1997 Ford F-150 complaints

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TREAD WAS SEPARATING. TIRE WAS REPLACED.*AK

BOLTS SECURING STEERING BOX TO FRAME BROKE. STEERING BOX FELL LOOSE, AND ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. LITTLE WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. SERVICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED 'A HANDFUL' OF TIMES.*AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID & OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY $600 FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER FOUND OUT VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT MAKE AN EXCEPTION ALTHOUGH THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *AK WATER PUMP FAILED. THE CUSTOMER REQUESTS THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY THE COST OF TIMING COVER GASKET REPLACEMENT AND THE COST OF NEW WATER PUMP INSTALLED. *YH

POWER STEERING BRACKET BROKE WHICH THREW MAIN BELT OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE SHOULD NOT BE ONLY 1 BELT THAT OPERATES BRAKES AND STEERING. *AK

ABS DISENGAGES BRAKES WHEN APPLIED HARD IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND REAPPLIES THEM AFTER APROX. A SECOND OR LONGER. DURING THAT TIME THE TRUCK TRAVELS FOWARD WITH NO BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 70 - 75 MPH TREAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WERE FIVE PASSENGER'S IN THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE TRUCK IS A 97, F150, VIN # [XXX]. TIRE SIZE P2357016. THE TIRE WAS NOT SOLD ON THE TRUCK. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

STEERING BOX THAT IS ATTACHED TO FRAME HAD FALLEN OFF. VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT STEERING, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK THE DRIVER LOST STEERING BECAUSE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME CRACKED. *YH

FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY: FILLER TUBE HAS CRACKED, CAUSING THE GAS TO LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

1) AIR CONDITIONER HOSE SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED LEAK AT START-UP CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF FREON AND REQUIRING 800+ DOLLAR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS. NO WEAR AREAS ON PART, NO RUB SPOTS PRESENT AND PER SERVICE TECHNICIAN, NO REASON FOR PART TO HAVE FAILED. 2) DISC BRAKE ROTOR FAILED AT 57,000 MILES WITHOUT APPARENT REASON, CAUSING NEED FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF DISK BRAKE ASSEMBLY. SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGAIN NOTED NO REASON FOR FAILURE, NO CALIPER FAILURE, A RECENT PAD REPLACEMENT AND HIGHWAY DRIVING PATTERN. *AK

LEFT FRONT DOOR CRACK AT LOWER REAR OF WINDOW FRAME. *AK

A BOLT WITHIN THE STEERING MECHANISM HAD UNSCREWED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN WHILE TIRES STAYED STRAIGHT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. MECHANIC TIGHTEND THE BOLT. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO LOOK INTO THIS. FORD IS BEING VERY SLOW TO FIX THIS MAJOR ISSUE. IT EFFECTS 2/3S OF ALL THE 97+ F150S. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGERS DOORS HAVE CRACKED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHICH WELDED THEM. A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER THE DRIVERS DOOR RECRACKED THIS TIME THE DOOR WAS REPLACED. BUT IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME TILL IT RECRACKS DUE TO THE DESIGN. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO A PERMANENT REPAIR.EACH TIME I HAVE HAD IT IN THAY HAVE HAD TO KEEP IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK. *AK

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERES A RECALL FOR THIS PROPLEM, FOR A NEW TRUCK WITH LOW MILES WHY DID THE TRANSMISSION GO. *AK

PAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF OF CAB IS BLISTERING, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A THREE YEAR OLD TRUCK. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WHEN OPENING DOORS INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL COME ON, BUT THEY WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN CLOSING DOORS. ALSO, THEY WILL COME ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DEALER HAS REPLACED DOOR SWITCHES WITH SAME DESIGN ABOUT 3 TIMES, EACH SWITCH ONLY LASTS ABOUT 6-8 MONTHS. *AK *ML

