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD NO DIAGNOSTICS ERROR CODES WERE FOUND AND THAT I THE OWNER SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. (HAVE DEALER DOCUMENTATION STATING THIS). *AK

1/28/03 - HEATER CORE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. 11/29/03 - HEATER CORE FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. FORD DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR ANOTHER CORE BUT I DID HAVE TO PAY AGION FOR THE LABOR, $400.00. THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 11 MONTHS. *AK

THE TRUCK STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE POWER STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. THE STALLING OCCURRED MORE OFTEN IN WARM TEMPERATURES. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IDLE AIR INTAKE VALVE, WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *NM *MR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD THAT CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET THE TIRES ROTATED WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GAS TANK COULD HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED. *AK

ON A COLD START MY FORD F-150 BROKE A ROD DUE TO ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN FORD DEFECT IN WHICH FORD SENT OUT A TECHNICAL BULLETIN BUT WHO WILL NOT COVER THE $4,000 DOLLAR REPAIR.*AK

DURING AN OIL CHANGE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

FAILURE OF FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET ON 4.2L ENGINE IN 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK.*AK

WHILE BACKING UP HEARS A NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 15692 THAT DESCRIBES THE EXACT PROBLEM, A CONSTANT SNAPPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *PH

WHILE LEAVING A GAS STATION THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD CAME OUT OF IT'S SOCKET. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE CONSUMER REPAIRED THE TIE ROD. THE BALL JOINT WAS DRY AND RUSTED. THE BALL JOINT WAS WORN DUE TO NO GREASE. THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE IT OR TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT NEEDS TO BE LUBRICATED. *AK *NM

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TWICE ON IT'S OWN. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 20 MPH, THE DRIVER SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DISTANCE TRAVELED WAS ABOUT ONE CITY BLOCK. THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IT WAS AT 55 MPH WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVER AGAIN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, AND THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE DRIVER THEN PLACED HIS FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO PULL IT UP. *AK *SCC *JB

FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. MODEL "WILDERNESS", SIZE 23570R16, DOT-W2081PT176, TIRE MILEAGE 8,308 ON 11-07-03. CIRCUMSTANCES: WHILE ENTERING THE TOWN OF CLINTON, LA. AT 45MPH, HEARD LOUD SHARP THUD AND MY 1997 FORD, F150, IMMEDIATELY VEERED ACCROSS THE DIVIDED CENTER LANE TOWARD AN ON COMING LOGGING TRUCK. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED TO MY RIGHT AND STOPPED IN THE FRONT YARD OF HOUSE #12780. UPON EXITING VEHICLE DETERMINED THE SUBJECT LEFT REAR TIRE TRED HAD SEPERATED (ALTHOUGHT STILL ATTACHED TO TIRE) DAMAGED THE FENDER AND SCRATCHED THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE EXTENDING TO THE GAS CAP. THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN AUGUST 03. DURING A CONVERSATION WITH A FIRESTONE REP. MY TIRE DEALER WAS ADVISED THAT THIS PARTICULAR TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE 17TH WEEK OF 1996 AND I SHOULD REPLACE MY TIRES (TAYLOR'S AUTO REPAIR, FRANKLINTON, LA.) THE TIRE WAS SENT TO FIRESTONE WITH TWO EXTIMATES OF DAMAGE. FIRESTONE'S RESPONCE WAS THERE WAS NO MATERIAL DEFECT AND THE SEPERATION WAS A RESULT OF LOW TIRE PRESSURE THEREFOR THEY HAVE NO INTEREST IN MY CLAIM, OR RESPONSIBILITY. THE SUBJECT"NEW TIRE "WAS MADE BEFORE MY VEHICLE CAME OFF THE ASSEMBLEY LINE. THE TIRE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT FIRESTONE AWAITING ANY DIRECTION FROM FOR RETURN (21 DAYS FROM THEIR LETTER OF 11-20-03) I HAVE ALSO TAKEN PHOTO"S OF THE SUBJECT TIRE & DAMAGE. IS THIS AGENCY INTERESTED IN VIEWING THE TIRE? IF SO, PLEASE ADVISE MAILING ASAP. THANKYOU, RIJ. *AK

