1997 Ford F-150 complaints

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE. PRIOR TO LEAKAGE, VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT COULD NOT LOCATE WHERE LEAKAGE WAS LOCATED AFTER CHECKING PRESSURE. DROVE VEHICLE SECOND TIME, AND PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED IN TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET. MECHANIC FINALLY REPAIRED PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PARTS MANAGER THAT THIS WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT AT THE END OF THE YEAR. *SLC

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE BY THEMSELVES, AND THEN SQUIRT WATER ON WINDSHIELD. THIS WOULD CAUSE A VISIBILITY PROBLEM FOR DRIVER. ITS UNEXPECTED AND VERY DISTRACTING.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK

FORD DIFFICULT WITH DOOR CRACK ISSUE BUT WILL RE-SKIN DOORS - SHIFT INTERLOCK REPAIRED 2 DAYS AFTER WARRANTY AT MY COST!*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OFF OF HOUSE AND COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, WILDERNESS/HT 23570R16. TREAD HAS BEGAN TO SEPARATE ON ONE, AND TWO OF OTHERS WERE DEVELOPING CRACKS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES TIRES WERE 60000 MILE TIRES, HOWEVER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 30000 MILES. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED THAT AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. *SLC

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY FRONT TORISON BAR BROKE, CAUSING FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP OFF. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER SUDDENLY SMELLED SMOKE AND THEN SAW SMOKE INSIDE THE CAB, IN SECONDS THE SMOKE WAS BLINDING AND SUFFOCATING AS THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, THE FIRE QUICKLY APPEARED INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN 10 MIN THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED, AFTER THE FIRE THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF RECALL 98V-161 BUT THE DEALER DENIED RECALL DUE TO VIN. NLM

CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED ON OUTSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR 2 INCHES FROM WINDOW FRAME, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK IT APPEARS THE DOOR HAS STRESS CRACKS. *YH

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TORSION BAR SNAPPED ,AND FRONT END FELL DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX PROBLEM AT NO COST. *AK *JB

ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN FIRST APPLIED. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS HARDER , THEN VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. *AK *SLC

DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND REAR CARGO LIGHT WOULD MOMENTARILY STAY ON AFTER CLOSING THE VEHICLE DOORS FROM 1/2 HOURS UP 2 HOURS BEFORE TURNING ITSELF OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

TRUCK JUMPED OUT OF PARK WHEN BACKING TRAILER WITH BOAT INTO A LAKE RESULTING IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF THE TRUCK RUNNING OVER CONSUMER, CONSUMER SUSTAINED AN OPEN BOOK PELVIC FRACTURE, UROLOGIC INJURY AND TRAUMA TO LEFT ANKLE. NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH LEFT REAR LUGS: NUTS CAME OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME COMPLETELY OFF VEHICLE. ALSO, RECALL 98V09500/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98S14 WORK WAS CORRECTED, LUGS: NUTS WERE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE IF THE LUG NUTS CAME OFF. THE TIRE AND RIM WERE NEVER FOUND. *YH

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00522; AFTER REPLACING FRONT COIL SPRINGS, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM STOPPING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM WITH CLIPS. HE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, AND COIL SPRINGS CAME OUT AND STUCK INTO TIRES. *AK

FORD SAID NO RECALL AT THIS TIME. THERE SHOULD BE STEERING KNUCKLE IS WEAK. *AK

SEAL FAILED ON TIMING GEAR COVER AND ALLOWED ANTI FREEEZE TO MIX WITH ENGINE OIL, CRANKSHAFT AND ROD BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CJ

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-231, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM THE FORD REPRESENTATIVES. NLM

THERE ARE TWO LIGHTS THAT CONTROL DOME AND REAR LIGHTS. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

WINDOW LOCATED BEHIND DRIVER AND PASSENGER, MAKES A SQUEAKING, RATTLING NOISE.*AK

ENGINE IDLES HIGH AND THEN DROPS DOWN LOW. MECHANIC STATED THAT ENGINE WAS GETTING READY TO THROW A ROD. *AK

FORD NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL TO MANY REPORTS OF BAD TORSION BARS. *AK

THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE TIRE ITSELF. *AK

WHEN MOTOR GOT WARM WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL VEHICLE WOULD SHUTDOWN. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WOULD TURN BACK ON BY ITSELF. THIS PROCESS WOULD REPEAT ITSELF AT LEAST 12 TIMES A DAY. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT MECHANIC INDICATED THAT IT WAS A FUSE BOX PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE ON LEFT SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, CAUSING WHEEL TO GO INTO AN ANGLE AND FRONTEND TO FALL. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHEN HE OPENED VEHICLE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS GETTING OUT OF TRUCK.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEAT LEVEL LINE STAYED IN RED ZONE. HE ADDED COOLANT INTO ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS OKAY. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING DUE TO TIMING CHAIN COVER FAILURE. *YH