EXTERIOR MIRRORS DESIGN ARE POOR IN VISIBILITY WHEN USED WITH A TRAILER HITCHED TO VEHICLE. UNABLE TO SEE PROPERLY AND CAUSES BLIND SPOT FROM BOTH SIDES. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE MIRRORS MEET SPECIFICATION. MIRRORS DO NOT SUPPORT EXTENSION MIRRORS. *AK *ML

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL THE FLOOR MATS WILL CURL UP AND GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PEDALS. CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK

LEFT REAR LOWER LEAF SPRING LOOSENS AND SPINS OUT FROM THE ONES ON TOP OF IT.THEREFORE THE LEFT SIDE SUSPENSION IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTED.IF TRUCK IS FULLY LOADED FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION AND LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKUP IS POSSIABLE.I HAVE READ OF THIS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. *AK

CRACK IN THE DRIVERS &PASS DOORS IN THE BOTTOM REAR CORNER BY THE WINDOW IN CENTER WERE IT CURVES. *AK

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER STUCK IN ON POSITION. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE OR SHUT OFF IGNITION. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO PREVENT DRAIN. THE PLASTIC SLIDE THAT ACTIVATES THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE WHILE THE IGNITION WAS IN THE "ON" POSITION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT WORK. *AK

DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW FUEL FILLER TUBE CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BOTH SIDE DOORS RATTLE AND SHAKE. THE PLATE THAT IS INSIDE THE DOOR HAS NO ADJUSTMENTS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THE 2 MAIN DOORS ON MY TRUCK HAVE A CRACK IN THE METAL AROUND THE LOWER SECTION OF THE WINDOW AREA. THIS CRACK APEARS TO BE CAUSED BY STRESS. I FEEL THAT THIS CRACK WILL CONTINUE TO GROW WHICH WILL WEAKEN THE OVERALL STRENGHT OF THE DOOR. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD AND THEY ARE STATING THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY ME SHUTTING THE DOOR. ALSO THE WILL ONLY COVER 50% OF COST. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR THIS PROBLEM IN OTHE FORD TRUV\CKS OF THIS TIME FRAME AND HAVE NOTICED ABOUT 2-3 OUT OF 4 HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

DRIVER SIDE DOOR HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE FRAME. *AK

CONSUMER'S SON WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A BLOWOUT, AND FELT VEHICLE WAS JERKING. CONSUMER WAS FACING THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND SAW REAR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED, AND RUBBER TREAD HAD COME OFF THE TIRE. ALSO, MUFFLER PIPE WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS FRONT END DAMAGE. *AK *ML

WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING.*AK

SPARE TIRE CARRIER FAILED CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. YH

FRONT BRAKES LOCK WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN COLD MORNINGS. YH

WHILE TRAVELING AND WHEN MAKING A TURN, STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE TURN . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

DOME LIGHTS AND THE CARGO LIGHTS REMAINED ON AT ALL TIMES. DOOR AJAR LIGHT ALSO REMAINED ON. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP.RELAY SWITCH OVERHEATED, AND WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

ALUMINUM TIRES CRACKED AT THE BEAD, CAUSING A SLOW LEAK. MANUFACTURER HAS STOPPED USING ALUMINUM AND IS NOW USING STEEL. *AK

AFTER I PURCHASED MY TRUCK, IT DEVELOPED AVIBRATION IN THE REAR END. I REPLACED THE TIRES THAT WERE ON IT WHEN I PURCHSED IT WITH MULTI MILE WILD SPIRIT. THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. NEXT I REPLACED ALL THE RIMS WITH NEW FORD EXPEDITION RIMS, AND THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. NEXT, I REPLACED THE SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, AND THE VIBRATION CONTINUES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES IN 10 MONTHS. THE VIBRATION OCCURS BETWEEN 58 AND 75 MPH. *AK

