1997 Ford F-150 complaints

17 INCH CAST ALUMINUM LEFT REAR WHEEL HAS CRACKED AT LEAST TWO INCHES LONG WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO FALL AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED DUE TO A STUCK THROTTLE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TAIL PIPE IS IN FRONT OF THE BACK WHEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH IS MAKING THE WHEELS HOT. *AK

ALL MY FORD TRUCKS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING,JUST THIS TORQUE CONVERTER WENT A LITTLE EARLY,WILL FORD EVER FIX THESE PROBLEMS AND OUR THEY DANGEROUS?

THE TORSION BAR BROKE ON TWO OCCASIONS. *YC

FRONT HUBS WORK INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. TOOK TO DEALER AND HE SAID THAT SINCE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (WOULDNT WORK FOR ME ON GRASS), THAT THEY STATED THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE TO CALL A TOW TRUCK IF YOU GET STUCK AGAIN. ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM--SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED BY CHARAPP WITH WRONG DIAMETER TIRE AND WHEEL. DEALER DID NOT RECOMMEND USING THIS SIZE SPARE TIRE BECAUSE IT WAS A DIFFERENT SIZE THAN THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE TRUCK. THIS MAKES NO SENSE FOR THEM TO GIVE ME THIS SPARE WHEN THEY ADMIT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.. *AK

VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL FOR THE WHEEL LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS ON 11-11-98. ON 5-6-99, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FORM THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED TO REPAIR VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES ROTATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING OTHER COMPONENT FAILURES. YH

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. FEELS LIKE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP. HAD CALLED DEALER & WAS INFORMED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED OUT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND HIT A VEHICLE HEAD ON, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

THE ACCELERATOR IS STICKING TO THE FLOOR IN A WIDE OPEN POSITION, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED TRW RECALLS FROM THE MANUFACTURER . HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. AK

WHEN TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND CUT OFF, EXCEPT WHEN IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALER SAID TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS IN WHICH ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON DURING REPAIRS, CONSUMER BELIEVED WARPED ROTORS CAUSED VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE BEING USED. ASKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

THE VEHICLE'S FRONT END HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH, SEATBELTS AND DRIVER'S SIDE/ PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. DEALER SAID AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, STARTER WILL MAKE NOISE AS IF STARTING CAR WHEN ALREADY RUNNING. DEALER CONTACTED ,AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. *AK

EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO WAL MART TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. MECHANIC COULD NOT USE SPARE TIRE DUE TO DAMAGE FROM STORAGE OF CROSS BOARD SUPPORTS. TIRE HAD SEVERE INDENTATIONS. GOOD YEAR PS235/704X16 SL BSW. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 TO 45MPH THERE IS SHAKING COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *AK

WE'VE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH INSTALLING OUR CENTURY 2000 STE CHILDREN'S CAR SEAT IN OUR FORD F150 SUPERCAB PICKUP TRUCK. FOLLOWING ALL INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOTH CENTURY'S MANUAL AND THE FORD MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL... WE'VE FOUND THEM FORD LACKING IN INFORMATION ABOUT INSTALLING OF OUR REAR FACING CHILD'S CAR SEAT. FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS, WE PLACED THE SEAT REAR FACING IN THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT. WHILE THE SEAT DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL SIDE TO SIDE... THERE IS DEFINITELY TOO MUCH MOVEMENT VERTICALLY WOULD WE BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH. WE HAVE TALKED WITH TENNESSE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IN JOHNSON CITY, TN WHOSE ONLY RESPONSE WAS TO TALK TO A STATE TROOPER. WHERE CAN WE FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPER INSTALLATION OF A CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT IN OUR BELOVED FORD PICKUP? IF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT IS REQUIRED, WHERE CAN WE FIND THIS INFORMATION?

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, FIRE CAME UP FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND BED OF TRUCK. FIRE INVESTIGATORS CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THIS MODEL TRUCK WHICH ALLOWS DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE UNDER THE SHIELD WHICH THEN IGNITED, AND THEN IGNITED THE SILICONE SEALER ON THE SHIELD WHICH ALLOWED THE FIRE TO IGNITE THE BACK SEAT.