WHILE ON A TRIP TRAVELING THROUGH TENNESSEE ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN PASS IN HEAVY RAIN LATE AT NIGH THE REAR TIRE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL WHILE CROSSING THREE LANES OF HEAVY TRACTOR TRAILER TRAFFIC. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE TIRE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INNER CASING SEPARATED FROM THE OUTER CASING. THERE WAS STILL PLENTY OF TREAD ON THE TIRE WHICH DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BLOW OUT IN ANY WAY. TWO TENNESSEE STATE POLICE OFFICERS AGREED THAT CASING SEPARATION APPEARED TO BE THE CAUSE. *AK

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. *NLM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM., ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING ON A WET OR SLICK SURFACE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ABS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT WOULD NOT ABSORB THE COST.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE, WHICH JUST TURNED OVER 81,000 MILES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO A "T", CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, (WHICH I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR) TRYING TO MAKE IT LAST AS LONG AS POSIBLE. IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS THE TRUCK WILL BE 7 YEARS OLD AND STILL LOOKS AS GOOD AS IT DID THE DAY I DROVE IT OF THE LOT. YESTERDAY MORNING, I STARTED UP MY TRUCK AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS COMING APART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT FIRING ON TWO OF THE CYLINDERS, THAT ONE OF THEM WAS ONLY FIRING AT AROUND 40%, AND THAT A VALVE WAS KNOCKING. TECHNICALLY, THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DENIED ANY EXISTING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PATICULAR ENGINE . I READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT WERE CONSISTANT WITH MINE AND WISH THAT SOMEONE WOULD EXPLAIN WHY FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAD ALL THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON SCHEDULE BY FORD DEALERSHIPS. I AM SO DISTRAUGHT ABOUT THIS THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AND WILL ADVISE ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE SAME.*AK

UPON REVERSING OUT OF AN ALLEY AT 5 MILES INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING GEAR. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT ONTO THE SIDEWALK.*AK

THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDOW LEAKS, CAUSING WATER TO DRIP INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WINDOW AND THE TRACK NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

EMAIL FM JOEY GANSZ (AR) INQUIRING IF THERE IS ENOUGH INFORMATION & COMPLAINTS TO REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THE ENGINE GASKET ON THE 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAULTY GASKET WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB 99-20-7) WAS ISSUED. *NLM *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 THAT IS DEVELOPING A CRACK IN THE DOOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT THE LOWER REAR CORNER OF THE WINDOW, APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY MAKE MY VEHICLE LESS SAFE IN A SIDE COLLISION. *LA

ON NOV. 5TH I PARKED MY 1997 F150 TRUCK AT WORK AT 7:00AM. BETWEEN 10:30 AND 11:00 I GET A CALL THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PUTTING A FIRE OUT UNDER NEATH MY TRUCKS HOOD. IT TOOK 4 HOURS AFTER THE TRUCK WAS PARKED TO START A FIRE. IF IT WASN'T FOR ME PARKING CLOSE TO A GUARDS STATION IT WOULD OF BEEN WORSE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD OF HAPPENED AFTER I PARKED IN MY GARAGE AT HOME WHICH WOULD OF PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. AFTER THIS FIRE I CALLED THE FORD HEADQUARTERS AND MADE A COMPLAINT. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET UNDER 1997 BRAKE MASTER CLLINDER FIRES BECAUSE THATS WHERE THE FIRE FIGHTERS SAID IT STARTED AND I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND NUMEROUS ARTICLES ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES AT 45 MPH BRAKES FAILED. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AND A GRIND NOISE WAS HEARD. SOMEHOW, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER. *AK

1997 FORD PICKUP DLERARM,PITTMAN ARM, TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT-FROZEN-CREAKING: LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN; WE ALREADY REPLACED BRAKES,THE PISTONS FROZE CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD AND PISTONS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK WHY DID THIS HAPPEN WITH ONLY 34,152 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IS FORD USING POOR QUALITY PRODUCTS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE THIS EXPENSE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE.

