1997 Ford F-150 complaints

DRIVING NORMALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TREAD ON MY TIRE JUST POPPED OFF AND CAUSED ME TO VEER ALL OVER ROADWAY AND INTO DITCH. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE FROM TREAD HITTING UNDERCARRIAGE AND BODY. POLICE HAD TO ASSIST. MY TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 99 F DEGREES. MY INSURANCE REFUSES TO PAY FOR A NEW SET OF TIRES AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE LARGE DEDUCTIBLE TO GET REPAIRS MADE ON VEHICLE. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TIRES AND I'M TERRIFIED THAT THEY WILL EXPLODE AGAIN. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE IS STILL INFLATED JUST NO TREAD IS LEFT ON TIRE. I HAVE KEPT TIRE FOR EVIDENCE AND TAKEN ABOUT 30 PICTURES OF ALL THE DAMAGE. I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING, BOTTOM LEAF, IS MISALIGNED, I READ THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH 1997 F150 2 WHEEL DRIVE PICK UPS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THESE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED WITH ALL OF THE OTHER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. I HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AS THE AT TIRES AND FORD AND FIRESTONE REFUSE TO HELP. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16 INCH)

CONSUMER WAS ON ROAD TRAVELING AND STEERING FELT LIKE IT WAS LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL NORMALLY FELT TIGHT AND STURDY, AND IT WAS STARTING TO HAVE TOO MUCH PLAY. DEALER ORDERED A LOWER COLUMN SHAFT POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF WEAR AND TEAR. VEHICLE WAS ALSO RE-ALIGNED AND WENT BACK TO NORMAL.*AK

PASSENGER'S AREA DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS REPLACED THE PART THAT HOLDS THE PLUGS TWICE AND IT COSTS 450 DOLLARS EACH TIME, CONSUMER STATES HE THINKS HE MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN, THE INTERIOR LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AT TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. *SLC

CONSUMER MADE A STOP WHILE ON ROAD. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, IT HESITATED AND DIDN'T START BACK UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT BATTERY CABLE WAS ONE UNIT THAT WAS CONNECTED TO STARTER. BATTERY CABLE HAD CORRODED AND BROKEN OFF. ALTHOUGH, BATTERY CABLE WAS ONE UNIT, MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPAIR JUST CABLE, SAVING CONSUMER FROM T EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK

DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN HEAD-ON COLLISION, RESULTING IN BROKEN BACK.*AK

BOTH DOORS ARE SHOWING CRACKS NEAR BOTTOM OF WINDOW WHERE RUBBER STRIPPING IS LOCATED. MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF PROBLEM DUE TO HAVING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN LISTED. VEHICLE NOT UNDER WARRANTY FOR FREE REPAIRS.*AK *SLC

REAR PASSENGER SIDE ORGINIAL EQUIPMENT, GENERAL, AMER-550 TIRE SIZE P235/70R16 WITH THIRTY THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. TREAD BEGAN TO BULGE, THEN SEPARATED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER PURCHASED 4 MORE TIRES, BUT FEELS THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH ONLY 33000 MILES ON THEM, DOT NUMBER A308443057. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER BELIEVES IT WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE FUEL LINE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR HIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

TAIL PIPE WILL HEAT UP TO POINT WHERE REAR RIGHT TIRE SHREDDED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER.*AK WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT II TIRE BLEWOUT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CRASH, DOT NUMBER W2031PT166, TIRE SIZE P235/70R16, CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

GENERAL TIRE SIZE, 235 60 R/16 TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER SAID THATHE WAS LUCKLY THAT HE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENTLY. BUT, TREAD DID DAMAGE THE QUARTER PANEL ON TRUCK.*AK

LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES MIDDLE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATED AFTER PROCEDING PAST STOP SIGN. ONCE SEPARATION OCCURED, MIDDLE LEAF SPRING ROTATED INTO LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE DOWN TO METAL BELT OF TIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER DAMAGE OF LEAF SPRING OR TIRE, REPAIR COST: APPROX. $450.00. RECALL 98V161 WAS PERFORMED ON LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT LEAF STRIKING GAS TANK, BUT DID NOT PREVENT LEAF FROM ROTATING OUT TO TIRE. MIDDLE LEAF SPRING WAS RUSTED ON BROKEN END AND HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME, MAYBE EVEN WHEN RECALL SERVICE WAS DON ON IT.*AK