POWER REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED. MJS

THE OTHER DAY I WAS AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE UP AND MY TRUCK WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME HOW TO GET IT TO SHIFT.THEY SAID OH YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS PROBABLY HAVE BEEN COMING AND GOING WITH THIS PROBLEM.ALSO. THE SHIFT LOCK MECHANISM IS INTEGRATED IN THE BRAKE SWITCH, AND FORD HAS HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH WIRE FATIGUE AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. SO AS I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SHIFTLOCK I WAS UNKNOWINGLY DRIVING AT TIMES WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS COMMENT WAS MADE DIRECTLY FROM MY FORD DEALER. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY TSB'S OR RECALLS FOR THE COND., HE SAID IT WAS A COMMEN PROBLEM FOR YEARS BUT FORD WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS ENOUGH PEOPLE RATTED THEM TO SOME AUTHORITY THAT WOULD MAKE THEM CORRECT THIS WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. HE TOLD ME THAT ON EARLIER MODLES WITHOUT SHIFTLOCK WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT THEY HAD EVEN LOST THERE BRAKE LIGHTS. I LOOKED AT THE CONNECTION ON MY TRUCKS BRAKE SWITCH AND SURE ENOUGH THE WIRE HAD BEEN MADE SO SHORT FROM THE FACTORY THAT EVERY TIME YOU WOULD HIT THE BRAKE IT WAS PULLING ON IT AND ONE OF THE TWO WIRES ON MY TRUCK HAD BROKEN. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN FOR TWO DAYS I THOUGHT I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SHIFT LINKAGE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT THEN WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN AT FAULT? IN MY OPINION FORD, I MEAN WHEN MY LOCAL DEALER IN WARSAW IN CAN TELL ME OVER THE PHONE THEN HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE U.S. FROM NOT HAVING BRAKE LIGHTS AND WERE TOTALLY UNAWARE FORD ENDANGERED

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V095000 & CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS ON LUGS: NUTS. IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING LUGS: NUTS, THE "O" RINGS WERE REMOVED. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

I HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR. AFTER PASSING, THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE. I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKES, AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, AND I ACCIDENTLY PUT IT IN EITHER PARK OR REVERSE AND THEN THE TIRES SQUEALED. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (AVOIDING RUNNING INTO A SCHOOLBUS), AND PUT IT IN PARK AND PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. THE PEDAL WAS STILL ALL THE WAY DOWN AT FULL THROTTLE. I REACHED DOWN WITH MY HAND AND PULLED THE ACCELERATOR UP TO 'UNSTICK' IT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE FLOOR MAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, OR THAT A FLOOR MAT IS CAPABLE OF HOLDING THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AT FULL THROTTLE. THE FORD DEALER IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, BUT AFTER 1.5 DAYS THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. BUT, THE FORD DEALER MANAGER HAS THE IDENTICAL TRUCK, AND SAID THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HIM ALSO, BUT HE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT. I TOLD HIM TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THAT COULD HAPPEN, AND I THINK HE WILL TOMORROW IF THEY DO NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR AS FAR AS THE 'SUDDEN ACCELERATION' COMPLAINT. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC OPERATION OF RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND STOP LIGHT; WHENEVER STEERING COLUMN TILT WHEEL IS IN AN UPRIGHT POSTION, THE TURN SIGNAL AND STOP LIGHT WOULD WORK PROPERLY. IF STEERING WHEEL IS MOVE BELOW NORMAL POSTION , THE RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL & STOP LIGHT WILL NOT OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. REPORTING AND SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

RIGHT TORSION BAR SNAPPED OFF, CAUSING THE BODY OF VEHICLE TO FALL ONTO THE WHEELS .*AK

UPON QUICK ACCELLERATION THROTTLE STUCK. HAD TO GO OFF IN A DITCH AND KILL ENGINE BEFORE HITTING A SEMI.

CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO STOP AND WAS REARENDED BY A TRUCK. IN RETURN, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REARENDED A THIRD TRUCK. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD DRIVER OR PASSENGER, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THE BATTERY DRAINAGE CONTINUES TO OCCUR. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION...

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND APPLYING THROTTLE PEDAL, PEDAL GOT STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

LEFT AND RIGHT TORSION BAR BROKE.

LEAF SPRING WAS BROKEN UPON RECEIVING TRUCK. I DID NOT KNOW UNTILL I WAS TRING TO LOAD APPROX 150LBS OF FURNITURE, I HAVE TRIED TALKING TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY IT IS OUT OF THERE HANDS.