UPON STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A TAPPING NOISE. THEN THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE PISTON CONNECTING ROD SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. *TS *SCC *JB

WHEN DRIVING IN ANY STANDING WATER TIRES SLID WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK

GENERAL AMERI 550 AS TIRE BLEW OUT 18 AUG ON 1997 FORD F-150 REAR PASSENGER SIDE ON OPEN ROAD AT ROUGHLY 22,500 MILE. SECOND TIRE BLEW OUT YESTERDAY, 19 SEPT., ON OPEN ROAD AT ROUGHLY 23,820 MILES ON SAME TRUCK AND SAME REAR PASSENGER LOCATION. THIRD TIRE USED AS REPLACEMENT FOR BLOWN TIRE FOUND TO HAVE BULGE APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AFTER 2D BLOWOUT. AGAIN, SAME WHEEL LOCATION ON SAME TRUCK. TIRES ARE ALL GENERAL TIRE AMERI 550 AS AND ORIGINAL TIRES ON TRUCK. TRUCK NOW HAS 23,921 TOTAL MILES. TRUCK HAD NO LOAD WHEN TIRES BLEW. *LA

EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND STUDS ARE CORRODEING AND WARPING. 1997 4.6 ENGINE. FORD F-150. SHOP WHERE I HAD SERVICE DONE REPORTS THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITHIN A WEEKS TIME. COULD THERE BE A PROBLEM HERE? MANIFOLDS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO CORRODE LIKE THIS. *LA

WHEN ACCELERATING TO 40 MPH, THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING TO VIBRATE. *AK NEW ROTORS AND BRAKE SHOES HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE TIRES WERE CHANGED. THE VIBRATION CONTINUED BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE ROTORS, BUT REPACKED THE BEARINGS. *SCC *JB *JB

VEHICLE HAD COOLANT LEAK INTO CYLINDER #3 CAUSING RINGS TO COLLAPSE AND LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER. THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE A REBUILD ON THE ENGINE THAT HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. *LA

HEAT SHIELDS LOOSE ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. TWO CLAMPS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. I HAD THIS FIXED 2 YEARS, PREVIOUSLY. I WAS CHARGED $70.50 FOR THIS TO BE CORRECTED AGAIN. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY OF THE CLAMPS THAT ARE BEING USED BY FORD. *LA

BROKEN HOOD RELEASE. MANY OTHER PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR '97 & '98 F150'S. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS FOR FORD SUV'S, WHY NOT THE F150? I WAS CHARGED $173.46 FOR THIS TO BE CORRECTED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT HE HAD JUST HAD ANOTHER LATCH FAILURE PRIOR TO MY CALL TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT. *LA

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED FROM THE GEAR, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. RELATED RECALL 03V196000, BUT MANUFACTURER ADVISES THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURING DATE FALLS WITHIN THE RANGE SPECIFIED.*AK *PH *NLM

PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ON 1997 FORD F150. *MR THERE WAS A LOUD TAPPING NOISE WHICH HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, BUT LESS THAN 25K MILES LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *SCC *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE TRUCK'S MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN MAINTAINED THE ENTIRE TIME SINCE I HAD IT. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED NOR HAS IT EVER PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN USED FOR HAULING. WE HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO MY TRUCK OVER THE PAST YEARS. THE TRUCK HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. IT HAS RUN POORLY, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON MANY TIMES. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO FORD FOR SERVICE, AND WE HAVE PERMITTED ALL OF THE REPAIRS THAT FORD HAS RECOMMENDED. IN APRIL, I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN TO WOODY ANDERSON FOR SERVICE... $1100 LATER, THE TRUCK STILL FALTERED WHEN STARTING, AND CONTINUED TO RUN "ROUGH". THE SERVICE TECH AT WOODY ANDERSON TOLD ME THAT TRUCKS RUN ROUGH. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO SEARS, AND THEY SAID HER BATTERY WAS BAD, SO WE HAD IT REPLACED. THE TRUCK STILL RAN ROUGH AND DID NOT START PROPERLY. LAST FRIDAY (3 OCTOBER 2003) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN! ON SUNDAY, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY TRUCK ... AND THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIFIC SOUND. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF IMMEDIATELY, AND HAD IT TOWED TO WOODY ANDERSON ON MONDAY MORNING. NOW I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS "FALLEN APART," AND WOODY ANDERSON WANTS $4000 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE! I FEEL THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. OUR RECORDS SHOW THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR PART IN KEEPING THE TRUCK'S MAINTENANCE CURRENT. IT WAS OUR EXPECTATION AND BELIEF THAT FORD WOULD DO THEIR PART AND SERVICE OUR VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE FACT THAT THE CH

