1997 Ford F-150 complaints

WINDSHIELD WIPERS - INTERMITTENT WIPERS ERRATIC OR NOT ACTIVE. UNABLE TO USE WASHER FLUID. REPLACEMENT PART HAS SAME PROBLEM AS ORGINAL EQUIPMENT.

THE ENGINE ALWAYS MADE A LOT OF NOISE DURING INITIAL STARTUP. CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WHO DECLARED THIS AS "NORMAL". NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF STANDARD WARRANTY, THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THERE IS "MAJOR LOWER END PROBLEMS" THAT CAN ONLY BE ESTIMATED BY AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING IN SPITE OF A) THIS BEING REPORTED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE DEALERS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND B) THIS PROBLEM NOT NORMAL FOR AVEHICLE WITH THESE FEW MILES. A ENGINE SHOULD LAST SEVERAL TIMES THIS LONG WITH NORMAL MAINTENANCE.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS DEFECTIVE, ALSO AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURRED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER APPROX. 7-8 TIMES. PROBLEMS STILL OCCURS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

STEERING PROBLEMS; WHEN TURNING RIGHT 10MPH HEARD A NOISE.TURNED STEERING TO RIGHT AND LEFT, WHEEL DIDN'T RESPOND.*AK

TAILGATE FELL OFF WHEN IT WAS BEING OPENED. TAILGATE FELL ON THE DRIVER'S FOOT. WENT FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT. NO BROKEN BONES. *AK

AXLE HOUSING SHAFT TWISTED, CAUSING AXLE TO SLIDE IN AND OUT AND WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF REAR END. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH INNER TIE ROD CAME OFF, AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE TRYING TO COMING OFF. *AK

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE DOOR AJAR CHIME CONTINUOUSLY CHIMES. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, DON DAVIS FORD 1901 N. COLLINS ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76101 NUMBER 817-461-1000. WE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE TRUCKS PROBLEMS AND THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO TELL US THAT THE DOOR CHIME HAD BEEN FIXED BUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTION. WE STATED THAT IF THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER BILLY WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARDS HOME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IN THE TRUCK FAILED HE HAD TO PUSH THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WALK TO GET HELP. WE TOOK THE TRUCK THIS TIME TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER, WESTWAY FORD 801 W AIRPORT FREEWAY IRVING, TEXAS 972-256-5551, THIS DEALERSHIP FOUND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE BURNT. THE FLUID SMELLED BURNT BUT WAS STILL RED IN COLOR ALSO THEY FOUND METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION FILTER WAS NOT CHANGED OUT AT THE TIME THE "DELUX FLUSH" WAS PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP. HENCE: IF THE FLUSH WAS NECESSARY THEN WHY WOULD`NT THE FILTER CHANGE OUT BE? ACCORDING TO DON DAVIS FORD, FORD RECOMMENDS THE FLUSH BUT NOT THE FILTER TO BE CHANGED AND THEY WERE GOING BY THE MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTIONS. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD BUT THEIR ONLY RESPONSE IS "IF YOU HAD PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW THEN WE WOULD HAVE COVERED THE TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED" . GREAT HUH? AS FAR AS THE DOOR AJAR CHIME WE STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND IT HAS

HAD FOOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE ON AN INCLINE. IF FOOT IS REMOVED OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK AFTER BEING APPLIED AGAIN. *AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S WINDOWS CRACKED ALONG THE EDGES, CAUSING INJURIES. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PADS REPLACED. *YC

TRAILER TONGUE DISCONNECTED FROM THE BALL ON PICK UP TRUCK DUE TO MISSING SAFETY PIN, THIS RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO TRAILER DUE TO DISCONNECTION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

ENGINE CRANK WORE OUT AT 35000 MI SERVICE REP WOULD NOT REPLACE ENGINE . ONLY REBUILT LOWER ENGINE. NOW THE UPPER PART OF ENGINE GOING BAD HAD TO PAY 1000.00 FOR EXTENDED WARRENTY BECAUSE WHEN YOU REBUILD THE ONE PART OF AN ENGINE THE OTHER TENDS GO BAD WITHIN A FEW MONTHS . I OFFERED TO PAY EXTRA FOR THE NEW ENGINE THEY WOULD NO LET ME GET ONE NOW MY TRUCK WILL BE BACK IN THE SHOP ONCE MORE FOR A UPPER REBUILD BEFOR LONG.

DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, FACTORY WIRING HARNESS FOR TRAILER HAS NO RUNNING LIGHTS. 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE HAVE HAD IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES. CENTER CONSOLE DOES NOT LOCK IN DOWN POSITION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. DEALER TRIED TO FIX IT, AND NO THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS COMES ON BY THEMSELVES. MANUFACTURER/ DEALER STATED NOT COMMON TO HAVE A SHORT IN SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKED ON REAR,BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATES,TAILGATE CLIPS BROKEN SO YOU CANNOT OPEN

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WTH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGING WITHOUT TURNING IT ON. ALSO, HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL CONCERNING SPEED CONTROL . CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER TRVELING AT 60 TO 70 MHP ALL DAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STALL WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR IN TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *SB

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 55-65 MPH IN A HEAVY RAIN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY QUIT PULLING. IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WERE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. BY TURNING THE OVERDRIVE OFF I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME IN SECOND GEAR. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO SATCHER MOTORS FOR REPAIR. THEY REPORTED THAT THE THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS HAD WENT OUT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER PULLED A BOAT OR TRAILER AND HAS NEVER HAULED ANY HEAVY LOADS. THIS WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD AND TALKED TO THEM TWICE BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $1322.80. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT, AS I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE WITH FORD TRANSMISSIONS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AT THEIR EXPENCE. *AK

