1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

DT: CONSUMER STATES WHEN SHE WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN SHELIFTED THE HOOD, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR AND UNHOOKED IT. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE STOPPED SMOKING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THEM IT WASN'T UNDER RECALL ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HADN'T CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

EGINE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE GASKET LEAK ON 1997 FORD F150 V6 2.4 ENGINE AT 43,000 MILES

(1)FORD 1997 4.2 L V6, SLOW COOLANT LEAK/GASKET LEAK RESULTING IN INTERNAL TERMINAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. (2) REPLACING LOST COOLANT EVERY SO OFTEN IS NOT UNHEARD OF FOR A COMMON HIGH MILE ENGINE BUT BY DOING SO, THE PROBLEM IS GRADUALY GETTING WORSE UNTIL THE ENGINE LOCKS UP! (3)THE FIX IS THOUSANDS OF UPSET CONSUMERS SPENDING HARD EARNED DOLLARS REPLACING A FACTORY DEFECTIVE MOTOR WITH ANOTHER FACTORY DEFECTIVE MOTOR AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE! THANKS FORD! FOUND THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AFTER RESEARCHING THE WEB. PLEASE HELP! SINCERLY, EX-FORD FAN

DT: THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL FOR THE 2000 FORD F150, STATING IT CAN LEAD TO FIRES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE IGNITION WAS OFF. WENT OUT TO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. SOME WIRING MELTED. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS FOR 2000 MODELS. THE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED, THEY REPLACED THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 23, 2005. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DID HAVE THE INVOICE FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK

OUR 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS, SITTING IN OUR PARKING LOT, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 23, 2005. THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION. UPON HEARING THE FIRE AND COMING OUT TO THE PARKING LOT TO INVESTIGATE, WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO OTHER CARS OR BUILDINGS CAUGHT ON FIRE, ALTHOUGH SOME NEARBY HOSES AND BOTTLES OF AUTOMOTIVE FLUID WERE DAMAGED. *NM

DT: TRUCK WAS PARKED AND ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT A HALF HOUR BEFORE HE DISCOVERED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER HOOD NEAR CAB OF TRUCK. FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED BY 4 WITNESSES WITH A FIRE DISTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED. MECHANIC ON SITE OPENED HOOD AND SUSPECTED THE FIRE BEGAN NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE SINCE THIS OCCURRED. *AK

1997 FORD F-150, WIPERS QUIT WHILE USING THEM IN RAIN, HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL ON EXHAUST WHICH INTERN SMOKES AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE FIRE. *TR

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. DEALER SAID THAT ONE SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE HAD ROTTED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS WET. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT'S ALWAYS WET AND HE LIVES IN A SALT AIR ENVIRONMENT. *JB THE CONSUMER'S MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS NOT REPLACED WITH AN IMPROVED FUEL LINE. INSTEAD IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME LINE THAT FAILED. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL TANK HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TIED CORDS AROUND THE FUEL TANK AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE STRAPS THAT SECURED THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBER EA11006(FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING) THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. UPDATED 06/0611 *BF UPDATED 06/10/11

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY GASKET

DT: 1997 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AT ABOUT 2:45 AM. THE NEIGHBOR SAID THAT THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BECAUSE THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE CONSUMER'S HOUSE AND THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED. IT BURNED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TOOL BOX. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE DAMAGE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION, AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONSUMER E-MAILED FORD AND ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT HIM, AND NO ONE DID. THERE WAS AN ONGOING INSURANCE CLAIM. THERE WAS MASSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. *AK *SC

DT: THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING 20 MIN. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS THAT A PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. THE OWNER WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE AND HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM A HOLE IN THE HOOD. FLAMES WERE ABOUT 2 OR 3 FOOT HIGH. THERE WAS A FIRE INVESTIGATION #0002302 WHICH STATES THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS TECHNICAL PROCESSING CENTER AND CAUSE OF FIRE WAS THE IGNITION OF AN UNSPECIFIED SHORT CIRCUIT ARCH. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IT WAS ALSO REPORTED TO INSURANCE COMPANY. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. VEHICLE HAS NOT HAD OTHER PROBLEMS BEFORE. THE POLICE REPORT # 7619. *JB

DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SPREAD QUICKLY. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSPECTING THE TRUCK, AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR FROM FORD CHECKING THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB

1997 FORD F150 DRIVER SIDE INNER TIE ROD END BECAME COMPLETELY SEPERATED DURING OPERATION OT THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL.

