1997 Ford F-150 complaints

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK, BUILT 06/97 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. DT

WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR IT BECAME STUCK. TS SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE PICKUP TRUCK THE BRAKES FAILED TOTALLY. INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE ROTTED AT REAR AXLE FLEX HOSE CONNECTION. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN BACKED INTO FRESH OR SALT WATER (AS IN LAUNCHING A BOAT). THE TRUCK HAS SPENT ALL IT'S YEARS IN NEW ENGLAND AND SALT IS USED ON THE ROADS IN WINTER. I DO NOT BELIEVE A TRUCK. JUST UNDER 5 YEARS OLD SHOULD HAVE THE BRAKE LINES RUST OUT AND CAUSE A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. EITHER THE BRAKE LINES ARE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL OR WRONGLY POSITIONED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I HAD BEEN AT HIGHER SPEED AND IN TRAFFIC. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN EMPLOYED IN NORMAL PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION ONLY. DT

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES' TURN KEY HEARD A LOUD BANGING COMING FROM ENGINE, TURN OFF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER LOOKED AT MOTOR REMOVED ENGINE COVER, IT CHECKED OUT FINE. MECHANIC STATED COOLANT IS GETTING INTO ENGINE FLUID THIS WILL DESTROY ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

UNDER HOOD FIRE AFTER SITTING FOR 3 HOURS WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FIRE STARTED AT MIDNIGHT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAYS THE ORIGIN WAS AT THE MASTER CYLINDER.

HEAD GASKET FAILURE COOLANT IN CYLINDER. DT

NHTSA# 8719-98-V-095-161-000 REAR LEAF SPRING, THE CENTER LEAF OF THE SPPRING CAN FRACTURE AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SPRING SEAT. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A NOISE AND THE SPRING IS FALLING APART. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS

"ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK, BUILT 05/97 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS INADEQUATE." DT

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED, CREATING COOLANT LEAK. FORD RECALL 99B29 AFFECTED 141,800 1997 FORD F-150 4.2L ENGINES. FORD DID NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK IN THIS RECALL BUT IT HAS SUFFERED THE SAME GASKET FAILURE. DT

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK, BUILT 05/97 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. 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. DT

I WENT OUT TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE MOTOR LOCKED UP. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF SEVERAL CASES OF THIS SAME ENGINE FAILING AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE FINDING SOMEONE WILLING TO REBUILD IT. DT

THIS TRUCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE FORD RECALL 99B29. AFTER CONTACTING FORD. THEY REFUSE TO EXTEND THE RECALL. IT IS MY BELIEF, THAT THE RECALL WAS TOO NARROW IN SCOPE AND SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCKS. MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM (LEAKING GASKET WHICH IN TURN PERMITS THE COOLANT TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE, THEREBY DAMAGING THE ENGINE). THE 1997 FORD F-150 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW MODEL DESIGN AND APPARENTLY FORD IS NOT STEPPING UP TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH THE 1997 F-150 WHEN THE TRUCK HAS REACHED 60,000-70,000 MILES AND AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE FORD DEALERS AS WELL AS CORPORATE HAS KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM AND ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS RECALL WAS NOT BROAD ENOUGH TO COVER THE MANY TRUCKS THAT HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. HAD MY VEHICLE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY TO MY DEALER TO HAVE THE WORK PERFORMED, THEREBY AVOIDING ANY POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK'S ENGINE. INSTEAD, I WAS NOT THE RECIPIENT OF A RECALL LETTER AND FORD TELLS ME MY TRUCK IS NOT INCLUDED. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT MY TRUCK EXPERIENCED THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEMS WHICH THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY STATES: " 1997 FORD F-SERIES 150, EQUIPPED WITH 4.2 L ENGINE; VEHICLE MY EXPERIENCE ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET; THEREBY CAUSING SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE IS NOT IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED". THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON RELATING TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROLS STUCK OPEN, DUE TO INSUFFICIENT AIR/FUEL MIXTURE AND LOW VACUUM PRESSURE. DT

FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK, BUILT 05/97 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29, PROVING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT

SIDEWALL SEPERATING FROM TREAD. COULD SEE STEEL CORDS ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. DT

HAD JUST PULLED AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CENTER OF F150 WITH LEFT FRONT FENDER. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES AND TREATED IN EMERGENCY ROOM. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER TAKING OFF THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR FRAMES ARE CRACKING DOWN THE CENTER BELOW THE WINDOW. MR

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THE BRAKES WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNSAFE TO DRIVE. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE COST OF BRAKE REPAIR. *YH *SCC

