1997 Ford F-150 complaints

ON BOTH OCCASIONS WHILE TAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEED TIE RODS SNAPPED WHERE THREADED ROD ATTACHES TO MAIN HOUSING OF TIE ROD. IN BOTH CASES I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BEFORE STRIKING EITHER ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR OTHER OBJECTS. WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURENCE HE HESITATED THEN SAID NO. THEN WHILE WALKING TO SERVICE AREA TO FILL OUT FORMS I PASSED TWO OTHER TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEMS OF SNAPPED TIE RODS. WHILE RELATING THIS STORY TO SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO DRIVE SIMILAR VEHICLES, THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ON THERI THIRD AND FORTH SETS OF TIE RODS FOR THEIR VEHICLES.

WHLE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED A SPARK PLUG BROKE. AS A RESULT OF BROKEN SPARK PLUG, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING SEVERELY. TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF DAMAGES TO HEAD AND ROCKER ARM. *AK *YH

PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR RIM CRACKED AT WELD WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE WENT FLAT, WHEN PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK JLG

HEATER CORE FAILED. INSTANTLY FOGGED INSIDE OF ALL WINDOWS. IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT 65 MPH THIS COULD BE LETHAL! WHY, HAS THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED?*AK

SAME PROBLEM ON RECALL OF 1995-1996 FORD MINI VANS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WINSHIELD WIPERS RARELY WORK ON INTERMITTENT SETTING AND IF THEY DO THEY ARE NOT CONSISTANT IN TIMING. ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME THE WIPPERS WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. WASHERS WORK ONLY 20-25% OF THE TIME.*AK

EXHAUST PIPE IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO TIRES. THE HEAT FROM EXHAUST PIPE CAUSES THE TIRES TO MELT AND RIM TO CORRODE. AK SCC

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 15MPH TIE ROD: INNER BROKE OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE DEVOLPED CRACKS ON MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. IM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHY SOME SORT OF ACTION HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAVE READ ON CERTAIN FORD WEBSITES THAT AS MUCH AS 65% OF F150 PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IM WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IN ORDER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHICH HAD GOUGED THE TIRE, APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. *SLC

CONSUMER NOTICED DEEP CRACKS AROUND THE OUTER EDGES OF THE TIRES, CONSUMER TOOK THE TIRES TO A FIRESTONE STORE AND AFTER AN INSPECTION, WAS INFORMED THAT THE TREAD WAS BEGINNING TO SEPARATE, THESE TIRES WERE A PART OF RECALL 01T016 THAT THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED, HOWEVER THE FIRESTONE STORE STATED THAT SINCE THE RECALL WAS OVER WITH, THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE FOR THE CONSUMER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, NO FURTHER SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN. *SLC

PASSENGER SIDE TYROD FAILED AT THE BALLJOINT ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. WE HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE THE TYROD AND HE DISCOVERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TYROD EXTREMELY WORN. NO CRASH INVOLVED-THANK GOODNESS. THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE FORD-F150 WITH JUST OVER +65,000 ON VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANKS. K. PAGANO. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FRONT COVER GASKET ON THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT LEAK IN TURN CAUSING AN OVERHEAT SITUATION WHICH LEAD TO AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE, WHICH MAY ALSO LEAD TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE T&W FORD DEALERSHIP IN WILLIAMSTOWN, KY WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT COVER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE GASKETS AND ALSO O2 SENSORS AT A COST OF 1500.00, I DID THE WORK OF GASKET REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF 60.00. *AK

HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AFTER ABOUT AN 8HR DRIVE, ALL ON THE INTERSTATE, 65MPH AVG SPEED, WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRANGE VIBRATION AND ASSOCIATED STRANGE THUMPING SOUND. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. CALLED AAA AND THE REPLACED WITH THE SPARE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FLAT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A SECTION OF THE TREAD, ABOUT 5 INCHES, HAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE CORE. THE 3 REMAINING TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION AND WERE ALL FOUND TO BE IN THE 35PSI RANGE. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND IN THE LOW 90S. ALSO THE REMAINING TIRES WERE INSPECTED FOR ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE AND NUMEROUS CRACKS BETWEEN THE TREAD AREA AND SIDEWALL WERE NOTED AND ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 50% OF ORIGINAL TREAD REMAINING. *AK

ROD BEARING FAILURE AT ONLY 73000 MILES. *AK

HORN ASSEMBLY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL, AND AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE HORN WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING, AND THE AIRBAG WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECASUE THE HORN CONTACTS WERE ON THE SAME MODULE AS THE AIRBAG.*JB

TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE - CAUGHT BEFORE TIRE FAILED. *AK

HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND STARTED TO SMOKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND WHEN DOING SO, BRAKE LINE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER COULD NOT STOPVEHICLE. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKI

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. WE TURNED THE KEY ON TO START THE ENGINE AND THE ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND OIL PAN. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS INDICATING ANY PROBLEMS. THE VEH DID NOT USE ANY OIL. IT RECIEVED ITS OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING JUST FINE. THEY PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT AND NOW IT VIBRATES MAKES A POPPING NOISE AND RUNS LOUD. THEY TOLD US THIS IS ALL WITHIN FORD SPECS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE PAID OVER $13000 FOR A VEH THAT TOOK A DUMP AFTER 10 MONTHS. WE COULD NOT EVEN GET THIS DEALERS SALE MANAGER TO RETURN A CALL. EVERYONE ELSE AT THE DEALER SAID WELL IT WORKED GOOD FOR 10000 MILES. I CALLED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND THAT IS IT. THEY ALSO DID NOTHING FOR US. I AM GETTING NO WHERE WITH ANYONE. I FINALLY WENT OVER THERE AND CORNERED THE MANAGER AND HE SAYS HE DOESN'T REMEMBER AND I SHOULD CALL HIM ON MONDAY. WHICH I WILL. ALSO THEY TRIED TO STICK US WITH AN EXTRA $1100 BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING GEAR. WE ENDED UP PUTTING A NEW CLUTCH IN ALSO AT THIS TIME. WE HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN WE BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THAT IT GROUND GOING INTO 2ND GEAR BECASUE WE WERE GOING TO FAST. ACTUALLY THE CLUTCH CLEARED THAT PROBLEM. THEY TRYED TO SAY IT WAS THE SYNCRONATION GEARS AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPALCED. WHICH WAS NOT TRUE. THE CLUTCH FIXED THIS PROBLEM. THEY ALSO AT THIS TIME ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH WE BOUGHT IT THAT WAY AND I BROUGHT THAT UP AT THE TIME WE TEST DROVE IT.

ALUMINUM WHEEL SPLIT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE WHILE GOING 40-45MPH ON STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROAD. SUDDENLY THER EWAS A NOISE, AND THE PASSENGER FRONT END FELL TO THE GROUND. FORD WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

MUTIFUNCTION SWITCH CUT HEADLAMPS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT APPOXIMATELY 45 MPH. NO PRIOR WARNING, NO FLICKERING JUST INSTANTANIOUS DARKNESS. SIDE MARKER LIGHTS AND TAILLIGHT S CONTINUED TO OPERATE. WAS IN A WELL LIGHT AREA OR THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS IF AT HIGHER SPEED ON AN UNLIGHTED ROAD. THE SQUEAL ON THE PITMAN ARM IS A NUISANCE. NOTE WHEN I TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT DENIED ANY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM E WITH EITHER COMPONENT - WHAT A JOKE I NOW FIND BOTH ITEMS APPEAR ON YOUR WEBSITE. THERE SHOULD BE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY OR PENALTY FOR THE DEALER FOR NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE COMPONENTS.*AK

TIE ROD END BROKE IN TWO WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. DEALER AND FACTORY BOTH REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FAILURE, AND THEY IMPLY THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGES, I SHOULD NOT EXPECT ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE OR INVESTIGATION ON THE MATTER. I CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN A PARKING LOT, HAD IT BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHER INNOCENT PARTIES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS HIT AT 30 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING SPARK PLUGS BURNED OUT, AND VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND HAS SERVICED VEHICLE FOR SAME PROBLEM TWICE. BUT HAD NO SOLUTION FOR PROBLEM. *AK

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *MJ

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK INTO GEAR. THE DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

UPON COLD START, ENGINE THREW A ROD. ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN 2/01 AND HAD APPROX ONE WEEK WHEN IT STALLED EVERYTIME IT DECELERATED. DEALERSHIP (E-Z WAY AUTO SALES) TOOK VEHICLE BACK AND REPLACED PCM AT NO CHARGE TO US. IN 01/02 IT STARTED HESITATING AS IF IT WERE SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. DOES NOT DO ALL THE TIME-JUST UNEXPECTEDLY.HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED (80$-01/31/01). STILL SPUTTERING--REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND AIR FILTER OVER THE COURSE OF 2 MONTHS--PROBLEM WAS NOT MAJOR AND DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME-JUST WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECTED IT. THEN IN MARCH IT JUST STALLED WHILE MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING IT AND DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACKSEAT AT 60MPH! TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE-FINALLY AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING IT TO SEE IF THEY COULD MAKE IT SPUTTER OR STALL IT HAPPENED AND THEY RECEIVE A CODE FOR A EGR VALVE WHICH WAS FUEL RELATED--DID NOT FIX, COST 105$--TOOK BACK TO THEM AND THEY KEPT AN ADDITIONAL 2 WEEKS AND SAID THEY GAVE UP--COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER(TRI-COUNTY FORD 05/02) AND THEY HAD 3 DAYS BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. REPLACED PFE SENSOR (192$-P0401) WHICH I AM TOLD IS THE ONE WHICH CONTROLS THE VALVE THAT WAS REPLACED. DID NOT FIX-RETURNED TO FORD DEALER(05/02) AND THEY HAD A FEW MORE DAYS AND RECEIVED ANOTHER CODE(P0605) AND WAS TOLD MY PCM NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I TOLD THE TECH IT WAS JUST DONE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A JUNKED PART. E-Z WAY WILL NOT FIX. THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND IT WAS UP TO FORD. FORD WILL NOT

