1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

COOLANT LEAK. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TANK IN PLACE BROKE. THE GAS TANK DROPPED 4 INCHES; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. UPON INSPECTION ONE OF THE TWO BRACKETS WERE CORRODED AND HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN OFF. THE BRACKET WAS REPLACED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 5/3/2006 - *NM

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 60,800 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE COST WAS MORE THAN THE TRUCK WAS WORTH. I HAD THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP 3 YEARS AGO FOR A WATER LEAK THAT WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAD 36,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEALERSHIP ASK ME IF THE MILEAGE WAS RIGHT ON THE TRUCK. I TOLD THEM WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND THE COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L 6 CYL ENGINE AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH COOLANT LEAKING AND WATER PUMP GASKET FAILURES AS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL FORD TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS 90,000 MILES AND I AM PAYING $1200 DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RECTIFIED. FORD HAS ISSUES TSB'S ON THIS ISSUE SINCE 1999 AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO REIMBURSE OR PROTECT THE CONSUMER FROM THIS RECOGNIZED FAILURE. THIS SHOULD BE AN OFFICIAL RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT MADE TO OWNERS WHO HAVE PAID TO HAVE THIS CONDITION RECTIFIED. *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 PURCHASED IN 2000 FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP. I NEVER RECEIVED THE ONP RECALL ABOUT A FAILURE IN THE FRONT COVER GASKET AND NOW I AM FACING COSTLY REPAIRS. FURTHERMORE THE REPAIRS WERE NEVER CONDUCTED ON MY VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE DESPITE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL. *NM

FIRE TO MY 3 DAYS PARKED FORD F-150 . LUCKILY WAS NOT PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE AND WAS IN MY GATED OUTSIDE PARKING. ONLY FRAME IS REMAINING....BAD...*NM

1. LOSS OF COOLANT 2. PRESSURE TEST SHOWED FRONT GASKET LEAKING 3.FRONT GASKET REPLACED AT COST OF $1000.00 , MAY HAVE LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAK NOW, ALL COMMON SERVICE ISSUE , NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *JB

BENT OR BROKEN CONNECTING ROD, DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING UP TO 40 MPH THE ENGINE LEAKS COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED. HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AT HIS EXPENSE. A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND PRODUCE STEAM. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKET IN 1997 FORD 4.2L V6. *NM

THIS CONCERNS A 1997 F-150 FORD PICKUP WITH A 4.2 L 6 CYLINDER MOTOR. I'VE HAD TO ADD COOLANT TO IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND COULDN'T FIND A LEAK OR ANY IN THE OIL. FIVE DAYS AGO WHILE TRYING TO START IT THE MOTOR GAVE A LOUD BANG AND WHITE SMOKE BOILED OUT. NOW IT KNOCKS LIKE A BENT OR BROKEN ROD AND BLOWS WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I FOUND A WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET WHERE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WITH TRUCKS HAVING THE SAME MOTOR ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BETWEEN 76000-110000 MILES. MINE HAS 109,000 MILES AND FROM THE REPORTS, FORD IS TRYING TO PUT ALL OF THIS ON THE DEALERS AND THE DEALERS ARE JUST WANTING TO FIX THE MOTORS @ $600 -$4000 DOLLARS. THE PEOPLE WITH THE PROBLEM SAY THAT IT IS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THEY WERE RECALLED, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED THAT RECALL. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX A MOTOR THAT WAS FAULTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE THING.*AK

#3 SPAKPLUG BLEWOUT OF MY 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 5.4 LITER ENGINE. I HAVE YET TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM . *AK

NO KNOWN EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE. ENGINE MADE A LOUD EXPLODING NOISE AND STARTED POPPING AFTER EXPLOSION. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN SPARK PLUG AND THAT THE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST $1600.*AK

