1997 Ford F-150 complaints

I SAW THE NOTICE ON THE F-150'S. I JUST CALLED FORD LAST WEEK RE: THIS SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME DUE TO AGE AND MILES ON VEHICLE THEY COULD DO NOTHING. IT BECAME LOOSE AND HANGING WHILE POURING GAS ALL OVER THE EXPRESSWAY ON SEPT 3RD. I WAS VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE, AS I DON'T FEEL THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE ANYONE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT. MY CASE NUMBER WITH THEM IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY. HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS. *TR

LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. BRAKE LINE HAD CORRODED THROUGH ABOUT 2-3 INCHES FROM LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER. LINE WAS REPLACED BUT OLD LINE WAS NOT RETAINED. *TR

I PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING STRUCTURE AT A LUXURY APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR ALMOST 4 HOURS. WHEN I CAME BACK TO GET MY LUNCH MY CO-WORKER YELLED "DUDE YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE" I IMMEDIATELY TRY GETTING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND FINALLY FOUND ONE 2 MINUTES AFTER I FOUND MY F-150 ON FIRE. THANKFULLY THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER PUT OUT THE FIRE. SOME PARTS UNDER THE HOOD IS ALL BURNT UP. I CONTACTED FORD TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,BECAUSE BY DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON THE SAME YEAR AS MY TRUCK. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK MY TRUCK AND HE TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING THE RECALL IS DESCRIBING,HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK. FORD SAID SOMEONE WILL CONTACT ME WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE FOR ME,DUE TO THE FACT I USE MY TRUCK FOR WORK AN DID NOW HAVE TO USE MY WIFE CAR THAT ISN'T REALLY RELIABLE WHEN IT COME TO MY JOB. NOTE THAT VERY SAME DAY I FILLED UP MY TANK WITH 23 GALLONS WORTH OF GAS AND THIS INCIDENT COULD OF BEEN WORST IF I DISCOVERED THE FIRE AT A LATER TIME. I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED,BECAUSE I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK AT ALL. *TR

97 F150 WITH 130K ENGINE GASKET BLEW. THIS ENGINE HAD A RECALL ON ENGINE AND TIMING COVER GASKETS, AND WHEN I TYPED MY VIN NUMBER IN ON THE FORD SITE, THEY SAID I HAD NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I ASKED FORD FOR THE NAME OF THE DEALER WHO LIED AND SAID THEY DID THE WORK AND ONLY GOT PAID FOR IT, AND FORD SAID THEY HAD NO INFO. I GOT THE SHAFT, AND IT COST 5K TO GET ENGINE REBUILT MYSELF. *TR

GAS PEDAL IS STICKING WIDE OPEN EVEN IF NOT PRESSED TO FULL THROTTLE WHEN YOU TAP BRAKE PEDAL OR THE OFF SWITCH FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL IT RELEASES THE ACCELERATOR. DOES THIS NO MATTER IF CRUISE CONTROL IS OFF OR ON. TRUCK HAS BEEN IN AND REPAIRED FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTING FIRES. BUT NOW CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT DEACTIVATING. HAS DONE THIS 11 TIMES SO FAR. *TR

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V6. ENGINE COOLANT FILLED ENGINE CYLINDER RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. REPLACE ENGINE WITH USED ONE AT A COST OF $3500.00. THIS ENGINE SHOWS SIGNS OF SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE DRIVEN FORDS FOR 30 YEARS, THIS IS THE LAST ONE I'LL OWN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. HE STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD, UNUSUAL NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND STRIPPED THE THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUGS IN PLACE. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE CAUSED THE SPARK PLUG WIRES TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A COIL SPARK PLUG KIT. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MAY 22, 2010, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS LOCATED. THE FIRE SPREAD UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 62,528.