PITTMAN ARM REFERENCED EIGHT (8) TIMES IN TSB'S. REAR WINDOW ALSO REFERENCED IN TSB'S. *AK

BY CHANCE I HEARD MY WIFE BACK RUCK OUT OF GARAGE AND NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAK FROM FRONT END AS SHE STEERED. WITH WINDOWS UP AND HEATER ON WE HAD NOT HEARD THE SOUND DURING THIS WINTER AND DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN MAKING NOISE. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. AS WE PULLED IN THE SHOP WITH IT SQUEAKING AT EACH TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL A MECHANIC WALKED OVER AND SAID THAT MUST BE A 1997. I SAID YES AND HE SAID THE PITMAN ARM IS SUPPOSED TO BE LUBED FOR LIFE SO THERE IS NO GREASE FITTING, AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO FAIL ON THE 1997'S. WE GET OUR TRUCK OIL CHANGED AND LUBED EVERY 3000 MILES OR CLOSE TO IT. HE SAID IF WE HADN'T NOTICE THE NOISE IT WOULD HAVE SEIZED UP AND BROKE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTS THE STEERING BOX SHAFT TO THE STEERING LINKAGE AND A FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. WE GOT IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY BY REPLACING THE PITMAN ARM AT A COST OF CLOSE TO $300. HOW LONG WILL THE NEW ARM LAST WITHOUT GREASE? I REPORTED IT TO FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRACK THE VEHICLES AND NOTIFY ME IF THERE IS A RECALL. THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE ARE AT LEAST A COUPLE SERVICE BULLETINS DATING BACK TO 97 AND 98 THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD NOTIFY US OF THE PROBLEM WHILE THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR AND AT LEAST TO ASSURE OUR STEERING WOULD NOT FAIL. THE BULLETIN NUMBERS I FOUND ARE #9810569 IN 1998 AND BC2360970501 IN 1997 BOTH ABOUT THE PITMAN AR

1/4 INCH CRACK ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IN SHEET METAL JUST ABOVE CURVED BELT MOLDING. OBVIOUS MANUFACTURES DEFECT. FOR NEEDS TO HONOR FIX COSTS IN FULL.*AK

CLUNKING NOISE IN RIGHT REAR OF VEHICLE...MANUFACTURER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. *AK

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND TRIED TO STOP. I PUSHED MY BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOTHING, I PUSHED THEM A SECOND TIME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME I PUSHED THE BRAKES THEY WORKED. BUT IT WAS TO LATE. I RAN RIGHT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD MY BREAKS LOOKED AT THREE TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAID THAT THEY CHECKED OUT OKAY. IF IT WAS REALLY OKAY HOW COME MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORK?*AK

FRONT END ROD SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR CONSUMER . *AK IT WAS THE TORSION BAR THAT HAD SNAPPED AND THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *YH

LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER AND REPAIRED AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK *SLC

TORSION BAR ON THIS VEHICLE SNAPPED WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORD ACCEPTS PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE, AND HAS AGREED TO SPLIT THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS 50/50. I DISAGREE WITH THIS AND DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR THEIR NEGLEGABLE SAFETY DEFECT.*AK

TIMING COVER GASKET IS LEAKING. I HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF POSTS ON THE INTERNET THAT FORD FIXED THIS FOR FREE AS A RECALL, BUT FORD DENIES ANY RECALL. THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE THAT IS HAPPENING OFTEN ENOUGH FOR A FULL RECALL OF ALL 97 F150 WITH THE 4.2LITER ENGINE.*AK

HEATER CORE LEAKING. HEATER CORE LEAKED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT AND GET ON THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER REPLACED SAID HAD REPLACED SEVERAL OTHERS IN SAME MODEL OF TRUCK. THEY BILLED ME 568.00 DOLLARS FOR THIS. I ONLY AGREED TO PAY THEM 240 BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY QUOTED OVER THE PHONE. THIS IS A PART THAT REALLY DOESN'T WARE OUT. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN.

BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY INCONSISTANT, AND PEDAL WILL GO ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL NEVER FEELS LIKE A GOOD PEDAL. THE BRAKES GIVE A VERY UNSAFE FEEL AT ALL SPEEDS, THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF MY PROBLEM, THEY LOOKED AT THEM AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE BRAKES IN THE EXPEDITIONS WERE THE SAME WAY, HOWEVER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD. AFTER SPEAKING WITH FORD'S CUTOMER SERVICE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I FELT SAFETY WAS A PROBLEM TO TAKE IT BACK THE THE DEALER. NO SUCCESS AGAIN, I THEN HAD A BRAKE SAFETY INSPECTION COMPLETED AT A LOCAL MAINTENCE FACILITY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT APPEARED WRONG HOWEVER AGREED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSUFFICIENT FOR SAFE STOPPING. I THEN WROTE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMING THEM OF MY COMPLETE DISSATISFACTION IN THE BRAKES AND ASKED FOR ANY OPTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AS OF 10 MONTHS LATER. I TRUELY HOPE THAT YOUR OFFICES CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, I HONESTLY FEEL THAT MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS AT RISK EACH TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK

"TICK" NOTICED AT STARTUP. TOWED TO DELAERSHIP, DIAGNOSED AS BENT ROD. TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO SYMPTOMS UNTIL TOTAL FAILURE. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. ENGINE REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT OVER $4000. PLEASE PROVIDE INFO ON SIMILAR FAILURES VIA EMAIL. *AK

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE, 1997. BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER, 2000 I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, MAINLY WITH THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF MY POSSESSION FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS NOW AND I AM OUT OF POCKET OVER $3,000 IN REPAIR WORK. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. BOTH IN WRITING AND CALLING THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY HAVE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND BASICALLY HAVE TOLD ME THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT THEIR CONCERN. I HAVE HAD A FRONT TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACED, MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR WORK, SPARK PLUGS CHANGED, ELECTRICAL WIRES REPLACED, AND NOW A "COMPUTER BRAIN" WAS BAD IN THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON AND THE TRUCK STILL HESITATES, STALLS AND LURCHES WHILE DRIVING, WHICH IS NOT SAFE. I HAVE NO WHERE TO TURN AND OBVIOUSLY NO MONEY LEFT TO PUT IN TO THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A 3 YEAR OLD TRUCK, PURCHASED BRAND NEW CAN HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, I CAN'T SEEM TO GET AN ANSWER FROM ANYBODY, INCLUDING FORD. *AK

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK DESTROYING ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE DOWN SO THAT IT COULD BE DOWN SHIFTED. IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE TRUCK NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF SO THAT THE TRUCK WHILE OFF COULD BE SHIFTED FROM 5TH BACK INTO FIRST GEAR. ONCE THE TRUCK WAS TURNED ON, THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE SHIFTED UP FROM FIRST TO SECOND, AND SECOND TO THIRD ETC. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****739923

BOTH DOORS HAVE DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS AROUND BACK OF DOOR WINDOW. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE, AND WILL AGREE TO DO A 60/40 COVERAGE. NO MONEY WAS AVAILABLE BECAUSE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IT SEEMED TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR A YEAR. CONSUMER BECAME AWARE OF PROBLEM WHILE GETTING VEHICLE PAINTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS GETTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS #HT, P2357016. FIRESTON WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/22/2000 DUE TO OWNER DETECTION OF WATER IN OIL. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY FOREIGN SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL AND ENGINE CHECKED OK. ON 01/15/2001 THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SEVERAL MILES LATER , ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO STALL AT 50 MPH WITH ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ACTIVATED. CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND RACED TO PREVENT STALL. ENGINE RECOVERED AFTER A FEW YARDS AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. TRUCK WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THAT FORD WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE IF OWNER AGREED TO PAY $500 OF THE COST.*AK

THE ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT ENGINE BLOCK COMPONENTS FAILED. NLM

HAD TO REPLACE STEERING PITMAN. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING FRONT FENDER TO LOWER ONTO FRONT WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN COTNACTED. *AK