IT BURNS MORE GAS THAN NORMAL,DOES NOT HAVE THE PICKUP OR POWER IT NEEDS TO HAVE. *AK

OUTSIDE DOOR WAS CRACKING IN HALF BELOW THE WINDOW SEAL AS IF IT WERE ABOUT TO BREAK AWAY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS . ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CRACK IN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. FAILURE POINT IS LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF WINDOW, NEAR RUBBER MOLDING. *AK

REAR WINDOW HAS A LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE SLIDING WINDOW THAT HAS BEEN SENT BACK TO THE SHOP SEVERAL TIME FOR REPAIRS. ITS ON OING ! THE WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED W/ FRAME THREE TIMES , BUT THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN SHOP SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IT WOULD LAST A SHORT TIME AND WOULD THEN START LEAKING ALL OVER AGAIN. ** PRESENTLY STILL LEAKING **. # 2 . ENGINE HAS A KNOCK DURING START UP. SOUNDS MORE LIKE A DIESEL ! BOTH ISSUES HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE 14,000 MILES OR SO. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS. TO MENTION A FEW ; REAR BUMPER RUSTING OUT, DOOR & SHIFT NOBS BREAKING , BODY PAINT PEELING, RATTLE IN FLOOR GEAR SHIFT ( STILL PRESENT ), ** NOW THE AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT WORKING **. I LIKE THE TRUCK, BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE ONE WITH OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS !

AFTER FEELING VIBRATION IN TRUCK ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT WAS TAKEN TO A WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE PART WAS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH FORD. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE REPAIR WAS MADE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 68 GOING UP A MOUNTAIN AND TOWING A RV, UPON REACHING TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. STARTED SLOWING DOWN, PASSED THE GUARDRAIL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE JACK KNIFED OUT OF CONTROL. RV IMPACT FORCED TRUCK OFF THE ROAD. SHATTERED THE REAR CAB. WHEN THEY TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER, WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE BEARINGS FAILED DUE TO BEARING SPINS IN THE HOUSING UNIT FREEZING UP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING REAR LEFT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO LUGS: NUTS:BOLT S SHEARING OFF. THIS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL FOR THE LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS . HOWEVER, OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAS OCURRED ON OTHER FORD TRUCKS. THIS TRUCK'S SUSPENSION HAS NOT BEEN OBUSED IN ANY WAY. I AM ONLY RELIEVED THAT THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. *AK

TRANSMISSION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT (TCIL) STARTED BLINKING AT 39940 MILES. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THR TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. A CHECK OF VEHICLE REVEALED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S DOOR IS CRACKING, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO ISSUE A PATCH REPAIR FOR THE CRACKS WHICH SEEMS INADEQUATE TO THE CONSUMER. *MJS

BOTH PASSENGER DOORS HAVE STRUCTURAL CRACKS ON DOORS. THIS DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY USING NO SUPPORT ON THE DOORS WHILE IN THE ASSEMBLY LINE. AS THE CRACKS GET BIGGER THE DOOR FRAME WILL LOSE ITS INTEGRETY AND IF I'M EVER INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS MY FAMILY AND I WILL PROBABLY BE HURT OR KILL SERIOUSLY. I CONTACTED FORD COMPANY AND THE WILL REPLACE THE DOORS BUT NOT MINE BECAUSE MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. I FEEL THIS IS NOT FAIR BECAUSE IT IS A MAJOR MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD OF BEEN CORRECTED ALONG TIME AGO. I I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU GO TO THESE SITE YOU WILL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT..WWW.NETWIZ.NET/~CTBAKER/PROBLEMS/. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AT 20 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL DUE TO A TIE ROD END FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FRONT BRAKES BOLT BROKE OFF FROM THE BRAKE CAUSING THE RT. FRT. WHEEL TO LOCK UP UPON BRAKING.

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTED IN CAR ROLLING AWAY

WHILE DRIVING TWO BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF, RESULTING IN NO STEERING ABILITY WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK THE SNAPPING OF THE BOLTS DID CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *YH