1997 Ford F-150 complaints

ON 5/3/02 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT AND REPLACED THE DPF SENSOR, UPDATED COMPUTER AND CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I HAD TROUBLE STARTING 3 TIMES AFTER WORK. THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, MY WIFE DROVE IT TO WORK AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO START IT AFTER WORK THERE WAS A LOUD "BANG" AND IT TOOK ANOTHER 1/2 HR TO GET IT GOING. WHEN SHE GOT IT GOING AGAIN THERE WAS A LOUD "TAPPING" FROM THE ENGINE. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND TOWED IT IN. THEY CHECKED AND SAID THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE REBUILT. IT WAS GOING TO COST US $4000 PLUS LABOR TO HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE PUT IN. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. ON DOING SOME RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND THERE WAS A RECALL (#99B29) RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM THAT WE NEVER RECEIVED. WE ORDERED THE TRUCK IN JAN 1996, AND TOOK DELIVERY IN MARCH 96 WHICH FALLS WITHIN ALL OF THE DATE RANGES SPECIFIED ON F150.COM. WE HAVE SINCE CONTACTED OUR SALESMAN, HE CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM AND CALLED US BACK TELLING US TO BRING IT IN. THIS WILL INVOLVE ANOTHER TOWING AND I'M NOT SURE IT WILL SOLVE ANYTHING WE DO NOT ALREADY KNOW. WE DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $4000 FOR AN ENGINE ON A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT APPOX. 11PM ON MAY 9TH, AT APPROX. 12:30 AM I WAS AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF A HORN BLOWING , I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND I SEEN THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE, A NIEGHBOR LADY HAD DRIVEN BY AND NOTICED IT AND WENT HOME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SHE SAID THAT IT WAS BURNING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY THE TIRE, THAT IS WHY I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, FOR THAT IS WHERE ALL THE MAIN ELECTRICAL FUSE BLOCKS ARE LOCATED.*AK

DROVE VEHICLE 60 MILES TO AIRPORT AND WORKED JUST FINE. RETURNED TO VEHICLE ONE HOUR LATER AND STARTED IT UP. HEARD RATTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS ALMOST ZERO MOVEMENT IN STEERING WHEEL. WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND TO HAVE IT TOWED. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. WISH TO URGE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE SINCE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIES. VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT THIS POINT IN IT'S LIFE CYCLE.*AK

COOPER TIRE FAILED. TIRE SIZE LT265/75R16 AND DOT # UPW8B6U456. *YH

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, THE FIRE STARTS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHERE THE MUFFLER IS. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*JB *MJ

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR STRESS FACTOR 2 INCHES ABOVE WINDOW IS CRACKED AND CAN BREAK AT ANYTIME, AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR INJURIES.*AK

HEADLIGHTS WORKED POORLY CONFUSE THE ONCOMING DRIVERS, AND SCARES THE HELL OUT OF THE DRIVER OF THE MENTIONED VEHICLE. OUTSIDE MIRRORS------OUTSIDE MIRRORS ( RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE) FAIL TO OPERATE WITH THE ADJUSTING SWITCH LOCATED IN THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE ARM REST. MIRRORS FAIL TO ADJUST. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DIFFERENT DRIVERS USE THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING STATE SPEED LIMIT WITHOUT WARNING THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE WIRE ASSEMBLY ON TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY.*JB CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CABLE HOLDING THE TIRE ASSEMBLY SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FAIL. *YH

CONTACTED FORD ON NATIONAL 800 NUMBER. SUPERVISOR SAID FORD WILL NOT ADMIT OCCURRENCE OF SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THEIR ENGINES. HOWEVER, THEY WERE QUICK TO RESPOND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ALUMINUM HEAD FOR $1,500.... SAYS IT IS NOT A FORD DEFECT. HOWEVER, I AM FINDING THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. THE LOCAL FORD SHOP SAYS THEY ROUTINELY SEE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS ONLY COVERED IF UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE MY TRUCK IS A USED VEHICLE ... NOT COVERED. WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, THE SUDDEN BANG AND FOLLOWING LOUD NOISE CAUSED ME TO SWERVE ON THE HIGHWAY.... FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NOBODY NEXT TO ME AT THE TIME. I GOT THE IMPRESSION FROM THE NATIONAL FORD REP. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT FORCES THEM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35MPH, LOST ALL STEERING POWER. CONNECTION FROM STEERING WHEEL TO STEERING GEAR BOX CAME OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK *YH

GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKES, THE BRAKES GO BELOW THE GAS PEDAL, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE PURCHASE. *JG

CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR ARE BEGINNING TO CRACK , MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN AWARE OF PROBLEM AND HAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM HOWEVER CONSUMER DOES NOT FALL UNDER RECALL. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE , SIZE# P235/70R16, DOT W208, EQUIPED ON A 1997 FORD F150. RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHERE SIDEWALL MEETS TREAD, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 31985 MILES. *NLM *YD