ON THE NIGHT OF JAN. 19, 2006,1:30 AM, WE WERE AWOKEN BY AN EXPLOSION. MY HUSBAND AND I JUMPED UP AND STARTING RUNNING TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR WINDOW AND REALIZED THAT OUR 1997 FORD F150 WAS INFLAMED. MY OTHER VEHICLE WAS PARKED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK, MEANING THAT THE GAS TANK WAS ABOUT 1-2 FEET AWAY FROM THE TRUCK. THE FIRST THING I DID WAS CALLED 911 WHILE RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO PUT CLOTHES ON. MY HUSBAND WAS OUTSIDE WITH A WATER HOSE TRYING TO PUT A HUGE FIRE OUT. WHICH KNOWING IN MY MIND THAT ANY MOMENT WE COULD ALL BLOW UP. BY THIS TIME I HURRIED AND GOT MY 5 MONTH OLD BABY, AND MY OTHER 2 CHILDREN AND RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE. WHILE MY HUSBAND IS STILL TRYING TO HOLD A HUGE FIRE DOWN WITH A HOSE PIPE, I AM WATCHING THE TOP OF MY CARPORT BURN THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVES AND TAKES CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. (GREAT JOB MCFD YOU ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED) AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT. I THANKED THE LORD FOR MY FAMILY LIVES. THE NEXT DAY I REALIZED THE DAMAGES WE HAD. FIRST,WE HAVE NO TRUCK, OUR CARPORT IS DAMAGED, AND OUR OTHER VEHICLE HAS SOME BURNED DAMAGES. APRX 2 WEEKS LATER FORD HAS GOT IN TOUCH WITH US AND HAS DENIED OUR CLAIM. THEY TOLD US THAT THE TRUCK WAS SO BURNED THAT THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. THANK YOU FORD FOR OUR TIME IN NEED WHEN IT IS NOT OUR FAULT.....PEOPLE GET ON THE COMPUTER AND CHECK FOR RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLES AND GET IT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE FORD IN NOT FESSING UP. SINCE THE FIRE WE HAVE LEARNED THAT OUR 1997 FORD EXPEDITION ALSO HAD THE SAME RECALL(SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH) KNOWING THAT THE EXPEDITION HAD THAT SAME RECALL I COULD NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT WITH IT PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. TRUST AND BELIEVE IT IS NOW SOLD. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER FORD IN MY DRIVE WAY. *NM

GASKET FAILED ON 4.2 LITER FORD ENGINE, CAUSING A ROD TO BREAK. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE GASKET RECALL IN 1999. IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3000 TO FIX. FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS JUST LIKE MINE OUT THERE.*AK

ENGINE DEAD DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS, COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. *NM

LOSS OF COOLANT IN 4.2 L. V-6 ENGINE. FORD F-150 PICK-UP TRUCK.

I'LL HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 FOR NO REASON MY MOTOR BLEW A ROD I'LL READ IN THE INTERNET ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE MOTOR ARE DEFECT, ISN'T FORD DEALER DURING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT I'LL WENT TO WORK IN MY TRUCK CAME HOME FROM WORK, 3-HOURS LATER STARTED MY TRUCK THE ENGINE KNOCK CONTINUES TO BANG, I TURN IT OFF I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK BLEW A ROD. THIS IS VERY ON FAIR I CAN'T AFFORD A ANOTHER CAR. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS YOU. *NM

NORMAL USE OF 4.2 V6 FORD ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO 0 PSIG AT ENGINE IDLE AFTER TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM MY SELF (25 YEARS AUTO MECHANIC 17 YEARS AVIATION TECH) AND SEARCHING THE WEB FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS I HAVE FOUND THE FIX IS REBUILD OR REPLACE THE ENGINE $2000.00 - $6000.00 FOMOCO SHOULD SHARE IN THIS EXPENSE BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANYONE WITH HELP FROM FORD I WILL STATE THAT MANY HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE INJURED MOMENTARILY. *NM

LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALLY DUE TO KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN GASKETS. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL LEAKS, JUST DISAPPEARING COOLANT LEVELS AND CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER THE COOLANT WAS TOPPED OFF, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULDN'T START DUE TO HYDROLOCK. WHEN IT DID FINALLY START, THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD PINGING SOUND (SUCH AS A ROD KNOCK). I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GOING FURTHER INTO THE ENGINE TO ASSESS DAMAGE. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT TO THE MANUFACTURER AS THEY HAVE RELEASED A TSB TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE THIS IS ONLY SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC AFTER DAMAGE IS DONE. PLEASE HELP! *JB

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V-6 ENGINE BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT BEGAN HAVING AN ERRATIC STARTING PROBLEM. IT THEN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I CHECKED THE COOLANT SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE GAUGES, AND EVERYTHING SHOWED TO BE FINE. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE WHITE SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THEN I WENT TO START IT THE OTHER MORNING AND IT TURNED OVER AND FIRED ONCE. THEN IT MADE A REAL LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. I CONTINUED TO WORK WITH IT, AND FINALLY GOT IT TO CRANK AGAIN, AND IT WAS KNOCKING. THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE OIL PAN. I PULLED THE ENGINE OUT, AND TOOK IT APART. THE ROD IN THE #4 CYLINDER IS BENT DUE TO COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE, AND THINK THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! *NM

