Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
PE 01 033 : STEERING COLUMN : NOISE WOULD APPEAR WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
WHENEVER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED IT WOULD IT SMOKE BADLY. AFTER DRIVING FOR AWHILE, BLUE SMOKE DISAPPEARED. TAKEN TO MECHANIC., AND SMELLED BURNING OIL. CHECKED UNDER HOOD, AND FOUND HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MOTOR. MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK *JB
TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND $2000.00 DAMAGE. *AK
DOOR HAS CRACK(RIP) ON LOWER RIGHT. RIGHTSIDE DOOR APPEARS TO MAY HAVE A CRACK STARTING ALSO. *AK
FRONT SUSPENSION IS A "SEALED BALL/SOCKET SYSTEM" SUPPOSEDLY NEEDING NO GREASE. THE TIE ROD DRIVER'S SIDE/INNER JUST POPPED OFF AT LOW SPEED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOCKET WAS DRY CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR/CORROSION ON THE JOINT. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PITTMAN ARM IS ALSO DRY AND IN NEED OF GREASE - ACTUALLY, REPLACEMENT, NOW. I AM CONTINUALLY ASSURED BY FORD SERVICE DEPT., THAT THE TRUCK DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE GREASE ADDED AS IT HAS A "SEALED BALL AND SOCKET JOINT SYSTEM" THESE PARTS SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE GREASE FITTINGS FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES. ****HUBS**** DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DIAMETER OF THE HUBS IN RELATION TO THE WHEEL/ROTORS, ETC., ON THE 1997 TRUCKS, THE DIAMETER OF THE HUBS DID NOT ALLOW FOR EVEN A MINOR AMOUNT OF NORMAL CORROSION. THIS RESULTS IN THE MECHANIC'S INABILITY TO REMOVE THE HUB FOR SERVICE WITHOUT DAMAGING THE HUB ASSY. (THERE IS NO "LIP" OR DIFFERENCE OF DIAMETER TO TAP HE EDGE OF THE HUB ASSY TO REMOVE IT FROM THE WHEEL ASSY. THIS HAPPENED ON THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD AND HAD NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT WATER/AIR. *AK
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS NOW, I HAVE HAD THE MULTI SWWITCH FAIL AND NEED REPLACEMENT. BOTH TIMES FORD DEALERSHIP IN MUSKEGON HAVE REPLACED THE PART.*AK
THE DOOR SKIN IS CRACKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW REARWARD. IT IS VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE AND GOES UNDER THE RUBBER TRIM TO THE EDGE OF WINDOW FRAME. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD QUALITY CARE, AND A FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN WICHITA. NO HELP IN GETTING IT FIXED. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A MORE MAJOR FAILURE OF THE DOOR OR COULD BE UNSAFE IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE DOOR SEEMS TO FLEX AT THE POINT OF THE CRACK WHEN ROLLING WINDOW UP AND DOWN.*AK
DOOR IS CRACKED WHERE WINDOW AND DOOR COMES TOGETHER. *AK
PE 01 033/STEERING COLUMN: WHILE MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STEERING COLUMN SEPARATED FROM GEAR BOX. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILED AND LEAKED ANTI-FREEZE INSIDE HEATER BOX MIST LEFT OILY FILM ON WINDSHIELD AND COULD NOT CLEAN . HAD TO DRIVE 2 HOURS WITH DRIVERS WINDOW OPEN TO SEE. REPLACED IN JAN OF 2000 AND FAILED 8 MONTHS LATER SAME RESULT BOTH TIMES I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 3 A. M. SEE TSB 01-15-6 REPEATED HEATER CORE FAILURE. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL GIVE ME ANOTHER CORE BUT I HAVE TO INSTALL AGAIN 12 TO 16 HOUR JOB. VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU.*AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL AT SLOW SPEEDS DURING LONG TRIPS, 5 TIMES SO FAR. TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, CANNOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
STABLIZER BAR BROKE , BOLTS FELL TO THE GROUND. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND WOULD NOT START UP AT ALL. THERE WAS WATER COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH, JUST CAME THOUGH A FOUR WAY STOP, ENTERED INTERSECTION, AND REAR IN CAME APART/ BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR , AND ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING ,AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK
FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PPB29 IN DECEMBER 1999 REGARDING FAILURE OF ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL.IN MARCH 2001 FORD MOTOR COMPANY CANCELLED THE RECALL. IF THE GASKET WAS FAULTY IN DECEMBER 1999 HOW CAN IT NOT BE FAULTY TODAY. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $800.00. *AK
NOTICED BROKEN SPRINGS 10/17/2001 RIGHT SIDE SPRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST TIRE VERY LOW SPEED 10 MPH OR LESS. *AK
CONSUMER 98V161000 REPAIRS WERE DONE BY DEALER. AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE DEALER INSTALLED CLIP ON FORWARD END OF REAR SPRINGS. CONSUMER STATED APPARENTLY DEALER DID NOT REPLACE SPRINGS ON VEHICLE BECAUSE SPRINGS BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HE DID WHAT RECALL REQUIRED. *AK
BRAKES LOCK UP AND MAKE TRUCK SKID OUT OF CONTROL WHEN THE TRUCK IS COLD AND THE WEATHER IS WET. *AK
ENGINE FAILED. YD
WHILE DRIVING THERES A SKIP IN ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
FUSES TO THE GAUGES ON DASHBOARD WERE BURNING OUT. GAUGES DID NOT INDICATE SPEED, FUEL OR WARNING SIGNS. DEALER CAN NOT FIND WHERE OR WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING THE SHORTAGES. THE CONSUMER HAS ONLY SMELLED RUBBER BURNING ONCE.*AK