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND COULDN'T FIX THE ENGINE LIGHT. *AK

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L V-6 MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 68,000 (ORIGINAL) MILES WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AT COLD START THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS CAUSED PISTONS/ROD TO BREAK AND ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN LOUD KNOCKING AND POURING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. THE COST TO REBUILD THE MOTOR (FROM FORD) WAS $3500.00. WHEN MY MECHANIC CALLED TO ORDER THE REBUILT ENGINE FROM FORD, HE WAS TOLD THEY HAD JUST PLACED AN ORDER FOR 50 IDENTICAL ENGINES. THEY ALSO TOLD HIM THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THESE ENGINES ALL THE TIME. IT'S A SHAME THAT FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND TRY TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH ABOUT THIS VERY UNFORTUNATE PROBLEM THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT. *LA

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES. THE OTHER THREE TIRES ALSO CONTAINED CRACKS AT THE SAME PLACED WHERE THE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED FUEL LEAKED FROM THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FILLER TUBE WAS RUSTED AT THE TANK 360 DEGREES AROUND AND 100% THROUGH.*AK *JB

CYLINDER #2 PISTON OF 97 F150 TRUCK BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF ALUMINIUM HEAD. THIS HAS APPARENTLY BEEN A PROBLEM OF FORD VEH. NOW ON 2004 FORD TRUCKS THEY USE CAST IRON HEADS. I REPAIRED MY TRUCK MYSELF WITH A HELI COIL BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORDS RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PUT THIS IN THE PILE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE........ I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AGAIN.........THIS INCIDENT OCCURED IN DEC 2000 WITH ONLY 54,000 MILES. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE ON THERE WAY BACK HOME TO DALLAS FROM AMARILLO, TX. (CHANGED CONSUMER INFO PER 10/25/05 CONSUMER CALL - C. ROSE)

"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."

VEHICLE'S METAL WHEEL RIMS HOLD WATER AFTER IT RAINS.*MR THE RIMS WERE DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWED THEM TO RETAIN WATER AFTER IT RAINED OR CAME IN CONTACT WITH STANDING WATER. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE RIMS TO CORRODE AND RESULTED IN SEPARATION OF THE RIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. *NLM

CONSUMER FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. VEHICLE CROSSED OVER ONE LANE, BUMPER CAUGHT ON EMBANKMENT, AND ROLLED OVER STARTING WITH FRONT END. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER HIT HIS HEAD ON PASSENGER WINDOW. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

DRIVER FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, VEHICLE CROSSED ONE LANE, BUMPER GOT CAUGHT ON EMBANKMENT, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER . SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER, HIS HEAD SHATTERED THE PASSENGER WINDOW. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, AND WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE ROUGHLY. DRIVER SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT RESTART IT. DEALER FOUND THAT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A STRONG ANTI FREEZE ODOR, AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS NO LONGER WORKING.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE

WHILE DRIVING ON A NORMAL PAVED ROAD AT 25 MPH FRONT END SUDDENLY STARTED SHAKING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TIE ROD END FALLING APART AND SEPARATING, NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO CYLINDERS.*AK

F-150 1997 FORD FILL LINE TO TRANSMISSION BROKE, ALLOWING LOSS OF FLUID. *AK