WHILE TRAVELING 30-35 MPH A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF TRUCK WHICH THE DRIVER DID HIT. THE TRUCK SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE ENBANKMENT. AFTERWARDS, THE TRUCK WENT AIR BORNE AND THE IMPACT ONCE HITTING THE GROUND DUG 7" INCHES INTO THE GROUND. NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNDER NONE OF THESE CONDITIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEM WITH A CRANK RODS DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN AT THIS TIME HE RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE COIL SPRING. THE RECALL NUMBER #98S18 AND HE HAD THE REPAIR DONE ON OCT 5TH 1998. AT THIS TIME THE PROBLEM IS STILL EXIST. TS

HIT FROM BEHIND/RAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT APPROX 30 MPH; ABS DID NOT WORK (BRAKES LOCKED INSTANTLY); AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON EITHER IMPACT; SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK TO RESTRAIN PASSENGERS. MR

FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING DOORS AND WILL NOT FIX THEM. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WITHOUT WARNING THE TWO FRONT DOORS WILL STICK AND IT WILL BE HARD TO OPEN FOR THE CONSUMER TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL ON THE REAR LEAF SPRING CLIP TO PREVENT LEAF SPRING FROM PUNCTURING TANK. CONSUMER STATES FEELS THAT RECALL WAS NOT PROPERLY CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATER AND BRAKE ARE TOO CLOSE. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO BRAKE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A HOUSE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE BACK BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD WILL NOT AGREE TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *SCC

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ROTORS AND PADS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AND REPAIRED A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. NLM

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS. DOTW208IPT187, P23570R16 104 S. CONSUMER STATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *NLM ON SAME DAY, ANOTHER TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. WEATHER WAS CLEAR. THE ROAD WAS DRY. TREAD REMAINING ON EACH TIRE WAS 7/32". *TT

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. VEHICLE'S FUEL LINE HAD BEEN FIXED 2 MONTHS PRIOR UNDER RECALL 00V231000. NLM *JG

FIRESTONE HAD ME TAKE IT TO A TIRE STORE(D&D TIRE) AND HAD ALL 5 TIRES INSPECTED AND THE 4 ON THE GROUND HAD TREAD SEPARATION IN THE OUTER BELTS OF THE TIRES, AND ONE OF THE TIRE'S HAS ONLY APPROX. 15000 MILES ON IT , I REPLACED IT BECAUSE OF ROAD HAZARD CUT IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE OEM,I FEEL THAT THE TIRE PROBLEM STARTED AT ABOUT 24000TO 26000 MILE ON THE TRUCK BECAUSE IT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT AT THAT TIME I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECK AND IT SHOWED GOOD, NEVER THINKING IT WAS THE TIRE'S BECAUSE THE TREAD LOOKED GOOD ON ALL OF THEM, I WISH NOW I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM CHECKED BY A TRAINED EXPERT. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 5-6 HOURS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.*AK

BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY RUSTED ROTORS WHICH WENT BAD, CAUSING LOOSE REAR BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS GONE OUT, CAUSING A ROD IN ENGINE TO BREAK. AND ENGINE HAS BLOWEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION*AK

CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING THE REAR FLEX BRAKE LINE CHAFFED THROUGH CAUSING IT TO RUB AGAINT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAUSE WAS FORD HAD CLIPPED AND TUCKED THE BRAKE LINE UP. CONSUMER IS SEEKING A REFUND, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED. *YH *DT

HEAD ON THE VEHICLE THAT MEETS ENGINE HAS CRACKED, AND IS LEAKING WATER. IN DOING SO ENGINE IS ABLE TO OVERHEAT. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANAFOLD GASKIT CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO CYLINDER ON TOP OF PISTON WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED THE CONNECTING ROD BENT CAUSING ENGINE FAILURER

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS OTHER THAN WET, THE ABS SENSOR'S INPROPERLY ENGAGE SENDING THE BRAKES INTO A FRENZY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ALL BRAKING ABILITY IS LOSSED UNLESS YOU SMASH DOWN ON THE PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPEND TO ME ON DRY LAND GOING OVER A MAN HOLE COVER ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO STOP SHORT BUT COULDN'T. I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING FORD HAS NOT WANTED TO ADDRESS. I KNOW PROBABLY HUNDREDS MORE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS TRUCK. THIS IS A MAJOR MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS BY FORD IMMEDIATLY. FIRST IT WAS THE TIRES GOING ON THE EXPLORERES, DON'T LET IT BE THE BRAKES FAILING ON SOME FAMILIES TRUCK CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES OR POSSIBLY DEATH!*AK