WHILE DRIVING THE TWO FRONT AIR BAGS UNINTENTIONALLY DEPLOYED. NO CRASH, NO SPEED BUMP. JUST NORMAL DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THEY WENT OFF. *TR

DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN 1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY. HEARD NOISE TOWARDS REAR OF VEHICLE. NO COLLISION SPARE TIRE EXITED BOTTOM OF BED . BOUNCED ON ROADWAY ACROSS TRAFFIC ON OTHER SIDE OF 4 LANE ON COMING TRAFFIC BEHIND THEN AND IN FRONT OF VEHICLES. SOMEHOW NO ONE COLLIDED WITH THE ROLLING SPARE TIRE AS IT EXITED THE ROADWAY TO THE SHOULD OF ROADWAY. TIRE NOW IN BED OF TRUCK NOT UNDERNEATH UNTIL I CAN REPAIR DUE TO BROKEN CABLE THAT SUPPORTED TIRE. *TR

1997 FORD F150 TRUCK. SPARK PLUG EJECTION PROBLEM. 3RD TIME. EVERY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, NO WARNING, DRIVING REGULAR, THEN IT BLOWS OUT. POPPING CRACKLING HORRIBLE. 2 TIMES SAME ONE, THIS 3RD TIME SAME SIDE BUT DIFFERENT SPARK PLUG. BEEN HELICOILED BY A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL, PAID DEARLY. *TR

MY FORD TRUCK ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY JUST LIKE THE TOYOTAS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH YOU GUYS, TWICE, AND NEVER HEARD BACK. I CAN MAKE MY TRUCK DO THIS!!! IF SOMEONE WANTS TO LOOK AT MY TRUCK, WHILE IT'S DOING THIS, PLEASE DO!!!MY NEXT STEP IS TO CALL MY CONGRESSMAN. THANK YOU. UPDATED 03/09/10 UPDATED 03/26/10.*JB

1997 F150 BRAKES LOCKING UP AND ENGINE COOLANT LEAK INTO MOTOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT WORK SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, INTERIOR, AND BOTH FRONT END TIRES WERE BURNED AND DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 270000. THE VIN NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND HEARD A LOUD POP, AS IF A TIRE HAD BLOWN OR DRIVE COMPONENT BROKE. MY TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND SHAKE AFTER THE NOISE AND CONTINUED WHEN I CAME TO A STOP VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE SOUND. IT ALSO CONTINUED AFTER I CAME TO A STOP AND PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK. ALSO, IT INCREASED IN SEVERITY BUT LESSENED IN TIME INTERVAL, OF AN OBVIOUS KNOCK. I LEARNED I HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG OUT OF MY HEAD, TAKING THE THREADS IN THE HEAD WITH IT. THE TWO OPTIONS ARE TO REMOVE THE HEAD FROM THE MOTOR, WHICH COSTS ABOUT WHAT THE TRUCK IS WORTH, OR TO FIX IT WITH THE HEAD ON THE MOTOR AND TAKE CHANCES THAT NO METAL SHAVINGS ENTER THE CYLINDERS. BOTH OPTIONS REQUIRE A HELI-COIL FOR THE HEAD. I HAD TO HELI-COIL MY HEAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG SINCE THERE WERE NO THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUG TO ATTACH TO. *TR

HEADLIGHTS HAVE LOST A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF THEIR INTENSITY DUE TO THE YELLOWING EFFECT OF THE PLASTIC LENS COVERS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH HE SUDDENLY LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL, MOMENTS LATER THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. WHILE COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A ICE PATCH WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLES REAR END TO SWAY LEFT AND RIGHT BEFORE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT HAD BEGUN TO ROT AND SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128000.

SPARKPLUG BLOWING OUT. *TR

HEATER MALFUNCTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD, F150 PICKUP. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE ACTIVATED HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND THEN PRESSED RESET, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS, HE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,901.

A 1997 FORD PICKUP WAS PUT INSIDE THE GARAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE FRONTAL HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING. ALSO HE HEARS KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE CONNECTION ROD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HE WAS REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE HE PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THE FAILURE. HE WAS THEN ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 219,000. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A 1997 F-150 4.6 V8 WITH APPROX 270,XXX MILES ON IT. AROUND THREE YEARS AGO I REPLACED THE ORIGINAL RADIATOR AT AROUND 190,XXX MILES, SEEMED FAIR THAT'S A DECENT LIFE I THOUGHT FOR A RADIATOR. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. SINCE THEN I AM NOW NEED OF MY FOURTH RADIATOR, THE LAST RADIATOR WAS REPLACED IN JAN 2008. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE FOLKS ARE SAYING THAT THE PART IS OUT OF THEIR 12 MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. ALL REPAIRS FOR THIS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS DEALER FOR THE PAST FIVE OR SO YEARS. MY CONTENTION IS THAT CLEARLY THESE PARTS ARE SUSPECT AND THE REPAIR AND FAILURE HISTORY SEEMS TO SUPPORT THIS. *TR