STARTED THE MOTOR IN THE MORNING TO GO TO WORK, KNOCKING NOISE FROM EITHER BACK OF MOTOR OR FRONT OF TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM. WAS TOLD BY TECHNICIAN THAT HE ALSO HEARD NKOCKING NOISE. TECHNICIAN PUT STETHOSCOPE ON MOTOR SAYS OIL PUMP MIGHT BE BAD. HIS SUGESSTION ON THE WORK ORDER WAS TO PULL THE OIL PAN AND INSPECT BEARINGS. THIS WAS NOT PERFORMED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THERE RECOMENDATION. TECHNICIANS FINAL RECOMENDATION WAS FOR ME TO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW MOTOR FROM THE DEALER AND ALLOW THEM TO PUT IT IN FOR A LOW LOW PRICE OF $3000.00 OUT THE DOOR. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE VERY DECEITFUL DUE TO THE FACT THAT NOT HARDLY ANYTHING WAS DONE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE KNOCK BUT YET THERE FINAL DECISION IS FOR ME TO PAY $3000.00 FOR A NEW MOTOR AND INSTALLATION. WHEN THEY DO NOT EVEN KNOW IF THIS IS THE PROBLEM. COST ME $35.00 FOR THERE DECEITFUL RECOMENDATION. I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR OTHER 1997 FORD F-150 MOTOR PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE KNOCKING NOISES AND THEY ARE EVERY WHERE ON THE WEB. ALL MOTOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS MINE ARE ALL LOW MILEAGE MOTORS. MINE ONLY HAS 67951 MILES ON IT. I HAVE RELIGOUSLY MAINTAINED ALL ASPECTS OF MY VEHICLE. FORD SELLS LOW QAULITY PRODUCTS AND THERE DEALERS ARE DECEITFUL!*AK

THE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED , THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT PER RECALL 99B29. NLM *TT

WAS DRIVING 60MPH AND PULLING AN OPEN DUAL AXLE TRAILER, LEFT REAR TIRE LOST ITS TREAD. WAS MAKING A THUMPING NOISE BEFORE IT CAME OFF. HAD HEARD A NOISE, AND NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM REAR. TIRE MAINTAINED AIR PRESSURE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS GONE. LATER, WAS TRAVELING AND RIGHT REAR TIRE LOST PART OF TREAD. 1997, FORD, F150, P235/70R16. WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON TRUCK.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT II TIRES, DOT NUMBER W208 1PT. *SLC

THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE END OF THE STEERING COLUMN DISCONNECTED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS ALSO REPLACED. NLM

WE WERE BACKING OUR TRUCK INTO OUR DRIVEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST ALL OF ITS STEERING ABILITY. WE IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SECTOR SHAFT ON THE ST. *AK

WANTED TO SLOW DOWN ON SNOW COVERED ROAD FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD/PUSHED IN CLUTCH/ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 4TH GEAR/FOUND SHIFT LEVER TO BE LOCKED UP/CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE/FOUND IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO BRAKE VEHICLE TO A STOP/WAS FORCED TO DRIVE VEHICLE OFF ROAD TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED VEHICLE IN REAR. STOPPED VEHICLE BY SHUTTING OFF ENGINE. FOUND THE CLUTCH CYLINDER OUT OF FLUID. REFILLED AND CLUTCH ACTION SEEMED OK. COULD NOT FIND ANY NOTICEABLE LEAKS. CALLED DEALERSHIP. TALKED TO SERVICE REP. REP FELT IT MAY OFF BEEN LOW ON FLUID DUE TO CLUCH WEAR. DROVE ABOUT 35 MILES AND AGAIN WHEN I ATTEMPED TO DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT /NO CLUTCH OPERATION. NO CLUTCH FLUID. ONLY WAY ONE CAN SHIFT TO NEUTRAL IS TO SHUT ENGINE OFF. VERY DANGEROUS . DISCOVERED WHEN I TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR THAT A O-RING IN CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER LEAKED. FORD TECH SAID THIS A COMMON PROBLEM ESPECIALLY IF IT IS VERY COLD TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE. FUNNY FORD HAD A SIMILAR CLUTCH PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1987 F150 TRUCKS EXCEPT IT WAS DUE TO A WEAK FIREWALL MOUNTING FOR CLUTCH OIL RESORIVOR. AGAIN CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY AND FORD HAD A FACTORY MODIFICATION TO FIX. *AK