1997 FORD F150 4.2L V-6 WHEN FIRST STARTING ENGINE COLD IT WOULD MISS BAD FOR UP TO 30 SECOND AND THEN WOULD CLEAR UP AND RUN FINE. STARTED LOOSING ANTIFREEZE WITH NO EXTERNAL LEAKAGE, EVENTUALLY ENGINE STEAMED FROM EXHAUST. THE NEXT MORNING I STARTED TRUCK AND THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND I FOUND THAT THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN OVER AGAIN. UPON REMOVING THE ENGINE AND CHECKING THE CONNECTING RODS I FOUND THAT THE NUMBER 1 ROD WAS BENT AND THE BOTTOM OF THE PISTON WAS BROKEN OFF FROM IT HITTING THE CRANK SHAFT. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENGINE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGNS 05V388000 AND 98V007000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK

RECALL ON FORD TRUCK THAT I DID NOT RECIEVE, WHICH MY HAVE SAVED ME FROM GETTING A NEW ENGINE. RECALL#99B29. *NM

LEAKING FRONT GASKET AND/OR INTAKE GASKET CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE ON A 1997 FORD PICKUP V6 4.2 . I WAS NOT ADVISE AT NO TIME OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND PAID FOR THE GASKET REPAIRS MYSELF. ONLY NOW AFTER A MAJOR FAILURE HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT THE FORD TSB 99-20-7 AND/OR ON P99B29 AND THE DEALER IS LEAVING ME STRANDED. I'M DISABLED, AND NEARLY BROKE. ALSO LATER IN THIS FORM I DON'T KNOW WHAT OEM IS. *JB

1. LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT 2.ENGINE DAMAGE KNOCKING COOLANT IN COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, ENGINE KNOCKING LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE FROM DEFECTIVE GASKETS, 3 .FORD WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM. *NM

FAILURE OF SPARK PLUG ON F150 1997 4.6L. NO EXTRA CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT COST OF REPAIR OF A FEATURE THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE FAILED. *NM

97 FORD F-150 4.2, BLEW A ROD AND THEY TELL ME THAT IS GONE COST ME ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN DECEMBER OF 2007. AS OF MARCH 24, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000 AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 4/23/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERS DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. UPDATED 04/23/08 *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE WITH THE OFF SWITCH OR THE BRAKE PEDAL. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES HARD FOR APPROXIMATELY A MILE AND A HALF. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON THE ENGINE WAS IDLING HIGH. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A SERVICE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK

1997 F-150 4.2 ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO KNOWN (BY FORD) DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK IN TO ENGINE AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ([XXX] FAILED AT MY SON'S SCHOOL OVER 100 MILES FROM HOME. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT REALIZE THIS UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED. THERE ARE MANY FORD CUSTOMERS ANXIOUS FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO REQUIRE A RECALL TO HELP FINANCE THIS VERY EXPENSIVE (~$4,000) PROBLEM. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 V-6 MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAD 70, 126 MILES WHEN IT SUFFERED HYDROLOCK. I DROVE THE TRUCK ON A WEDNESDAY, AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. FRIDAY EVENING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT, I THOUGHT THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD. I PULLED THE BATTERY OUT AND HAD IT TESTED, AND IT WAS OK. INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO START THE TRUCK, WHEN I HEARD AN UNUSUAL "KICK BACK." I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED, BUT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE SMOKE HAD A SWEET COOLANT SMELL. I PERFORMED SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HYDROLOCK PROBLEMS. I PULLED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE GASKET. I THEN PULLED THE LEFT SIDE HEAD AND FOUND THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD WAS BENT. I PULL THE MOTOR AND PERFORMED A COMPLETE REBUILD. *JB

1997 FORD F150 DEC. 7, 2005 - AIR CONDITIONING CONTINUED RUNNING WITH ENGINE OFF. DEC. 8, 2005 - ENGINE REPEATEDLY TRYING TO TURN OVER WITH TRUCK IN PARK WITH IGNITION OFF AND NO KEY IN IGNITION. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *JB