1. REGULAR BRAKING WAS DISABLED BY MALFUNCTIONING ABS FIRING. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IN DRY AND SLOW CONDITIONS ON CITY STREETS, BRAKES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY, RESULTING IN THE TRUCK ROLLING FORWARD AS THE ABS SYSTEM FIRED. 2. IN TRYING TO STOP THE TRUCK, WITH THE BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED TO THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL VIBRATED FROM ABS ACTIVITY AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION. AT FIRST THIS ONLY HAPPENED ON THE FIRST STOP OF THE DAY, EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SO. LATER IT HAPPENED FREQUENTLY. I FOUND THAT IF I QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE IGNITION THE (ELECTRONIC) ABS WOULD BE DEACTIVATED AND THE TRUCK WOULD STOP NORMALLY. 3. CHANGING FRONT BEARINGS AND ASSOCIATED SPEED SENSORS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. DEALER PART AND INSTALLATION WAS AROUND $1200, BUT GENERIC PARTS WERE AVAILABLE THAT SHAVED SEVERAL HUNDRED OFF THIS TOTAL REPAIR COST. *TR

1997 FORD F150, WE WERE ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY FROM 30 MPH OUT OF A CONSTRUCTION ZONE BACK TO HIGHWAY SPEED (65MPH). THE TRUCK HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STUCK INTO FULL ACCELERATION MODE. SHARPLY APPLYING THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT IN SLOWING THE VEHICLE. THE FOOT ACCELERATOR WAS DOWN FULLY, THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INVOLVED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO LIFT THE FOOT ACCELERATOR WITH HER TOE, BUT IT WAS STUCK DOWN FULLY. IT COULD NOT BE LIFTED. WITHIN 2 MILES THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING WELL PAST 100 MPH. CARS AHEAD WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. IN DESPERATION WE REPEATEDLY HIT THE BRAKE HARD AND SUDDEN WITH FULL EFFORT. THERE WAS A POP AND THE ACCELERATOR CAME BACK UP. THE TRUCK WAS PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THERE WAS NO APPARENT ISSUE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PETAL. IT MOVED EASILY AND NORMALLY. THE TRUCK WAS STARTED AND TEST DROVE, AND EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED NORMALLY. WE CONTINUED DRIVING WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INCIDENT. I ASSURE YOU IT WAS NOT DRIVER FAULT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT ACTIVELY PULLS THE ACCELERATOR DOWN EVEN WHEN THE CRUISE IS NOT ACTIVATED. HITTING THE BRAKE DID NOT STOP THE ACTIVATION. THIS WAS A CLOSE CALL AND WE HAVE VERY CREDIBLE WITNESSES AND DRIVERS TO EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHAT HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 189000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE THAT WE KNOW OF. WE BOUGHT IT USED, AND IT IS IN ORIGINAL CONDITION, NO AFTER MARKET GASKETS OR ALTERATIONS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE WIRING ASSEMBLY IN THE BRAKE LAMP CONTROL AT AN EXPENSE OF $115.11. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED , BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 163,000. UPDATED 10/27/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIGHTS ONLY COME ON WITH EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. UPDATED 10/28/09.*JB

1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L ENGINE. STARTED CAR IN THE MORNING. MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND STOPPED IT. RESTARTED THE MOTOR AND IT RATTLING LOUDLY AND STOPPED IT AGAIN. THE NUMBER ONE PISTON BENT THE CONNECTING ROD. *TR

PULL GEAR SHIFTER DOWN TO D1 AND SMOKE AND FIRE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN: ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO USE THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION. REPLACED SEVERAL FUSES AND TRIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I DISMANTLED THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS TWO SHORT AND ROUTED AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING IT TO BREAK EVERYTIME THE TRUCK IS PUT INTO D1. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOR ANY AUTO STORE HAVE ANY PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMEND THAT I NOT USE D2/D1/OVERDRIVE. *TR

TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *TR

AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 2 MILES AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE STARTED ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE RAIN STOPPED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REINSTALLED THE GEM MODULE, AS WELL AS INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. THE WIPERS FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEM MODULE HE INSTALLED FROM FORD WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAGS WORK. PRIOR TO THE GEM MODULE FAILURE, SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. AT 30,000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 10 MPH, THE PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN FELL OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 160,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLER SHEERED OFF. UPDATED 05/29/09*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD KICK IN AND OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THEY REPLACED UNKNOWN MODULES IN THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $607. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A NEW DASHBOARD SWITCH AT NO COST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN THERE FOUR TIMES WITH THE EXACT SAME FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 53,000. UPDATED 04-24-09 *BF UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND WAS STRIKING AGAINST THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V161000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: SPRINGS: LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY). IF THE CONTACT REPAIRS THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL OFFER A TWO MONTH WARRANTY FOR THE REAR SPRING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF UPDATED 06/16/09

BACK WINDOW LEAKS, PLASTIC FRAME THAT HOLDS GLASS ONTO CAB BRAKES WITH TIME. VARIOUS GLASS COMPANIES HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COMMON THING WITH THE 97-2000 FORD F-150'S IT'S NOT THE RUBBER NOR A WEATHER STRIP IT'S THE PLASTIC FRAME THAT BRAKES WITH TIME. *TR

MY F-150 WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND HAD A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES, AND IGNITION COIL FOR A COST OF OVER $500. THEY STATED THAT THE #5 PLUG HAD BEEN FOULED WITH ANTIFREEZE. IT RAN FINE FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THEN UPON STARTING MY TRUCK, A LOUD BANGING OR RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. UPON DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT A FAULTY GASKET DESIGN CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO ONE OF THE CYLINDERS INSPECTION OF THE CYLINDERS SHOWED COOLANT TO BE POOLED IN THE FRONT, PASSENGER-SIDE CYLINDER. CERTIFIED MECHANICS ATTRIBUTE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER TO BE DUE TO A PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE. IF NOT CORRECTED, THE PROBLEM LEADS TO MAJOR ENGINE DESTRUCTION. DOCUMENTED EFFECTS OF THE COOLANT LEAK ARE WORN OUT BEARINGS AND SURFACES, AND BROKEN OR BENT CONNECTING RODS, NECESSITATING AN ENGINE REBUILD. FORD SENT A TSB TO SOME OWNERS OF THESE ENGINES TO REPLACE THE FAULTY GASKET BUT NOT TO OTHER OWNERS. THE KNOWLEDGE OF A FAULTY GASKET DESIGN WAS WITHHELD FROM SOME 1997 4.2L F150 OWNERS. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION, AND LIKE MANY PEOPLE, HAVE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AVERAGE REPAIR COSTS ARE AROUND $4500 DOLLARS. FORD DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS OF KNOWN DEFECTS AND FORD TECHNICIANS WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE, DID NOT NOTIFY ME. *TR

I RECENTLY NOTICED A LOSS OF COOLANT AND FOAMY ENGINE OIL. I FOUND AN ONLINE FORUM EXPLAINING THIS AS A PROBLEM CALLED HYDROLOCKED.FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1999 AN HAS ISSUED A TSB 99-20-7 AND ONP 99B29.WHY HAS FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOT BEEN HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MADE A CRACKING AND POPPING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE LIFTED UP FROM THE ANCHORAGE AND TILTED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR), ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2008. HE WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (FORD OF AMERICA) THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

MY 1997 F-150 4.2L V6 WITH 128,000 MILES STARTED EXPERIENCING AN UNACCOUNTABLE FOR WATER LOSS THAT QUICKLY TURNED INTO A ROUGH IDLE ON COLD STARTS AND THEN VERY NOTICEABLE STEAM FROM THE EXHAUST AT WHAT TIME IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR WITH A SUSPECTED BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DISMANTLING THE ENGINE, THERE WAS WATER IN THE TOP END BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION OF HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THE HEADS HAVE BEEN PRESSURE TESTED FOR LEAKS AND TURNED OUT OK. IT APPEARS THAT THE INTAKE OR INTAKE GASKET IS THE PROBLEM AND UPON ONLINE RESEARCH IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT FORD HAS HAD PRIOR COMPLAINTS OF INTAKE AND GASKET FAILURES. *TR