MY TIRES HAVE BEEN WEARING DOWN FOR SOME TIME. I DO NOT DO VERY MUCH HIGHWAY DRIVING, THAT MIGHT BE WHY I DIDN'T HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE. I ONLY HAVE 24000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. I WAS STARTING TO THINK ABOUT GETTING NEW TIRES, THEY WERE WORN DOWN ALOT. TWO WEEKS AGO OR SO I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND FELT A BUMPPY RIDE. WHEN I GOT HOME I CHECK THE TIRES AND FOUND THAT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE I HAD A TORN PART OF THE TREAD. I COULD SEE THE STEEL BELT AND THE RUBBER HAD SEPARATED. I WENT AND GOT A NEW SET OF TIRES THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEN A WEEK OR MORE LATER I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER FROM YOUR AGENCY ABOUT THE TIRES I HAD ON MY TRUCK. I WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD THE ARTICLE BEFORE THE TIRE WENT BAD, THEN I COULD HAVE IT DOCUMENTED, BUT I DIDN'T. GOOD THING I WASN'T GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT DID HAPPEN AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN GET OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TIRE. THANK YOU. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

WHILE DRIVING ON TWO OCCASIONS THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE RESULTING IN THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE BECOMING DIFFICULT (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P235-70R16 1045). NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT AND THE CONSUMER NOTICED LEFT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT IN THE MORNING, ONE YEAR PRIOR THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED LEFT FRONT TIRE SHIMMY AT ABOUT 8 MPH, UPON INSPECTION OF THAT TIRE CONSUMER NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION, BOTH TIRES WER GENERAL AMERI 550 AS SIZE 235/70R16, DOTA3084431147, THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. NLM

ALL 4 TIRES ON VEHICLE REPLACED WITH GENERAL AMERI 550 AS P235 70R16 TIRES ON 8/6/99 AT ODOMETER 44,763 MILES AS PART OF NORMAL SERVICE. LEFT FRONT TIRE ON 7/20/01 AT ODOMETER APPROX. 68,400 MILES BEGAN TO DETERIORATE AS INDICATED BY VEHICLE VIBRATION AT 50 MPH SPEED. OVER NEXT 3-4 DAYS, VEHICLE SHAKING GOT WORSE. INSPECTED TIRES AND FOUND FRONT LEFT HAD SEPARATION OF TREAD AT SPOT BETWEEN SIDEWALL AND FLAT SURFACE APPROX. 15 IN. LONG. OTHER 3 TIRES WERE OK BASED UPON AMATEUR VISUAL INSPECTION. VEHICLE IS USED EXCLUSIVELY ON HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING (NO OFF-ROAD OR CONTRUCTION SITES) BY WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN AT NORMAL RATES OF SPEED. HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES AFTER READING USA TODAY ARTICLE ON 7/25/01.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235 70R16)

THE TIRES HAVEN'T FAILED. CONCERN ON CRACKING AROUND TREAD ON ALL 4. ALL HAVE TREAD LIFE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)

TIRE BLOWOUT WITH VISIBLE TREAD SEPARATION. BLOWOUT OCCURRED AT 30 MPH WHILE TRAVELLING WITHIN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. ALL FOUR TIRES KEPT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. *AK (DOT NUMBER: A308443526 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

TRUCK WAS GIVING A BUMPY RIDE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. WENT TO MY MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED THE TIRES UPON MY COMPLAINT. HE POINTED OUT ON BOTH FRONT TIRES WHERE THE TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE SIDEWALL. TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AT ALL DUE TO IMPENDING DANGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRES. CALLED FIRESTONE, THEY WOULD REPLACE WITH THE SAME TIRES THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH. CALLED FORD CO.IN DETROIT, CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE, FIRESTONE PROBLEM. I GOT THE RUN AROUND. REPLACED TIRES ON MY OWN AND HAVE SAVED THE FIRESTONE TIRES SHOULD THEY BE RECALLED FOR TREAD SEPARATION. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

CORD RIPPED UNDER TREAD CAUSING BUBBLE AND SEPARATION OF TREAD -- NO RESULTING ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70/16)

SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT-JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY THEN SHOOK VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE ON I37. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE HIGHWAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND SLAMMED THRU BRUSH SMALL TREES, CAREENED OFF A LARGE OAK TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ROLLED THREE TIME COMING TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE POLICE REVEALED THE RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE CAUSING A BLOWOUT PLUS A BLOWOUT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DUE TO THE VIOLENT MANUVERS PRIOR TO LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. THANKS TO GOD, SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGES MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT KILLED BUT BRUISED PRETTY GOOD. WE STILL SUFFER NECK PAINS AND SHOULDER PAINS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235/70RX16)

THE STEERING BOX AND COLOMN BECAME DICONECTED, RENDERING VEHICLE UNSTABLE. THIS WAS AN ASSEMBLY PROBLEM NOT A PRODUCT DEFECT. *AK

ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, F150, TIRE SIZE P23570R16 WITH 28,000 MILES ON THEM. TWO OF FOUR TIRES DEVELOPED SPLITS BETWEEN THE TREAD. ALSO ONE OF THE TWO TIRES REPLACED DEVELOPED SPLITS. *AK GENERAL 550 AMERI AS BW TIRES, DOT NUMBER A308443088 AND A308443286, CONSUMER ALSO HAD TWO FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, ISZE P235/70R16, CONSUMER STATES THESE TIRES HAD AN AGRESSIVE TREAD, THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED 19-OCT-1998. *SLC

I STARTED TO PASS A PICKUP IN FRONT OF ME. AS I GOT ALONG SIDE I NOTICED I WAS ALREADY UP TO 70 MPH. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE COAST AND OFF BUTTONS FOR THE CRUISE. I LET OFF THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY AND WAS NOW UP TO 90 MPH. I PUSHED THE BRAKES HARD AND TURNED THE KEY OFF, COASTING TO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON IT WENT TO FULL THROTTLE INSTANTLY. I DISCONNECTED THE CABLE FOR THE CRUISE AND TURNED IT ON. THE ENGINE IDLED AND THE CRUISE CABLE PULLED ALL THE WAY IN. THE NEXT DAY I CHECKED THE CRUISE CABLE AND IT WAS NOT PULLED IN WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. I WAS LUCKY THERE WERE NO CARS ON THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. IN THE LAST WEEK THE FORD DEALER HAS DONE NOTHING.*AK

EACH TIRE (4) HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE DISCOUNT TIRE CO. OF TEXAS INC (9403 CULEBRA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78251; 210-523-7158) SALESPERSON STATED EACH TIME THAT IT WAS A FLUKE. I SWITCHED BRANDS AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES OUT OF FEAR. *AK (DOT NUMBER: A308443087 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

CONCERNED ABOUT ME AND OTHERS ITS PRETTY EVIDENT THAT THESE DOORS ARE WEAK STRUCTURLY OR THEY WOULD NOT DO THIS, AND I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY HAVE FIXED EVEN IF I DID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE I CA'NT AFORD A NEW DOOR ON FIXED INCOME. COMPLAINT #2 WHEN THE BOLTS ON THE CRANK PULLEY SHEARED OFF LOSS OF CONTROL MAKING IT VERY DIFFCULT TO STEAR ,THANK GOD I WAS'NT ON A SHARP CURVE WHEN THE BOLTS BROKE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ THIS NHTSA. *AK

TIRE DELAMINATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

TIRE THREAD SEPARATION DAMAGING RIGHT REAR FENDER AND EXHAUST PIPE*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

TIRES HAVE CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE TREADS, WHERE THE TREADS ARE CONNECTED TO THE TIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235 70R16)

THIS VEHICLE ALREADY HAD A RECALL #98S18. THIS OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SPRING CAME OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND STRUCK MY FUEL TANK. IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE LEAF SPRING IF IT WAS NOT MADE CORRECTLY AND NOT JUST PUT A BANDAID ON IT. THEY BROKE EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ERROR..