2/01 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO LITHIA FORD IN CONCORD TO DIAGNOSE OVER HEATING. COOLING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND STATED C.S. WAS HOLDING AT THAT TIME, TORE DOWN MOTOR, FOUND BAD BEARINGS, OIL PAN MILKY, HEAD GASKET BAD. REPLACED W/4.2 ENGINE WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXT WARRANTY, OTHER RECOMMENDED FIX CLUTCH DISC THROW OUT BEARINGS. 11/2000, PWR STEERING HOSE BAD, REPLACED,10/01 CK ENG LIT ONE,, IDLE AIR CNTROL VALVE REPLACED,6/02 OVERHEARING, NEW THERMO,COOLNT FLSH, OIL CHANGE, NEW BRAKES RECOMMENDED, DONE.9/4/02, OVERHEATING AGAIN, RECOMMENDED NEW RADIATOR/WATER PUMP, INQIRED ON PCV MODIFICATION RECALL, THEY WILL REPLACE.*AK

BELTS BROKEN IN 2 RADIAL TIRES AT ONE TIME; NO ACCIDENT OR ADDITIONAL DAMAGE. NO VISUAL DAMAGE TO OTHER FRONT TIRE BUT STEERING STILL ERRATIC AT ROAD SPEEDS.*AK

RENEE BORSTAD ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER. CONSUMER INCURRED A MAJOR EXPENSE FOR REPAIRS TO A DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET. AFTER LEARNING IN THE PROCESS OF THE REPAIRS THAT FORD HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DEFECT AND ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE DEFECT, THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID. *JG

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND STAYS ON. HAD VEHICLE CHECK, THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM GROSS LEAK WAS DETECTED CODE PO455.CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

TRUCK AND BEEN PARKED THE PREVIOUS DAY WITH NO PROBLEM, UPON CRANKING THE NEXT DAY MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING. INSPECTION SHOWS BENT PISTON ROD ON # 3 CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWDE THE PISTON TO STRIKE THE CRANK SHAFT. THIS WAS CAUSED FRON THE HEAD GASKET ALLOWING FLUID TO SEEP INTO THE CYLINDER.*AK

I CONTACTED COURTESY FORD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL,SO I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH AUSED ENGINE BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFORD A NEW ENGINE. AS A RESULT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE ENGINE DIDN'T RUN HOT, BUT THERE WAS FLUID FOUND IN THE 1ST CYLINDER, THE CRANKSAFT WAS TWISTED, THE CONNECTING ROD WAS BROKE, AND THERE WAS A CHUNK TAKEN OUT OF THE BLOCK. ON THE SECOND ENGIN I FOUND FLUID IN THE FIRST CYINDER AND THE ENGIN WILL NOT RUN. I HAVE RECENTLY SPOKE WITH SOME MACHANICS(THAT WORK FOR FORD)AND THEY SAID THAT"ABOUT 90% OF THE 4.2 L V6 FROM 1997 HAVE BEEN RETURNED."*AK

STEERING COLUMN FAILED AT STEERING SHAFT GEAR INPUT.... COULD SPIN THE WHEEL LIKE A FRISBY AFTER GOING OFF THE ROAD. NO SOUND, NO NOISE, NO WARNING..AND, THANK GOD, NO BODY AROUND.

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A CHRONIC BRAKE PROBLEM. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TRADED THE VEHICLE IN DUE TO BRAKES THAT WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY AND SUNNY KING FORD WOULD NOT REPAIR. SUNNY KING FORD SALESMAN LIED TO ME SAYING THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK BASED ON HIS STATEMENT. I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO LEAVE THE TRUCK WITH THE ON AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BEFORE THE BRAKES WORKED SATISFACTORILY. NOW, WHILE DRIVING DOWN US HWY 280 AT ABOUT 60 MPH THE 4.2L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE, WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES ON IT, THREW THE #6 ROD, BLOWING UP THE ENGINE. SUNNY KING FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT LATER TELLS ME THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPENED, IT JUST DOES SOMETIMES. I REGULARLY SERVICE MY VEHICLES AND THE ENGINE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED AT A KWIK OIL CHANGE LOCATED AT 3635 MARY TAYLOR ROAD BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35235 (205-655-4788) ON 7-2-2002, 14 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ENGINE BLOWING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS MORE THAN I'VE HAD IT, AND I'VE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 6 MONTHS. WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW SUNNY KING TOLD ME IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I PAID THEM AN ADDITIONAL $3,375.99 SO I WOULDN'T BE MAKING $360 PER MONTH PAYMENTS ON A JUNK VEHICLE I COULDN'T DRIVE.WHY HAS MY FORD TRUCK BEEN SUCH A PIECE OF JUNK?*AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. STABILIZER BAR FELL OFF FOR THE SECOND TIME