BEARINGS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMING APART WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKTHE ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BOTH FAILED. THE WHEEL WAS ON THE VERGE OF FALLING OFF. *JG

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH HEARD A LOUD NOISE. CHECKED VEHICLE, PASSENGER'S SIDE FENDER HAD DROPPED DUE TO BROKEN FRONT TORSION BAR. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE ADD VIN.*AK

HAD CRUISE/CONTROL SET & PUSH ACCELERATOR TO PASS AN VEHICLE WHEN MY TRUCK REACH APPROX. 75M.P.H. THE ACCLERATOR PEDEL AUTOMATICLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOORBOARD & STUCK WITH FULL TROTTLE ALL THE WAY OPEN. WHEN I TAP BRAKE PEDAL IT DID NOT TRUN OFF CRUISE. THEN PUSH THE OFF BUTTTON ON CRUISE,IT DID NOT SHUT OFF. WHEN I SHUT OFF ENGINE & GOT TRUCK FINALLY TO STOP . IHAD TO REACH DOWN & PULL UP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDEL TO UNSTICK IT. THEN I STARTED THE TRUCK UP AGAIN & EVERYTHING APPEARED TO BE WORKING OKAY AGAIN.*AKY

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, UPON INPSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM, THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS NUMBER 1 AND 3 AND THERE WAS ALSO WATER ON THEM.*JB

TIRE DEVELOPED A 3IN.X2IN.X1/2IN. BULGE. TIRE WAS SWAPPED WITH SPARE. SINCE THEN THE TREAD HAS HAD COMPLETE FAILURE WITH A SEPARATION OF APPROX. 3 FEET AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. ALL OF THIS OCCURED WHILE BEING IN THE SPARE TIRE POSITION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

THE REAR WINDOW FRAME KEEPS CRACKING AND CAUSING IT TO LEAK WATER INSIDE THE CAB. I HAD IT FIXED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES UNDER WARRANTY THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND TIPTON WOULDN'T HELP ME ANYMORE SO I CALLED FORD IN DETROIT AND THEY SAID THE DEALER SAID I WAS ABUSING MY FORD AND THAT IS A FALSE STATEMENT I EVEN OFFERED TO SEND THEM PICTURES OF MY TRUCK AND IT IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND ONLY 65,000 MILES IT IS UNFOUNDED IF THEY JUST WOULD LOOK AT MY TRUCK 'NOT TAKEING THE DEALERS WORD BECAUSE WHY WOULD IT BE ABUSE ONLY AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT . THE DEALER NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM AND IF I HAVE TO GO THROUGH LEGAL MANNERS I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO. *AK

STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, CONSUMEDR LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH RAN INTO A DIRT BANK. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 26 MPH ON A DIRT ROAD, A DEER RAN OUT OF THE WOODS, HE HIT HIS BRAKES AND HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND HAD NO CONTROL OF THE TRUCK, ALSO THE STEERING WAS NOT RESPONDING WITH THE TURN OF THE WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *YH

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

INSIDES OF THE RIMS ARE PEELING, ALSO SIGN OF CRACKING ARE APPEARING AROUND BASE OF RIMS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR A CHECK UP DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM TIRE ON A 1997, FORD, F150, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P235/70R16; DOT# W2081PT236. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. *AK *YD

TREAD BELT SEPARATION FROM TIRE CASING STARTED. MECHANIC DETECTED IT BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2081PT236 TIRESIZE: P23570R16)

RT TORSION BAR FAILED WHEN SETTING IN DRIVEWAY. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NHSTA NEEDS TO REOPEN AS THERE APPEAR TO BE MANY OTHER IDENTICAL FAILURES REPORTED. I WAS SUPRISED TO LEARN THAT, WHEN THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE TORSION BAR FAILURE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT EVERY FEW DAYS THE BRAKES WILL FAIL, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL STOPS MIDWAY AND CAN ONLY BE DEPRESSED FURTHER BY APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE, THEREFORE CAUSING NO BRAKING ACTION, CONSUMER FEELS THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ABS. *SLC

I KNOW THAT THESE ARE NOT THE TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED TIRES. TREAD IS BECOMING SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE FIRST TIRE SHOWED THIS PROBLEM LAST OCT. THE SECOND ONE OCCURRED RECENTLY AND THE OTHER TIRES LOOK AS IF THEY WILL DEVELOP TREAD SEPARATION SOON. THESE TIRE ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A TREAD LIFE OF 60000 MILES.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

