1997 Ford F-150 complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILS CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE.SO IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU START YOUR CAR THE ENGINE HAS BLOWN.THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED,CAN NOT BE REBUILT.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE PROBLM. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND HAS FIXED IT ON DIFFERENT TIMES.*AK

I HAVE A FORD F150 1997 WITH BRIDGESTONE, DUELER H/T TIRES, SIZE P245/70/R16 106S, DOT ENMT CBF 1900 19905D689P2.MY HUSBAND WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK TODAY ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE UNEXPLICABLY SEPERATED WITHOUT WARNING. LUCKILY MY HUSBAND WAS NOT HURT. THERE WAS DAMAGED CAUSED TO THE TRUCK'S WHEEL WELL AND FENDER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HIT A RAIL ROAD TRACK AND VEHICLE STARTED TRAVELING TO THE LEFT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO TIE RODS , *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM GEAR, BALL AND SOCKET FELL OFF, RESULTING IS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING REAR END SHIFTED, CAUSING THE SHIFTER TO LOOK TOWARD THE DRIVER SEAT. ALSO THE PIN THAT HELD THE REAR END WAS ROUNDED OFF.*AK

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE ABOUT A 1/4 INCH CRACK IN THEM JUST AFT OF THE WINDOW LOWER CORNER. FOR SOME REASON THESE CRACKS WERE FIXED ON FLEET TRUCKS BUT NOT PERSONAL TRUCKS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WOULD DIE OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

A SHORT IN THE WIRING AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE BRAKES CAUSED THE RESEVOIR TO CATCH ON FIRE AND BURN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

MY PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT NEARLY TIPPING MY TRUCK OVER. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND PULL TO THE SIDE WHILE THE CARS BEHIND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO AVOID HITTING DEBREE FROM THE TIRE. I NOTICED THAT MY TIRE HAD NOT BLOWN BUT THE ENTIRE TREAD WAS MISSING. THE TIRES ON MY TRUCK ARE THE WILDRENESS AT P255/70R16 DOTW2CO 1PX 158. IN MY OPINION ALL THESE TIRES BLOW OUT THE SAME WAY AND SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED! *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING PASSENGER REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS AT, P25570R16. *AK

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE BY BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICAL. COMMON AMONG 1997 & 1998 FORD F-150S WITH THE NEW V6 4.2 ENGINES.*AK

AFTER HEAVY SNOWS THE SHIFT LINKAGE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 5.4L 4X4 WILL BECOME PLUGGED WITH SNOW. WHEN PLUGGED THE SHIFT SELECTOR CAN ONLY BE SHIFTED BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND NOT REVERSE OR PARK.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVEL BROKE OFF. THERE WERE WIRES HANGING ALL OVER. CONSUME RCALLED THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BUTTON ON THE LEVEL TO LET ONE KNOW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT NO LIGHT CAME ON. HE WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR, BUT HE HAD IT REPAIRED. HE NEVER SAW ANY LIGHT COME ON.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK. THE PIPE WHICH LEAD TO THE RADIATOR RUSTED AND CAUSED THE COOLANT TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED INTERMITTENTLY SINCE 1998. *NLM *CB

I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL RIMS AND TIRE SIZE ,AND MY SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY EIGHT MILES PER HOUR. MY SPEEDOMETER SAYS I AM GOING EIGHT MILES PER HOUR SLOWER THAN I REALLY AM.*AK

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L V-6 MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO 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 METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAYS THE LOCAL MACHINE SHOP THEY USE FOR REBUILDS HAS SEEN AT LEAST 24 OF THESE ENGINES SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2003! ESTIMATES TO REBUILD OR REPLACE THIS ENGINE RANGE FROM $2,000 TO $4,000. WE HAVE NOT YET DECIDED WHAT TO DO - SCARED TO GET NEW ENGINE FROM FORD BECAUSE SAME PROBLEM MAY STILL BE PRESENT.*AK

DRIVER SIDE FRONT BRAKE HAS LOCKED UP IN MOIST WEATHER CONDITIONS. SKID OCCURRED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SELF CONTAINED BALL JOINTS. THESE BALL JOINT DO NOT NEED TO BE GREASED. OVER TIME THE BALL JOINTS DEVELOP A SQUEAK AND NEED REPLACING. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AND WIND BLOWING VEHICLE'S FRONT END WANDERS EXCESSIVELY, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL.*AK

CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY AND DEPRESSED GAS PEDAL FOR ACCELERATION, B UT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT POWER FOR ACCELERATION AND JERKED EXCESSIVELY.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE ON FORD 4.2L V6. *AK

THE VEHICLE LOSS STEERING AND TOTAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT TURN. THE DEALER STATED THE STEERING SHAFT SEPARATED. THE CONSUMER FOUND A RECALL BUT WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. RECALL# 03V196000 *AK *SCC

HOOD POPS UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING.SEAT BELTS ON FRONT SEATS DO NOT RETRACT FULLY WHEN UNBUCKLED, HANG ON FLOOR BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR. UPON OPENING OF DOOR, THE LOOSE BELT LOOP FALLS PAST THE DOOR SEAL AREA AND UPON DOOR CLOSURE BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN DOOR AND JAMB. WHEN VEHICLE RE-ENTRY IS MADE BY DRIVER OR PASSENGER, AND BELT IS PUT ON, A FALSE TENSION IS ACHIEVED BY DOOR JAMB SEAL. THIS LEAVES UP TO 10 TO 14 INCHES OF LOOSE BELT THAT FEELS LIKE IT IS ACTUALLY TENSIONED AS TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. THIS LOOSE BELT SLACK CONTINUES AS THE BELT EXTENDS AND RETRACTS IN NORMAL, NON INERTIA LOCKED MODE. ONLY UPON HEAVY BREAKING, OR FORWARD FORCE BY OCCUPANT DOES THE BELT SLIP PAST THE LOWER DOOR JAMB SEAL AND EXTENDS THE BELTS REACH. THIS CAN CAUSE A FATALITY FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR REASONS. FIRST, ON FRONTAL IMPACT, THE BELT ALLOWS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BE THRUST FORWARD AND EITHER COME INTO UNDUE CONTACT WITH THE DASH OR STEERING WHEEL. SECONDLY, THE FALSELY TENSIONED BELT ALLOWS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BE PROPELLED TOO CLOSE TO A DEPLOYING FRONT AIRBAG, CAUSING UNDUE FRONTAL CONTACT WITH AIRBAG WHICH CAN RESULT IN INCREASED INJURY OR DEATH. THIRDLY, ON PICKUP TRUCK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH KEY DEACTIVATED FRONT SEATS OCCUPIED BY CHILDREN, THE LOOSENING BELT CAN REACH THE YOUTH PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT RIGHT INTO WINDSHIELD. AND FOURTH, IN PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCK MODELS, WITH THE AIR BAG TURNED OFF BY KEY SWITCH, UNTENSIONED BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN A BABY / CHILD CAR SEAT,

CABLE OF SPARE TIRE CARRIER BROKE, CAUSING SPARE TIRE & SUPPORT BRACKET TO FALL ONTO ROADWAY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHICH LEAKED ANTI FREEZE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. *NLM *CB *NLM

THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE RETRACTED BACK INTO THE HOLSTER. THE BELT COULD NO LONGER BE USED UNTIL REPAIRED. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE SEAT BELTS DECEMBER 1996 FOR MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENT. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN #96V256000. *NLM *SCC *JB

MY COMPLAINT IS ON A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT 11 TIRE,SIZE P235/70R16.DOT #W208 1PT 216 .WHILE DRIVING FROM SILVER POINT,TN. TO COOKEVILLE,TN.VIA INTERSTATE-40,THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BEGAN SEPARATING IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WHICH WERE RECALLED IN 2001.THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME BUT,AT THE SAME TIME THERE COULD HAVE BEEN.I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS SUCH A RECALL OR INVESTIGATION OF THIS BRAND OF TIRE AS WAS WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED.THANK-YOU FOR YOUR SITE.HAVE A GREAT DAY.HAROLD HOUSTON. *AK

CONSUMER STATES RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS FINE. DEALER NEVER LOOKED AT CAR.*AK.