FUEL LINE LEAK CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPILL ONTO THE PAVEMENT; A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD. DEFECT WAS COVERED BY A SAFETY RECALL, BUT I HAD PREVIOUSLY TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. HOW CAN A PART COVERED UNDER A RECALL FAIL AFTER I TOOK IT IN? FORD IS UNWILLING TO COVER ANY EXPENSES EXCEPT THE REPAIR COSTS, WHILE I INCURRED ADDTIONAL COSTS. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER QUIT WORKING. FORD IS UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS.*AK
SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM UNDER PICKUP BED, DAMAGING TRAILER BEING TOWED. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BEHIND THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TIRE FELL OFF. I CALLED FORD AND THEY INDICATED IT WAS 'NOT A SAFETY ISSUE'. CAN THIS BE TRUE, GIVEN THAT A 60LB TIRE AND RIM ARE ALLOWED TO JUST FALL OFF A VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS? THANK YOU. GT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
A BURNING/SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER DASH, UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK
VEHICLE REAR SLIDING GLASS WOULD LEAK WNENEVER IT RAINS OR BEING WASHED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE HAS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER FLOOR OF VEHICLE. CAN'T HEAR SOUND UNLESS VEHICLE IS MOVING. HAD VECHILE IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER PUT IN NEW BUSHING AND U-JOINT; BUT STILL HAS NOT REMEDIED PROBLEM. *AK *YH
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, CONSUMER THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ABOUT 5MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AGAIN, PLUS THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A MECHANIC, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD FALLEN OUT OF POSITION.*JB
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE/ VIBRATION. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, AND LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. GENERAL, AMERI550, 85 23570R16.*AKTHE FIRST OCCURANCE WAS JULY 2001, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND ENTER ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC (DOTA308443316 GENERAL AMERI 550 AS). NLM
RIGHT FRONT OUTSIDE TIE-ROD END SEPARATED AT THE BALL/SOCKET JOINT. THIS OCCURED WHILE TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY SO SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THESE TIE-ROD ENDS ARE FACTORY SEALED SO MAINTENANCE IS IMPOSSIBLE.
SPARE TIRE LIFT AND HOLDER
EXHAUST ON REAR RIM WHICH HAS CAUSED THE RIM TO START PITTING AND MAY CAUSE FAILURE. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH VEHICLE SHIMMIED VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT OUTER LEFT TIE ROD BROKE. THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 7 2001, WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH, CONSUMER LOST STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS WHEN INNER RIGHT TIE ROD BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STARTED TO CHOKE/ SPUTTER, AND RUN ROUGH. THEN, IT DIES. ONCE WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL ENGINE STALLED/ IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER, AND CONSUMER ALMOST LOST CONTROL.PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
#1 0R #2 PISTON ROD KNOCKED A HOLE THROUGH OIL PAN DURING A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO AN ENGINE AT 51000 MILES. I FEEL THIS ENGINE HAD A DEFECT AT MANUFACTURE OR A DESIGN FLAW AS I FIND I AM NOT ALONE IN HAVING THIS ENGINE FAIL.*AK
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND THE LATER ONE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P235 170R161045)*YH
THE VEHICLES DOOR CRACKED FOUR TIMES, AND THE CONSUMER WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH
DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR FRAMES ARE CRACKING UNDER WINDOW. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS / PHOTOGRAPHS.*AK
REAR WINDOW IS LEAKING WATER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. GLASS HAS SEPARATED FROM FRAME OF THE TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
3/8" STRESS CRACK LOWER REAR OF DOOR WINDOW. LOOKS LIKE WINDOW FLEXING DOOR. *AK
VEHICLE HAS STRESS CRACKS AROUND DOOR ON OUTSIDE DOOR WINDOW. CRACKS SAID TO BE CAUSED BY SLAMMING THE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WE HAVE HAD OVER 5 , NOW 6 RECALL'S WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.THERE IS NO MODIFICATIONS TO THIS TRUCK, AND HAD BEEN GETTING VIBRATION'S IN THE REAR,BUT FORD SAID THEY SAW NO PROBLEM WITH THIS,NOW THE ENGINE HAS BLOWN AND THEY CANNOT GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS.. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT WHEELS TURNED INWARD. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRES. *AK
BOTH DOORS ARE SHOWING CRACKS A FEW INCHES AT BOTTOM OF WINDOW OPENING. CRACKS ARE HORIZONTAL AND NEAR METAL SURROUNDING THE WINDOW.*AK
CRACK IN EACH DOOR NEAR WINDOW. *AK
STOPPED TO GET GAS UPON STARTING VEHICLE STARTED KINDA RACE WHEN PUT IN GEAR TOOK OFF BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD LAID BLACK MARKS HIT CONCRETE SPACER BY GAS PUMPS WITH SIDE OF TRUCK WENT OUT ONTO PUBLIC ROAD SAW 3 1/2 FT DITCH TOOK DITCH TO GET STOPPED HIT HEAD ON AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF BROKE MY BACK AT CONTACT. *AK
TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2081PT036 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE SYSTEM
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Ford F-150 → · Every F-150 year → · How the figures are calculated →