NO SUMMARY

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING LUGS:NUTS:BOLTS. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED SECOND NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RECALL 98V095000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V095000 & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD LUGS: NUTS REPLACED. DURING THE REPLACEMENT, THE "O" RINGS WERE REMOVED. THEY SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHICH INVOLVED AN IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW IS CLOSED, WATER/RAIN WOULD LEAK THROUGH THE OPENING AREA. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO ODI#704135 FILED YESTERDAY. IN THIS INCIDENT, THE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE THR TRUCK WAS SITTING IN OUR DRIVE-WAY. IT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY BY VERMILLION FORD, 101 WEST CHERRY, VERMILLION, SD; PHONE 605-624-8624. THEY SENT THE PAPER WORK TO FORD, BUT THEY COULD NOT TELL ME IF FORD REQUESTED THAT THE TORSION BAR BE SENT BACK TO FORD. AFTER TWO ORIGINAL BARS BREAKING, FOR OTHERS' SAFETY, WE FEEL THIS MERITS RECALL CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU.

THIS IS THE SECOND TORSION BAR TO BREAK ON THIS VEHICLE. THE LEFT FRONT BAR BROKE PREVIOUSLY WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AT HOME. THIS HAPPENED THE SPRING/SUMMER OF 1998. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS SAID THIS WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS IF IT HAPPENED AT REGULAR SPEED ON A HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE. I WILL GET THE DETAILED INFORMATION AND FILE A SECOND REPORT WHEN THE BUSINESS IS OPEN TOMORROW. THE 3/6/99 TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE I WAS HUNTING AND DRIVING MINIMUM SPEED.

BACKING OUT OF LOT, TORSION BAR SNAPPED ON RIGHT FRONT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT REGULAR SPEEDS, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AS WELL AS INJURIES WOULD HAVE RESULTED. DEALER REPAIRED BUT FORD REFUSED TO PAY DUE TO OVER WARRANTY MILEAGE. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT AND MUST BE CHECKED TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM INJURY.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE THAT HAD JUMPED IN FRONT UNEXPECTEDLY ,DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING NECK/CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES. *AK

CHECK ENGINE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIP KILLMAN FORD IN TYSON'S CORNERS, VA. THEY PERFORMED AN ENGINE DIAGNOSIS TEST THEN REPLACED 2 HEGO SENSORS (TOTAL COST $269). PROBLEM SURFACED AGAIN 6 DAYS LATER AFTER ONLY HAVING THE VEHICLE 6 DAYS. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO KIP KILLMAN TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER TRY AT PRACTICING FORD TRUCK REPAIRMANSHIP.

BRAKE SYSTEM IS INCAPABLE OF GENERATING ENOUGH FORCE TO LOCK UP WHEELS, OR EVEN MAKE THEM SQUEEL, ON DRY ROAD EVEN WITH EMPTY TRUCK. VEH HAS REAR ANTI-LOCK FEATURE BUT CANNOT GENERATE ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE FEATURE TO ACTIVATE ON DRY ROAD. WITH ADDED CARGO WEIGHT OR TRAILER STOPPING DISTANCES ARE EXTREMELY LONG. RETURNED TO DEALER 2 TIMES FOR SERVICE. DEALER SAYS ALL IS NORMAL. BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK COMPARED TO PREVIOUS TRUCKS I'VE OWNED. A FRIEND WITH SAME YEAR F-150 HAS SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE ADEQUATE FOR NORMAL DRIVING EMPTY BUT WITH A LOAD OR PANIC STOP SITUATION IT BECOMES APPARENT THEY ARE WEAK. I NEARLY HAD AN ACIDENT WHEN I RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT I COULD NOT STOP FOR WITH A LOAD.

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH ON ICY ROADS UPHILL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECTADLY. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BY ITSELF. I STOMPED THE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE ICY CONDITIONS. I WAS ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL SO I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO RECOVER THE TRUCK. NO RECOVERY WAS POSSIBLE AND A ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE TRUCK ROLLING OVER OCCURED. THANKFULLY I WAS THE ONLY PERSON INVOLVED OR HURT.

PROBLEM: THE CENTER CONSOLE ARMREST IN THE FRONT BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION FOR USE. THIS ARMREST CONTAINS A SINGLE, RECESSED CUP HOLDER LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ARMREST WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. ANY CUP CONTAINING A LIQUID, SUCH AS HOT COFFEE, CAN BE PROPELLED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSE POTENTIAL SEVERE INJURY TO A PASSENGER. *AK

SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER VEHICLE AGAINST FRAME RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO TIRE.

RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS DISCOLORED BECAUSE OF EXHAUST PIPE COMING OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

CLUTCH SLAVE ASSEMBLY CAN START LEAKING AT ANY TIME, RENDERING CLUTCH USELESS, CAUSING STALLING, AND LUNGING AT A STOP. FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE PART, MEANING THE ORIGINAL HAS A FLAW. (TECH BULLETIN # BC2301970501,) BUT SAFETY WARRANTS A RECALL. *AK