THE ENGINE ROD PISTON BLEW, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE NON DRIVABLE. *NLM PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. *AK THERE WAS ALSO A SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *PH *JB

PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ON 1997 FORD F150. *MR THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WASN'T INCLUDED IN RECALL # 03V196000. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED FOR HER FAMILIES SAFETY AND THE POSSIBLE SIDE AFFECT WHICH MAY OCCUR. *SCC *JB

THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE KEEPS GOING FLAT. CAUSE IS UNKWOWN. *AK

DEALER STATED THE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO HE HAS TO PAY $400. *AK

COOLANT LEAKING AT FRONT COVER GASKET AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. 1997 FORD F-150 4WD. VIN#[XXX]. I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. HAVE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS BEEN MAINTAINED ON THIS VEHICLE? I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO JACOB GEORGE FORD, HOUTZDALE, PA FOR FULL INSPECTION TOMORROW. ANY INFORMATION ON THE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE USEFUL FOR US TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CONSUMER STATES THE EXHAUST IS LOCATED AT THE RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING THE TIRES TO OVERHEAT AND BLOW UP. IN JULY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT SIZE 23570R16 DOT W2081PT WERE REPLACED BY GOODYEAR ,AND PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FIRESTONE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT TIRE BLEW UP DUE TO OVERHEATING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TIE ROD FAILURE. THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING TRUCK. *JB

CONSUMER EXPERIENCE TIRE BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING. NAR 06/18/2003 *MR *CB

MY 1997 FORD F150 SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS OVERNIGHT. THERE WAS A SHORT HORN BURST, FOLLOWED BY A POP, THEN A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 6:30 AM, WHILE I WAS STILL IN BED, HALF-ASLEEP, AFTER MY CLOCK RADIO HAD JUST COME ON. A NEIGHBOR LOOKED OUT OF HER WINDOW AFTER HEARING THE HORN, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYONE AROUND THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN HEARD THE POP, AND SAW THE FIRE START. SHE CALLED 911, THEN CALLED ME. BY THE TIME I GOT OUTSIDE, THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAME. I RAN BACK IN THE HOUSE TO GET A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT BY THE TIME I GOT BACK OUTSIDE, THE ENTIRE CAB WAS ALSO ON FIRE. A STUNNED CROWD OF NEIGHBORS AND I WATCHED AS THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. *JB

THE TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH THE EXHAUST EXITING IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE TIRE AND A BURNING SMELL. THE HUB CAPS AND WHEELS WERE DISCOLORED, AND THE REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKED, ALL THESE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH WAS DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT. THE REAR OIL SEAL LEAKED OIL. *MR *PH *JB

WHILE MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS STEERING WHEEL BECOMES HARD TO TURN DUE TO POWER STEERING.*AK

I DROVE TO WORK THAT MORNING AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WENT TO MY TRUCK TO LEAVE WORK THAT EVENING AND WHEN I CRANKED MY VEHICLE IT MADE A LOUD POP LIKE A BACK FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STARTED RATTLING IMMEDIATELY. I SHUT MY TRUCK OFF AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF I NOTICED ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND FOUND NOTHING OUT OF PLACE. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD SUFFERED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AT START UP AND WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE COST WOULD BE ALMOST $4000.00. I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO WORKED AT ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES (THE 4.2L IN THE 1997 MODEL YEAR) HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GASKETS ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER (WATER CANNOT BE COMPRESSED SO IT KICKED BACK AND BENT THE ROD) CAUSING INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL THAT ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM AND THAT FORD HAS SINCE CORRECTED IT IN SUBSEQUENT MODEL YEARS. IT IS APPARENT THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT CHOOSES NOT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. I DID CALL FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED AT THE PLANT THAT THE RECALL COVERED. I ASKED WHY THE RECALL WAS NOT BROADENED TO INCLUDE ALL 4.2L ENGINES SINCE THIS IS EVIDENTLY A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF I HAD ANY RECOURSE AT ALL AND WAS TOLD THAT I

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE STRESS CRACKS LOCATED AT THE LOWER REAR SECTION OF THE WINDOWS NEXT TO THE WINDOW MOLDING. CURRENTLY THESE CRACKS ARE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH LONG. I BELIEVE THESE CRACKS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE VEHICLE WERE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. *AK

THE STARTER WENT OUT TWICE ON MY 1997 FORD F150 4.6LT AND I JUST BOUGHT IT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, IT ONLY HAS 94,684 MILES ON IT.*AK