ENGINE FAILED, POSSIBLE RECALL ON COMPONENT THAT LED TO FAILURE. MJS

ONE WEEK AFTER REPAIR WERE DONE SAME PROBLEM AROSE. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED. *AK

OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FALLING FROM SOCKETS, CAUSING SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WATER LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. GLASS SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A WINDOW SEPARATED FROM FRAME. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THIS CONDITION WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK *ML

TRUCK IS USED AS FAMILY TRANSPORTATION, NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. TIE ROD END BROKE TURNING IN TO A PARKING LOT. TOWED TO DEALER. FINALLY GOT IT FIXED 9 DAYS LATER, WAS TOLD THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THE PART. DROVE THE TRUCK 1 DAY BEFORE THE OTHER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE - PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT APPROX. 5M.P.H.. TOWED AGAIN TO DEALER TO HAVE SECOND TIE ROD REPLACED.

MY TRUCK WAS INDEPENDENTLY DISGNOSED TO HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS DISCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 98V161000. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THAT MY VIN # IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND...I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM ON THE EXACT VEHICLE OF THE RECALL AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, FORD CAN GET OFF WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. IF IT IS THAT EASY FOR THE MANUFACTURERTO GET OFF PAYING FOR SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! *AK

THE JACK IS 3-4 INCHES TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE STARTED THE GAS HAD TO BE APPLIED FOR A LONG TIME UNTIL THE ENGINE REVVED AT A NORMAL LEVEL. ONCE WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE JUST BLEW UP. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH RAN INTO TRAILOR, AND THEN WENT UPINTO AN ENBANKNENT. DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING SOME HEAD INJURIES TO DRIVER. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98R04, CONCERNING PCV SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO LOCATION. RECALL ONLY INVOLVED VEHICLES IN COLD CLIMATE STATES. CONSUMER UNCELAR ABOUT RECALL MANUFACTURER SENT FOR HIS VEHICLE. DEALER REUSED TO REPLACE PARTS. FORD ADMITS VEHICLE MAY NOT STOP IN COLDER CLIMATES. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, AND JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. VEHICLE WENT OVER AN ENBANKMENT AND INTO SOME TREES. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK *ML

VEHICLE VIBRATES TREMEDOUSLY, SHAKES, WHEN SITTING STILL MOSTLY, AND DEALERSHIP/MFR. HAS NO REMEDY. NEW BRAKES AND SHOCKS WERE PUT ON TRYING

WHILE CHANGING A RIGHT REAR TIRE, AND WHEN DRIVER WAS TIGHTENING THE BOLTS TO SPECIFIED TORQUE, HE BROKE TWO SCREWS. *AK

WHEN IT RAINS/MISTY OR FOGGY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MISFIRE/ BACKFIRE AND ALMOST STALL, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

SWAY BAR ROD TO FRAME MISSING. NLM

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP, AND HAD NO STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY, AND CAUSED 2 FRONTAL CRASHES. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED VISIBILITY DIFFICULTIES. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

SPARE TIRE WHEEL MOUNT CABLE FAILED RESULTING IN SPARE TIRE FALLING OFF OF VEHICLE. MJS

REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATION OF LOWER LEAF FROM UPPER PART OF SPRING. PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BY REPLACING BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THE PART THAT FAILED APPEARS TO BE A SHEAR PIN THAT LOCATES AND MANTAINS THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LEAF SPRING LAYERS. *AK

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAIL CONTINUALLY, EXPERIENCES LOCK UP AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. MJS

ENGINE FAILED CAUSING KNOCKING.

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 40-55 MPH VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE, AND THEN AT 70 MPH IT WILL VIBRATE WORSE.DEALERSHIP CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE DEFECT. *AK

THE LOCATION OF OF TAILPIPE IN FRONT OF WHEEL IS CAUSING STRONG GAS FUMES TO GET INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 30-40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT IN THE 1997-1999 MODEL F-150S SUFFERS DAMAGE FROM THE CROSSFRAME MOUNT. THE FRAME CUTS GROOVES INTO THE TIRE SIDEWALLS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND CAN CAUSE THE TIRE TO FAIL IF USED. THIS CAN ALSO RESULT IN A PERSON BEING STRANDED IF THE TIRE FAILS COMPLETELY, OR CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE DAMAGE WAS NOT NOTICED AND THE TIRE FAILED WHILE IN USE. THIS AFFECTS ALL 1997 TO 1999 MODEL F-150S, AND THE DAMAGE WORSENS WITH TIME, USUALLY BECOMING NOTICEABLE AFTER 10-15K MILES. FORD MOTOR HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SITUATION BUT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING TRUCK ABOUT 20-25 MPH, CABLE THAT HOLDS UP THE SPARE TIRE BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO COME OFF. THE INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT 45-50 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION AND LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARD AND FROM FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM; VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS FOUR TIMES. *AK

HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST...FOR NO REASON THE ENGINE WILL ACT AS THOUGH IT HAS A "MISS." IF TRYING TO PULL OUT, TRUCK WILL SHUTTER AND SOMETIMES DIE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURED ONCE BEFORE AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE #8 SPARK PLUG. 10,000 MILES AHVE PASSED AND THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO SHOW SIGNS OF DOING IT AGAIN. *AK