MY 1997 FORD F-150 STARTED TO LEAK COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDER. I DECIDED TO BUY A BRAND NEW MOTOR FROM FORD BACK IN 2005 BECAUSE REPAIR THE LEAKING GASKET WAS NOT WORTH IT. THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE OR INDEED HAVE RECALLED THESE MOTORS AND I NEVER NEW ABOUT IT. I WAS NEVER INFORMED WHEN I TOOK TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. I PAID $2500 FOR A MOTOR FORD SHOULD HAVE PAID AS I AM UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT I READ ONLINE. *TR

DT: VEHICLE PARKED 5 DAYS, CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *SB

VEHICLE FIRE INVOLVING THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECT SWITCH ((CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT)) ON THIS 1997 FORD F150. LIMITTED BURN IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, AND THIS FIRE PATTERN/EVIDENCE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE COMPONENT. SALVAGE IS PRESENTLY PRESERVED FOR INSPECTION.

1997 FORD 150 V6 4.2 L ENGINE FAILURE, NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM FORD ABOUT LOWER INTAKE GASKET RECALL, OR THE RECALL ON THE FRONT COVER GASKET. BOTH DEFECTS CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE BY HYDROSTATIC LOCK, BENDING OR BREAKING THE CONNECTING ROD(S) IN 1 OR MORE CYLINDERS. *NM

JUNE 5, 2005- ABOUT 1:30AM, MY WIFE AND I WERE AWAKEN BY THE NEIGHBORS AND THE FIRE DEPT. THEY INFORMED US THAT OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE HOOD WAS MELTED AWAY AND THE FRONT HALF OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT. DEEMED THE SOURCE IN THE AREA OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SWITCH AND OR RELAY BOX. NORMALLY WE PARK IN THE GARAGE, BUT THANK GOD I DIDN'T THAT NIGHT. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN ACTING FUNNY AND MY PARK BRAKE SWITCH BLEW A FUSE. THE TECH AT DUTHLER FORD HERE IN GR TOLD ME TO JUST REPLACE THE FUSE. SO I REMOVED THE 15AMP FUSE AND REPLACE IT WITH SAME. THAT NIGHT IT BURNED.

1997 FORD F-150 EXT CAB 4X4 WAS PARKED IN CONSUMER'S DRIVEWAY. AT 1:30-2:00 AM THE NEIGHBORS WERE POUNDING ON THE DOOR. CONSUMER FOUND TRUCK ON FIRE WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT PUTTING OUT THE FLAMES. CONSUMER IS WAITING TO PICK UP FIRE REPORT FROM INVESTIGATOR. *RP *NM

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WITH APPROXIMATELY 122,000 MILES, HAD A FUSE FAILURE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. FUSE WAS REPLACED AND 4 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A NEARLY TOTAL DESTRICTION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR PORT IT WAS SITTING IN. FIRE OCCURRED ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS LAST DRIVEN. THIS FIRE MAY BE RELATED TO THE RECALL OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) ON THE 2000 F-150 TRUCKS.

FIRESTONE STORES AT 11865 W 95 OVERLAND PARK KS 66214 AND ONE AT 7575 WORNALL RD KANSAS CITY MO 64114 ARE FALSIFYING DOT REGISTRATION ON OVER 90% OF TIRES SOLD. PROCESS USED IS THAT A FICTITIOUS NUMBER THAT HAS THE RIGHT SERIES OF CHARACTERS IS USED ON ALL TIRE INVOICES REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR TYPE. THIS IS ALSO ENTERED INTO THE COMPUTER WHICH ACCEPTS THE FICTITIOUS NUMBER AS LONG AS THE CHARACTER STRING IS LONG ENOUGH. THE NUMBER IS GIVEN TO NEW HIRES AS IT WAS ME WHEN I STARTED AND WHEN I REPORTED THIS TO SUPERIOR I WAS FIRED. OVER A PERIOD OF 1 MONTH OVER 700 TIRES WERE SOLD IN THIS FASHION AND NO OTHER EMPLOYEE SAW THE PROBLEM WITH THE POLICY OTHER THAN TO SAY THEY DID NOT WANT TO LOSE THEIR JOB. *NM