OUR 1997 FORD F150 BURNED DEC 5,2005. THE FIRE PROCEED TO OUR 1993 CHVY BLAZER PARKED IN FRONT OF IT AND THEN PROCEED TO OUR HOME. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AROUND END OF SEPT BEGINNING OF OCT. FOR THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THE RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY AND PARTS WOULD NOT BE IN UNTIL NOV. OUR CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, WE WERE NOT REAL CONCERNED AT THE TIME. WE RECEIVED A POSTCARD THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE, STILL STATING A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND NOW PARTS WERE NOT TO BE IN UNTIL FEBRUARY 2006. NO WHERE ON THESE RECALLS ARE THE DANGER OF A FIRE DISCUSSED. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATORY!! WE CAME HOME AROUND 7:00 PM AND THE FIRE STARTED AROUND 3:00 AM OUR BLAZER ONLY HAD LIABILITY AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BE COVERED. THE INSURANCE IS PROCESSING TWO CLAIMS ( 2 - $1000.00 DEDUCTIBLES) AND WE ALSO HAVE AN MEDICAL CLAIM FOR OUR DAUGHTER GOING IN FOR TOXIC SMOKE INHALATION. WE HAD 6 PAYMENTS TO GO, NOW WE WILL BE LUCKY TO PURCHASE ONE DECENT VEHICLE AND DEFINITELY NEED TWO, WE BOTH WORK! FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE CONSUMERS! I HAVE MY DOUBTS THAT WE WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. MY GRANDFATHER HAULED NEW CARS FOR FORD FOR YEARS, BUT I HAVE NO LOYALTY WHEN I FIND WEBSITES GALORE ABOUT THIS RECALL AND NOTHING IS HAPPENING. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER OR DIE BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF!! *JB

ENGINE FAILURE 4.2 F150 1997. 110,000 MILES FRONT GASKET REPLACED RECALL. NO LOST OF COOLANT UNTIL NOW. MORNING ENGINE MISSED FOR 15-20 SECONDS FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO FAILURE. DAY OF FAILURE ENGINE TURNED A SMALL AMOUNT AND WOULD NOT MOVE BY STARTER. ALLOWED TO SET AND STARTED LATER AND WHEN STARTED IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. ALL LUBRICANTS CHANGED REGULAR WITH SYNTHETICS. APPARENTLY A ROD BROKE WHEN COOLANT RAN INTO CYLINDER AND STARTING CAUSE THE ROD TO BEND AND STARTING LATER CAUSED THE BEND TO BREAK. *JB

MY SON APPLIED HIS BRAKES ON A 1997 FORD F-150 AND TRIED TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, HOWEVER; HE CLAIMS THE STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED" PROHIBITING HIM FROM AVOIDING THE WRECK. HE SAID IT WAS LIKE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE KEY FOR THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING ON 1997 FORD F-150'S OR IF THIS IS SIMPLY A BY-PRODUCT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BREAK FEATURE. *NM

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V-6 TRUCK STARTING KNOCKING THIS MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE MOTOR. 60,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE HAS LOST ALL OIL PRESSURE AND IS KNOCKING TERRIBLY. I USED IT 2 DAYS AGO AND THIS MORNING IT'S BROKEN. HAPPENED WHILE SITTING UNDER THE CARPORT OVER NIGHT. PROBABLY THE ALL FAMILIAR LEAKING GASKETS THAT HAS PLAGUED EVERY 4.2L V-6 FORD OWNER. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 05V017000 ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

1997 FORD F-150 I MADE A LEFT TURN ,STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL & THE PEDAL STAYED TO THE FLOOR. ABOUT 100 YARDS LATER I HIT HEAD ON INTO A GUIDE RAIL. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. *NM

1997 FORD F-150 INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED ALONG WITH A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE. HAD TO PAY A HEFTY REPAIR FEE. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO IT, JUST SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM MY TAIL PIPE. LUCKILY I CAUGHT IT REAL QUICK AND IT ONLY COST THE ME REPAIR OF THE ENTIRE GASKET. A LOT OF TIMES IT IS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. MY REPAIR COST $500. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 F150 4.2 V6 THAT I PURCHASED NEW FROM FORD. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOSING COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. IN 2005, WITH ONLY 89000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I STARTED IT UP ONE AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT AND WENT OUT APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER AND STARTED IT UP AND IT HAD A VERY LOUD ROD KNOCK. I WAS JUST RESEARCHING REBUILD KITS AND REBUILT ENGINES WHEN I CAME ACROSS ALL THE POSTS ABOUT HYDROLOCK. I NOW KNOW THAT THIS WAS A SITUATION THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF, BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT AND LEFT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND DID NOT LAST. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING ALL THIS TIME. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY FOUND OUT AND PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WOULD HAVE HAD PROTECTION ON OUR INVESTMENT. *TR

97 FORD F150 4.2 L ENGINE, NO GASKET RECALL NOTIFICATION, THROWN ROD DURING STARTUP JUST LIKE THE LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME FAILURE ON HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SOLUTION FOR CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE CRUISE WAS DISABLED AS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 05V017000. HE HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD.*AK

WHILE BACKING OUT TO GET ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER FORD F150 HAD NO STEERING. *TS (11/16/05) THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMERS FOUND THAT A PIECE ON THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY THAT WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM HAD WORN OUT. *SC