WATER INTRUSION INTO GEM MODULE CAUSING FAILURE OF WIPERS, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ENGAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC 4WHEEL DRIVE TO WORK. USUALLY TRIGGERED AFTER RAIN AND LASTING FOR DAYS. SEE TSB 98231 NHTSA 603715. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR

FUEL TANK STRAP REPLACEMENT LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF BROKEN FUEL TANK AT FEED TUBE. RARE OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO AUTO SHOP AND DEALER SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS 97' FORD F-150. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. WE WERE AWAKENED BY OUR LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, ALERTING US TO THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN ON FIRE. THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PUT OUT THE FIRE PRIOR TO IT SPREADING TO OUR HOME. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, UNDER THE HOOD, AROUND THE WHEEL WELL. THIS WAS DOCUMENTED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK AND THE DRIVEWAY HAVE BEEN MELTED, AND THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE OR FIXABLE. COINCIDENTALLY, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD THIS WEEK STATING THAT THE RECALL ON THIS TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AND THAT IT COULD RESULT IN FIRE. WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ON MAY 11, 2008 AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL. OF COURSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK WE REGISTERED IT WITH THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO OBTAIN PLATES IN OUR NAME, AND WE WERE ISSUED OUR REGISTRATION. WE OWNED THIS TRUCK EXACTLY 6 MONTHS TO THE DATE WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. IF WE HAD BEEN SENT A NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO THE FIRE, RATHER THAN AFTERWARDS, WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS CRUISE CONTROL RECALL ADDRESSED. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE IS SCRAP. WE ARE HOLDING ON TO THE TRUCK, UNTIL WE CAN REACH A DETERMINATION OF FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR

THE FRAME ON MY 1997 FORD F150 HAS RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING THE SHOCK AND SPRING MOUNTS TO BREAK. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS. *TR

MY 1997 FORD F150 4X4 ON THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD THE REAR SPARK PLUG CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF POWER NOW I CAN NOT DRIVE IT MAKES WEIRD NOISES IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS SPARK PLUG NO LONGER FITS IN THE HEAD WAS THIS A BAD FLAW TO THE 4.6 DUEL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE .DO I HAVE A CLAIM WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANK YOU! *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN, MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD SAFELY. (OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED AS WELL) WIPERS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL REPAIRED. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. SEE FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 98-9-13 AND FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 . *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150. I HAD PARKED IT FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL I SOLD MY CHEVY TAHOE. WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WHEN I RECONNECTED IT I WENT IN THE CAB AND COULD SMELL BURNING PLASTIC AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE ON, EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS IN MY HAND. I LOOKED UNDER THE DASH AND FOUND THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS SIZZLING AND SMOKING. I QUICKLY GOT OUT AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE HAD I NOT NOTICED IT IN TIME. IT SURPRISED ME THAT NO FUSES WERE BLOWN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING FOR ALOT OF 1997 - 2003 FORDS AND WAS WONDERING WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. I WORKED FOR A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN MARQUETTE MI SO I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT RECALLS AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPENSE PUT ON THE CONSUMER. I THINK THAT WITH THE DECLINE IN SALES FOR THE AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS THEY SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THESE FAULTY MODULES. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT SO IM NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME BUT IM EXPECTING IT TO BE BETWEEN $120- $160. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS CHAPARRAL AP TIRES, SIZE LT265/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING SEVERELY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE TIRES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A THIRD DEALER AND THEY LOADED DOWN THE TIRES WITH WHEEL WEIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF UPDATED 11/26/08*JB

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SO WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND FOUND A FUSE THAT WAS BROKEN. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND THREE HOURS LATER WE SMELLED SMOKE IN OUR HOUSE AND FOUND MY SHOP WAS ON FIRE. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT FOUND THAT THE TRUCK WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TR

BOUGHT 97 FORD F-150 TRUCK FROM PRIVATE PARTY.. IT HAD RECALL ON IT WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT IT AND MY TRUCK ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF AND HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. *TR