1996 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED, THE VEHICLE HAS ATTEMPTED TO START SEVERAL DIFFERENT TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE IGNITION ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE AND JUMPS FORWARD OR BACKWARD DEPENDING ON THE GEAR THE VEICLE WAS IN WHEN PARKED. *AK

WHEN THE FIRST TIRE FAILED WE WERE ON I-70. A VIBRATION OCCURRED AND THEN THE TIRE LOST ABOUT HALF OF ITS TREAD. WE CHANGED THE TIRE AND RETURNED HOME SAFELY. THE SECOND TIRE BEGAN VIBRATING ON I-90 JUST BEFORE BUFFALO WY. BEING ONLY ABOUT ONE MILE FROM THE CAMPGROUND WE SLOWLY MADE IT IN AND CHANGED THE TIRE THERE. THE NEXT MORING WE DROVE TO SHERIDAN, WY TO A FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE TIRE FREE OF CHARGE PLUS BALANCING. LATER I DISCOVERED THE FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED MY LOAD RANGE E TIRE WITH A LOAD RANGE D TIRE. THE THIRD TIRE BLEW WITHOUT WARNING ON I-70 THROWING THE TREAD INTO MY TOW VEHICLE AND THEN JAMMING IT INTO THE TOW DOLLY. CHANGE THE TIRE AND NOW I WITHOUT A SPARE. THE FORTH TIRE BEGAN VIBRATING, I PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND ANOTHER SEPARATED TIRE. NOT HAVING A SPARE WE SLOWLY TRAVELED TO GOODLAND, KS TO TRY AND FIND A TIRE. BEING A HOLIDAY WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING TO PURCHASE TWO MORE TIRES. WITH THE TWO NEW TIRES NOW ON THE LEFT REAR WE MADE IT HOME SAFELY THAT NIGHT. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE AFTER FOUR TIRE FAILURES AND NO ACCIDENTS. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. EACH TIME BEFORE LEAVING CAMP I ALWAYS CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE AND MADE SURE IT WAS AT THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE. I DROVE ON CERTIFIED SCALES BEFORE AND AFTER THE TRIP,BEFORE UNLOADING TO BE SURE THE VEHICLE WAS'NT OVERLAODED. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE RECALL LIST IMMEDIATELY BEFORE MORE TIRE FAILURES OCCUR AND POSSIBLY FATALITIES. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION IS APPRECIATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XA156, TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & SMELLED SMOKE. ATTEMPTED TO EXIT FREEWAY. TWO BLOCKS AFTER LEAVING FREEWAY, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD AREA. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. NO INDICATION OF CAUSE. *AK

FIRE STARTED AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED, STARTED UNDER DASH NEAR BRAKE PEDAL ON FIREWALL. *AK

VEHICLE KNOCKED DOWN 2 TREES &FENCE POST BEFORE HITTING LARGE TREE DRIVER SUFFERED 2BROKEN RIBS UPON IMPACT OF STEERING WHEEL/AIRBAG FAILURE. *AK

HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER FORD F-150/1996 THAT AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY? PLEASE CALL ME WITH ANY INFORMATION. *AK

FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK FLOWS INTO THE FRONT TANK, THROUGH THE FUEL SYSTEM.*AK

PUT IN NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS BUT BRAKE LINING RESTED AGAINST THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WHICH RUBBED A HOLE THROUGH THE METAL, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK *ML

THERE ARE TWO HORN BUTTONS ON SIDE OF WHEEL ABOUT SIZE OF POSTAL STAMP. WHEN DRIVER REALLY NEEDS TO GET TO HORN RIGHT AWAY IT'S HARD TO FIND THE BUTTONS.*AK IT WAS DIFFICULT TO USE A HORN ESPECIALLY WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL BECAUSE OF POOR DESIGN OF THE WHEEL. *YH

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND SMELLED GASOLINE.GAS GAUGE DIDN'T WORK. HE PULLED OVER, AND LIFTED HOOD. VEHICLE HAS TWO TANKS, AND FRONT TANK WAS FULL, GASOLINE WAS GOING INTO VAPOR RECOVERY . DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

THE TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS. WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FILLED AND THE REAR TANK IS SELECTED IT PUMPS GAS INTO THE ALREADY FULL FRONT TANK, CAUSING IT TO RUN OUT OF THE FUEL CAP DOWN THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE GROUND. I FEEL THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE YET HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE FORD DEALER TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO USE THE REAR TANK FOR OVER TWO YEARS. IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DUAL TANK FORD TRUCKS?*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HIT A STOPPED VEHICLE, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

3 OF 4 ORIGINAL TIRES FAILED DUE TO BELT SEPARATION. I HAD E-MAILED FIRESTONE, AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, AND REPLACEMENT WITH A LIKE FIRESTONE TIRE. SUBSEQUENT FAILURES WERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES. COPIES OF E-MAIL CORRESPONDENCE ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