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE RUNNING. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE PLUGS CHANGED ONCE BY THE FORD DEALER. I HAVE READ ON THE FORD F150 FORUMS THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON THE 5.4 ENGINE AS THEY HAVE VERY FEW THREADS HOLDING THE PLUG IN. I AM TOLD FORD FIXED THE PROBLEM IN 2002 BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE EARLIER TRUCKS. *JB

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WAS PARKED NEXT TO MY HOME & HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN THIS DAY, AFTER RETURNING HOME AFTER BEING GONE FOR THE DAY I FOUND THAT MY TRUCK HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE! AFTER TALKING TO NEIGHBORS & GOT DETAILS THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT THE FIRE LOOKED AS IF IT HAD STARTED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE REAR OF MOTOR & THE DASH. AFTER LOOKING AT THE RECALL SITE FOR THIS YR. TRUCK I FOUND INFORMATION THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM & AS I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM FORD ON THIS MATTER AS OF THIS DATE. *NM

SPARK PLUG HAS BLOWN OUT OF MY 1997 FORD F150 FOR THE SECOND TIME. FIRST FIX WAS USING A HELICOIL. SECOND FIX WILL HAVE TO BE THE SAME. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE WWW, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FIXED ONLY BY REPLACING THE ENTIRE CYLINDER HEAD ($3,000+) THIS IS POOR QUALITY MANUFACTURING AND CORPORATE AMERICA TURNING ITS BACK, ONCE AGAIN, ON THE CONSUMERS THAT KEEP THEM GOING. *JB

1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP WITH 4.2 LITER V6. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY ADD COOLANT TO THE RADIATOR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I CAME ACROSS FORD ONP 99B29 WHICH STATES FORD WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET TO PREVENT SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. (HYDROLOCK LEADING TO BROKEN OR BENT CONNECTING RODS). I NEVER RECEIVED THIS NOTICE AS I UNDERSTAND IT WAS ONLY SENT TO CORPORATE CUSTOMERS. I NOW HAVE OILY RESIDUE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COOLANT, HARD STARTING, ETC. ALL CONSISTENT WITH DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD/FRONT COVER GASKET LEADING TO INTERNAL ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE FORD DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE SAID I HAD TO REPORT IT TO HIM PRIOR TO MARCH 31, 2001. I NOW HAVE 70,600 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I HAVE A CATOSTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE FROM A BROKEN ROD ON CYLINDER #1. *NM

BOUGHT A 1997 F-150 USED IN 2001 WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE PUT LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IN THE 4.5 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT AND CHANGED THE OIL TWICE. I HAD NOTICED IN THE PAST THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FILL UP THE COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. I ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEAT GOING IN AND OUT. WENT TO START THE TRUCK AND IT SHOOK AND CAME TO A STOP. STARTED IT AGAIN AND THERE IS NOW AN AWFUL BANGING/KNOCK. I BELIEVE TO BE A ROD OR OTHER INTERNAL PART. HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED BY A PROFESSIONAL, BUT AFTER READING THE FORUMS ON THE FORD 4.2 LITER ENGINES I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT I CAN SELF DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS HAVING TO DO WITH THE COOLANT LEAK PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT RAN THE ENGINE AND HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO FIX IT OR REPLACE IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SOME PROBLEM, SYMPTOMS, AND OUTCOME AS ME. THEY HAVE TO NUMBER IN THE HUNDREDS-THOUSANDS. FORD SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS AND HAVE TO BE FULL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR 4.2 MOTOR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT AND A RECALL. ON BEHALF OF ALL THE F-150 OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WE NEED HELP TO RESOLVE THIS. THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND PLEASE INFORM ME IF ANYTHING HAPPENS OR CAN BE DONE AS I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING AS FAR AS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD. JB

THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT EVENT THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS THAT THE SPARK PLUGS ARE POPPING OUT OF THE HEADS. THIS HAPPENED ON A 1997 FORD F150 5.4 SUPERCAB PICKUP, IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO A FEW OTHER OF OUR PICKUPS AND TO A COUPLE OF OUR SERVICE VANS. WE HAD TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUG HOLES TAPPED AND RE-DRILLED AND INSTALL A NEW PLUG. IT IS QUITE AND EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE NOT ONLY FOR THE REPAIRS BUT THE DOWN TIME OF OUR VEHICLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING A LOT. COULD YOU PLEASE GET BACK TO ME IF YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. OR LET ME KNOW IF I AM COMPLAINING TO THE WRONG PLACE. THANK YOU.*JB