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL IS NORMAL, BUT THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

UPON BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE I FELT A HARD JOLT AND THE TRUCK SHUT OFF. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS OR ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE STAEERING WHEEL, I FOUND IT VERY HARD TO TURN. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AGAIN AND NOTICED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHEEL HAD A LITTLE SHIMMY TO IT AND NO LEAKS. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THESE PUMPS GO OUT ANYWHERE FROM 10K MILES AND UP. UNSAT.*AK

AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE. LEAVING ME WITH NO CONTROL OF STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.*AK

THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE HOOD FAILED RESULTING IN FIRE. NLM

STEADY TAPPING NOISE IN 5TH GEAR, WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSED (NO VARIATION WITH SPEED INCREASE). WORSE IN COOL WEATHER. MOVING THE 4WHEEL DRIVE SHIFTER SIDE TO SIDE MODULATES NOISE. HAS GOTTEN COARSER AND LOUDER, AND SPREAD TO 3RD AND 4TH GEARS OVER THE COURSE OF LAST 14K MILES. ACADEMY FORD LED ME TO BELIEVE A FIX WAS IN PROGRESS DURING REPEATED SERVICE VISITS SINCE OCT 99, BUT ADMITTED DEC 2000 THAT FORD DID NOT WANT TO INVEST RESOURCES IN PURSUING INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM OR ITS CAUSE SINCE NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE DRIVE 5SPEEDS AND HAVE REPORTED SAME. STICK SHIFT ALSO SEEMS MUSHY AT TIMES AND DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED.*AK

LAST SUMMER (2000) MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING FROM MERCED, CA TO SANTA CRUZ, CA FOR VACATION. THE TEMPS WERE AROUND 100 DEGREES. I HAVE A 1997 F-150 XLT EXTENDED CAB WITH WILDERNESS HT TIRES AND APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD AND BLEWOUT. I PURCHASED ANOTHER WILDERNESS HT TIRE IN SANTA CRUZ FOR A REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE RECALL OF THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. THIS YEAR DURING THE SAME TRIP AND SAME CONDITIONS AND ABOUT 27,000 MILES ON THE SAME TRUCK WE ARRIVED IN SANTA CRUZ AND I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A LARGE CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING AND THE STEEL BELT WAS EXPOSED. THIS WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE TIRE NEAR THE SIDEWALL. I EXAMINE THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND NOTICED A CRACK FORMING IN THE SAME AREA. I HAD PLACED THE NEW TIRE PURCHASED IN 2000 ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WITH THE SPARE AND THE TIRES ON THE BACK WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SEPARATION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

THERE IS A CRACK IN DOOR FRAME THAT BEGINS FROM WINDOW WEATHER STRIP AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE SIDE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER IS WILLING, BUT NOT THE MANUFACTURER. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, ANOTHER VEHCILE HIT CONSUMER'S BUMPER. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AND WAS NFORMED BY ANOTHER CONSUMER THAT FIRE WAS COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE. WHILE WALKING AWAYFROM THE VEHICLE, IT BLEW UP. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK ONE PERSON WAS INJURED. *SLC

TORSION BAR TWISTED OFF ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSING FRONT CORNER TO DROP 6" TO 8" INCHES. AND A LOSS OF SUSPENSION ON THAT SIDE. LATER THE PASSENAGER SIDE SNAPPED.

ACCELERATOR PEDAL LOCKED UP WITH SPEED CONTROL ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 68-70 MPH, COULD NOT DEACTIVATE SPEED CONTROL BY APPLYING BRAKES OR DISENGAGING IT BY THE ON/OFF SWITCH. DISENGAGED BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING VEHICLE OFF. THIS CAUSED ENGINE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ENGINE WAS BLOWN, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK NEEDE REPLACEMENT. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NO COLLISION OR INJURIES OCCURRED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

PE00 020; COMNSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE. HE WAS IN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO GO ON SHOULDERS OF ROAD. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P25570R16. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT. THERE WERE KNOTS ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRES. FORD AND FIRESTONE WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

WE TOLD THE DEALER WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK IT NEEDED TIRES .NOT LONG AFTER THAT 2 TIRES HAD KNOTS AND 1 CAME APART WE TALKED TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE SALES PERSONS KNOW LONGER WORKED THERE SO THEY HAD KNOW IDEA WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.IM A TRUCK DRIVER SO I CANT BE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS . MY WIFE LIVES IN TX AND I LIVE AND WORK IN ARIZONA WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY WIFE SO SHE COULD GET SOMETHING DONE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESPONSE. THIS IS A USED TRUCK BUT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE TIRES LIKE I ASKED.. I WROTE GENERAL AND GOT NO RESPONSE THERE IS ABOUT 800.00 IN DAMAGE TO OUR TRUCK. PLEASE HELP US TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SAFE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: A308443 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)