LOCK UP TORQUE CONVERTER SHIMMIES(WASHBOARD EFFECT)CONTACT, DEALER SAID NO RECALL. *AK

MY WIFE AND I WENT TO GEORGIA ON VACATION FROM TEXAS. IN MISSISSIPPI WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND 5-6 PM SHE HAD A TIRE SEPARATION IN THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR. SHE WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK UNDER CONTROL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE THE AIR. THIS IS PROBABLY WHY SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK. THE TREAD SLUNG AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND BEAT UP THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING SOME VISIBLE DAMAGE. THE TRUCK HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPAIRED. I INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND CALLED IT A NIGHT AND GOT US A ROOM. WHEN I ARRIVED IN GA. I WENT TO NUMEROUS TIRE DEALERS TO TRY TO FIND A MATCHING TIRE TO REPLACE BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF PRODUCTION BUT IF I LOOKED AROUND I MIGHT FIND ONE. I FINALLY DID FIND ON AT A FIRESTONE DEALER IN ATLANTA. WHEN I RETURNED TO TEXAS I IMMEDIATELY REMOVED THE REMAINING FIRESTONE TIRES BECAUSE I FELT THAT SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT AND REPLACED THEM WITH 4 GOODYEAR TIRES. I STILL HAVE 2 OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES AND THE ONE I BOUGHT IN GA. I BELIEVE IN THE GARAGE. I DID THINK ABOUT CALLING SOMEONE DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK BUT THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN ATLANTA SAID THAT THE TIRE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND FIRESTONE WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT MANY TIMES ABOUT MAKING A COMPLAINT BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT DOING SO UNTIL THE RECENT PRESS AND CONGRESSIONAL COVERAGE. I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THAT MAYBE THERE ARE SOME OTHER MODELS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

FRONT KNUCKLE: SPINDLE THAT HOLDS THE TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND NO STEERING ABILITY, CONSUMER WENT UP OVER CURB WITHIN 5 FEET FROM A DAYCARE BUILDING ALMOST RESULTING IN CRASH. *AK

FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND RUNNING INTO DITCH AND ROCKS, CONSUMER REQUESTS FULL REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

THE FRONT BRAKES SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER 23000 MILES. SEEMS AWFULLY PREMATURE.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP AND WITHOUT NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN, AND THE CONSUMER CAN'T STEER VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. ALSO, OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON. FINALLY, SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ISN'T WORKING, AND CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL INCREASED VEHICLE SPEED. WOULDN'T DISENGAGE. *AK

POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF FOUR FRONT WHEEL STUDS WHICH BROKE OFF CAUSING VIBRATION WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN COLLISION. *YC

CONSUMER'S CHILD GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION, VEHICLE WENT FORWARD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

I HAD PURCHASED A NEW 1996 FORD F150 PICK-UP TRUCK. ON APRIL 2, 1999 WHILE DRIVING FROM BATON ROUGE TO HOUSTON ON HIGHWAY I10 THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT (DRIVING AT 70 MPH). THE OUTER TREAD HAD BLOWN OFF BUT THE INNER TUBE MAINTAINED PRESSURE. WHEN IT BLEW, THE OUTER TREAD DESTOYED THE TAIL PIPE AS WELL AS THE TIRE-WELL MUD GUARD. THE TAIL PIPE WAS REPLACED. THE MUD GUARD WAS NOT (THE FRAME HOLE HOLDING ONE END OF THE GUARD WAS RIPPED OPEN AND IS NO LONGER USEABLE). ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THE TRUCK BEGAN EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATION PROBLEMS (LOCAL DRIVING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 45 MPH). THE FORD DEALER IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS THE TREAD COMING LOOSE FROM THE TIRE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. ON JUNE 18 1999 I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRE WITH NEW ONES. ALL TOGETHER, IT COST ME $373.81 TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND TAIL PIPE. I STILL HAVE A DAMAGED TRUCK (TIRE WELL GUARD NEVER REPLACED.)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 75RX15XL )

"CLUNK" NOISE HEARD/FELT THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOTS, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATION AND BRAKING, OR DRIVING OVER BUMPS

REAR FUEL TANK LEAKS & DRIPS ON TAIL PIPE.I THINK THIS IS BECAUSE DIRT & SALT LAY ON THE FRONT OF TANK ON TOP OF PLATE THAT PROTECTS THE BOTTOM SIDE OF TANK. THE TANK RUSTS OUT ALONG THIS FRONT EDGE. *AK

TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE COVERTER LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL AT AN INTERSECTION.