ANOTHER TIE ROD WAS FAULTY, ONLY THE BOOT WAS HOLDING STUD TO THE TIE ROD. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE VEHICLE IS NOT CALIBRATED CORRECTLY AND AS A RESULT IT HAS A 7 TO 8 MPH SPEED ERROR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH FORD VEHICLES. *JG *NLM

VEHICLE HIT A BUMP.CONSUMER FELT A SHAKE IN FRONT END. UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT OUTER BALL JOINT HAD DISCONNECTED. PART WAS REPLACED. ON 1 JULY 2001, RIGHT INNER BALL JOINT FELL OFF. ONE DAY LATER , LEFT BALL JOINT FELL OFF WHILE BACKING UP. MILEAGE WAS 67000 AT THE TIME.*AK

WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE SHE SAW A DARK SPOT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS DIRT. THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE METAL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKS ARE GOING TOWARD THE WINDOW AND DOOR. NLM

WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY, LEFT TIE ROD BROKE OFF AND CAUSED TIRE TO TURN OUTWARDS. *AK *TT

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ALL SIX FUEL INJECTORS BECAUSE OF RUST AND CORROSION IN FUEL TANK.*AKCONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UPO FROM THE DEATLER AND IT IS STILL NOT GIVING THE BEST PERFORMANCE. *JG

DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RUST AND CORROSION DEVELOPED IN FUEL TANK. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT FUEL INJECTOR WAS REPLACED, BUT SOON FAILED WHEN TAKEN FOR TEST DRIVE. *TT

FORD HAS REDESINED THE OUTER DOOR SHELL BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM SO I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD RECALL THE OUTER DOOR SCHELLS ON THE 1997 F-150. *AK

FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK IS THIS PROBLEM COVERED UNDER RECALL TSB# 99B29 DEC. 1999 WHAT DO I DO ? I NEVER GOT A RECALL FROM FORD OR DEALER.*AK

SUDDEN, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

TUNE UP. SEE ODI NO 562415. NAR 12/04/2002. *MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO GET A TUNE UP. 4 HOURS LATER THE ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO BLOW APART. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE SERVICE ATTENDANT TO GET AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE VEHICLE IS NOW MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONSUMER WOULD REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *CB *JB

VEHICLE STALLED RIGHT BEFORE CONSUMER STARTED TO DRIVE. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *TT

ENGINE KNOCK AT START UP. I BROUGHT THE PROBLEM TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD WHEN THE TRUCK WAS STILL UNDERWARRANTY. THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM AND DID NOT HAVE A FIX. SO THERFORE THEY DID NOTHING. NOW THAT THE PROBLEM IS WORSING, FORD HAS A SOLUTION BUT WILL DO NOTHING AS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I FEEL THEY AVOIDED FINDING A SOLUTION AND FIXING UNTIL THE VAST MAJORITY OF ENGINES WERE OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOW WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE FIX. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH FRONT END STARTED SHAKING, THERE WAS A NOISE AND VEHICLE DROPPED ON RIGHT FRONT. DEALER DETERMINED THAT RIGHT TIE ROD HAD BROKEN. ON 6 JUNE 2001 THE LEFT TIE ROD BROKE AGAIN. *AK *YH

REAR WINDOW LEAKS. RIGHT HAND SIDE OF REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED TO REPAIR VEHICLE, HAD TO REPLACE THE THE WHOLE WINDOW.*AK

DOORS DEVELOPE A CRACK NEAR THE WINDOW, ON CORNER WHERE DOOR HANDLE IS. I HAD REPAIR MADE AT THE DEALER, WHICH WERE EXPERIMENTAL ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP MANAGER. DRIVER DOOR RE-CRACKED AFTER THE REPAIR, MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR. AGAIN A WELDING REPAIR WAS MADE. NOW THE PASSANGER DOOR HAS STARTED CRACKING AGAIN. I FEEL THE WELDING FIX IS NOT THE ANSWER, AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO REPLACE THE DOOR SKINS WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PART.*AK

THE SEATBELT IS NOT CHILD SAFE. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE SEATBELT AND WRAPPED IT AROUND HER NECK AND IT LOCKED UP DISABLING US FROM REMOVING THE BELT FROM HER NECK. MY HUSBAND WAS FORCED TO CUT THE BELT TO SAVE OUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE.*AK

DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR PANEL IS CRACKING. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IS AWARE OF DOOR FRACTURE; HOWEVER, STRUCTURE OF DOOR FOR A 1997 IS NO LONGER BEING MADE.*AK

I HAVE REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I NOW HAVE A LEAK FROM THE ABS UNIT WHERE THE LINES LEAVE GOING TO THE BRAKES. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH OTHER 1997 F150 TRUCKS.*AK

ONE OF FIVE 1997-1998 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCKS OWNED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTAION WHICH HAVE HAD TIE ROD FAILURES AFTER REACHING 75K MILES OR MORE. *AK