CONSUMER EXPERIENING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END SQUEAKING WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. DEALER REPLACED PITMAN ARM. *TT

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE 1/2 INCH CRACKS IN METAL NEAR THE WINDOWS.*AK

WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE AND WITHOUT WARNING, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. RAN OVER SPARE TIRE. TIRE WAS HELD UP BY A WIRE WHICH BROKE OFF AND RELEASED THE TIRE.*AK CONSUMER ADDS THE WIRE SERVED AS THE SPARE TIRE RACK ASSEMBLY AND WAS DEFECTIVE. *TT

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP OR REVERSING VEHICLE HAS A ROUGHOR UNEVEN IDLE.*AK

SEAL FAILED ON TIMING GEAR VERY SIMILER TO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED. *AK

THERE IS A 1/4 INCH CRACK IN OUTSIDE DRIVER DOOR NEAR DOOR HANDLE. CRACK IS INCREASING FROM OPENING AND CLOSING. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING GEARS. VEHICLE'S VIBRATION DECREASES AND INCREASES AT ANY SPEED BETWEEN SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO, VEHICLE IS USED FOR HAULING, AND ADDS PRESSURE TO TRANSMISSION, DELAYING SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND DISCOVERED THAT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO. *AK

LOWER BALL JOINTS WENT OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THEY COUDL NOT HELP. *MJ

WHILE BACKING VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, HEARD A NOISE. DROVE APPROXIMATELY TWO BLOCKS WHEN I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE UPON INSPECTION DISCOVERED THE TIE ROD HAD BROKEN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING EVERY OTHER DAY. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE.*AK

BOTH WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING EVERY OTHER DAY. UNABLE TO ROLL THEM UP OR DOWN. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING IN THE RAIN, (REPETITIVE)-REPLACE RELAYS. THE PROBLEM IS ON GOING, THE PCM CHIP HAS BEEN UPDATED, FUSES CHECKED, THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED AND NOW BEING CHECKED FOR A WIRING SHORT. PROBLEM MAY BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THEY REPLACED A RECALL PART IN THE IGNITION. CONSUMER STATES, SEE REFERENCE NUMBER 8011065. *SCC

INTERIOR PANEL INSTRUCTION LIGHTS COME OFF EVERY OTHER DAY, WITHOUT WARNING. UNABLE TO READ PANEL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, LEAF SPRING THAT HOLDS AXLE BROKE. VEHICLE FRAME DROPPED ALMOST TOUCHING WHEELS. COULD HAVE SLASHED THE TIRES.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE DAY THE LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS THE REASON THE REAR PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER HAS PICTURES OF THE BREAKAGE THAT SHOWS THE RUST AT THE BROKEN SITE. BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT SPRING WAS WEAK. *JG

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL GOING STRAIGHT. DEALER DETERMINED THE PIVOT ARM HAD DISCONNECTED.*JB

METAL SHAVINGS FROM TORQUE CONVERTER FILTERED INTO TRANSMISSION, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A SEVERE KNOCK WHEN STARTED ONE MORNING. THE PROBLEM WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE AT THE MAIN CRANKSHAFT, SEVERE WEAR AT VALVE ASSEMBLY, AND CORROSION THROUGHOUT COOLING CHAMBERS. FORD DID A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET THE YEAR BEFORE, CHANGING HEAD GASKET, HOSES, & COOLANT. THE TRUCK IS USES BY HOUSE WIFE DRIVING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. EVEN THOUGH OTHERS HAVE REPORTED OF SAME ENGINE FAILURE ON 4.2L, FORD DENIES ANY PROBLEM. 5 MONTHS LATER WHILE THE TRUCK WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING THE PLASTIC MASTER CYLINDER, FUELING THE FLAMES TO MELT ALL CIRCUITIES AND PLASTIC. THE ABS LAMP HAD LIT EARLIER IN THE WEEK, ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO RESERVOIR, AND THE LAMP WENT OUT. INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAYS EVIDENCE POINTS TO A DEFECT IN THE ABS/MASTER CYLINDER WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TS *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***762417

4.2 LITRE V-6 ENGINE FAILED AFTER ENGINE SEIZED. FORD AGREED TO PAY 1/3 OF COSTS TO MAINTAIN CUSTOMER LOYALTY. SHOWED THEM DEFECT REPORT FROM NHTSA WEBSITE.*AK