ENGINE OIL PAN WAS LEAKING DUE TO SEVERE RUST/CORROSION.MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO BACKUP LIGHTS STAYING ON. BULBS WOULD LEAN ONTO PLASTIC AND PLASTIC WOULD CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET AND ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD LOCK UP. HAD BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. *AK

TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY IGNORED IT. THEY SAID THAT THIS TYPE OF TRUCK DOES THIS . NO DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

CONTACTED DEALER IN TOWN CLOSEST TO ME TINCHER FORD PLATTSMOUTH NE 68048. MORRIE CLARK AT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT FORD HAD BEEN HAVING A LOT OF FAILURE WITH THIS 4 WHEEL DRIVE HUBS. I CALLED FORD AND WAS SUPPOSED TO HEAR BACK BUT THEY NEVER RESPONDED. COST $300.00 TO FIX FOR SOMETHING THAT WASN'T USE TEN TIMES. OTHER COWOKERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE LOCKING HUBS CAN ANYTHING BE DONE?? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MICHAEL CHALOUPKA

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. THIS HAPPENS UNDER ANY TYPE OF BRAKING, NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

WHILE LEAVING THE PARKING LOT WIFE HIT A POLE DEAD CENTER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

LOUD POPPING NOISE. DEALER WAS NO HELP. INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP FOUND AND REPLACED CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. ORIGINALS HAD CHEMICALLY DETERIORATED FROM APPLICATION OF SLOVENTS AT SOME POINT AT ASSEMBLY. REPAIRS COST ME $400. ATTACHMENT POINTS WERE WORN TO THE POINT OF BEING OBLONG.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE CRASH BENT THE BUMPER DOWN ABOUT 2 INCHES. THE TRUCK IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

THE OIL PAN IS RUSTING OUT AND THE AGE OF THE TRUCK IS VERY YOUNG, (1996) AND THE MILEAGE IS MODERATE. MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE OIL SEEPING THOURGH THE OIL PAN. A FAILURE WILL CAUSE OIL TO SPILL IN THE ROADWAY HAZARDOUS TO ALL VEHICLES.

REAR LEAF SPRING APPEARS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. BRACKET REPLACEMENT WAS DONE TO 1997-1998 VEHICLES , WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 1997-1998 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED ONLY. *AK

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTIONED, VEHICLE MAKES SEVERE POPPING SOUNDS.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED THERE IS OIL LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MUFLER ASSEMBLY AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

LEAF SPRINGS DAMAGED CAUSING POOR STABILITY.

WHEN HITTING A BUMP WHILETURNING A CORNER OR HITTING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND JERKS. *AK

FRONT END SUSPENSION MAKES LOUD CLUNCKING/KNOCKING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT 25-50MPH, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

MAJORITY OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN WITH FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IN ADDITION TO THE FOLLOWING: CAMBERS, SLUGS, TOES, ROTORS, GEAR BOX, SPRINGS, DRAG LINKS, TIE RODS, BUSHINGS, TRANS CROSS MEMBERS, STABILIZER BARRS, BUSHINGS, ELECTRICAL, COMPUTER, TRANSMISSION, OIL LEAKS, IGNITION CYLINDER, AND REPLACEMENT OF FOUR WHEEL DRIVE COMPONENTS. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THEIR HANDS ARE TIED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY ONLY "DOCUMENTS" DIFFICULTIES AND I CAN'T GET PAST A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WHO CAN DO NOTHING BUT PUT MY COMPLAINTS INTO A DATABASE. REPEATED LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS HAVE GONE UNRESOLVED AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT AT CUSTOMER SERVICE! I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT NOTICE WOULD BE SENT TO THE LOCAL FIELD OFFICE WHERE THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND MOST LIKELY NOT ME DIRECTLY ALTHOUGH I ASKED THAT THEY DO SO. THERE HAVE BEEN TEN SERVICE APPOINTMENTS FOR THESE PARTS TO BE REPLACED. I NOW HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR AUG. 9TH - WE STILL HAVE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. TO DATE, OUR TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE FOR REPAIRS FOR A TOTAL OF 22 DAYS.

TRUCK HAS FRONT ABS BRAKES AND REAR BRAKES ARE DRUMS, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE TRUCKS FRONT END VIBRATES, VIBRATIONS OCCUR AT ANY SPEED WITH PROBABLE CAUSE BEING BRAKE CALIPER, OWNER ALSO IDENTIFIED A BURNING SMELL OR OVERHEATING OF BRAKES.*AK *JB

GOING 35MPH A FRONTAL COLLISION OCCURRED WHERE ON IMPACT A FIRE CAME FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE HOOD, CAUSING TOTAL DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, SAW FUEL COMING OUT OF ONE OF ITS FUEL LINES. *AK

CLEAR COAT PAINT PEELED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD, MIRRORS AND WINDOWS.

THE VEHICLE'S REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING THE REAR ABS SYSTEM WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SKIDDED WHICH ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. *AK

DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN COLD IN THE MORNING. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX VEHICLE. *AK