DT: WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER SAW A SPARK AND SOME SMOKE AND WHILE CONSUMER WAS AFTER A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES AND EXPLODED AND WAS TOTALED. DEALER GAVE CONSUMER A NUMBER TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL GET BACK WITH CONSUMER THROUGH A REPRESENTATIVE. *TT

AT 3:15 AM ON JUNE 1, MY 1997 FORD F-150 CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. HORN HONKING WOKE MY DAUGHTER WHO FIRST OBSERVED A FIRE FROM A BEDROOM WINDOW. SHE WOKE MY WIFE AND I UP THINKING MY DETACHED SHOP WAS ON FIRE. WE RAN OUTSIDE AND FOUND THE FIRE TO BE A TRUCK ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN LAST AT 7:30 PM AND PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY NEXT TO A HORSE TRAILER. I CALLED 911 AND BEGAN SPRAYING WATER ON THE TRUCK AND TRAILER. I COULD NOT CONTROL THE FIRE AND FOCUSED ON KEEPING THE TRAILER COOL. WHEN THE FIRE TRUCK FINALLY ARRIVED IT TOOK ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO PUT THE FIRE TOTALLY OUT. AT THAT POINT THE FIRE HAD BURNED THROUGH THE CAB TO REAR SEATS. BASED ON HOW THE TRUCK BURNED, I BELIEVE IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRE.

THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR 5 HOURS, OBSERVED FLAMES ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF HOOD, IT WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED. THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING ONE YEAR PRIOR. *JB

1997 FORD F150 TIE RODS ARE EXTREMELY LOOSE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR IT WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL END COULD BE PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH BARE HANDS. THE SOCKET WAS MADE OF RUBBER. *SC

I HAVE A 1997 F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE. I HAD A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED A YEAR AGO WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR ON. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS AS TO WHEN I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK. SINCE THE GASKET WAS REPLACED, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I STARTED HAVING OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. NOW I AM STARTING TO HEAR A KNOCK. TALKING TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID IT WAS A ROD AND BEARINGS. I PULLED UP THE RECALL # 99-20-7 WHICH EXPLAINS THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THIS HAS CAUSED. BY THE WAY THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 46,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT!! HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN FORUMS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAY NO LUCK OUT OF FORD. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED? HAD A MECHANIC AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND SAID SAME THING. HOW COULD WE GO ABOUT GETTING A LAWYER TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. BY THE WAY, I DID GET A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO CATCH FIRE. WHY DIDN'T I GET THE OTHER ONES? *NM

UPON STARTING MY TRUCK, A LOUD BANGING OR RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE NOISE WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THAT DAY. I SHUT IT DOWN AND UPON DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, 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. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE TSB AND THOSE WHO DID NOT (BASED ON MY RESEARCH SO FAR) SEEMS TO BE MADE BASED ON WHERE THE TRUCK WAS ASSEMBLED, NOT ON WHERE THE ENGINE WAS ASSEMBLED. ERGO, SOME PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, WITH AVERAGE REPAIR COSTS OF AROUND $4500 DOLLARS, DUE TO FORD NOT NOTIFYING OWNERS OF KNOWN DEFECTS. *JB

MY 1997 FORD F150 STARTED ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 10 HOURS. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION.

I'VE NOTICED THAT COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO MY ENGINE (BURNING FROM THE EXHAUST) AND THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. HAD I BEEN NOTIFIED, I COULD HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED IN 2001.

DT: 1997, FORD, F-150 WITH 5.4 TRITON MOTOR AND IT BLEW THE SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. *AK

DT: AFTER SITTING FOR 2 DAYS, THE TRUCK STARTING SMOKING. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. A PLUG IN FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A SHORT. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN ORDER TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WIRING IS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND IT WAS STILL THERE. *AK *SC *JB

MY 1997 FORD PICKUP BURNED UP IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ON MAY 29TH. NO KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 10 HOURS. *JB

LOW AMOUNTS OF COOLANT LOSS, KNOCKING IN ENGINE, AND THE ENGINE RUNS POORLY. HAD THE ENGINE LOOKED AT BY THREE MECHANICS, INCLUDING CASTRUCCI FORD IN MILFORD, AND THEY ALL INFORMED ME THAT THE RODS IN THE ENGINE ARE BAD BECAUSE COOLANT IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE. DIAGNOSIS: NEW ENGINE REQUIRED.

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *AK

OUR 1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED THERE SINCE YESTERDAY EVENING, ABOUT 6:30 P.M. AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 P.M. THE NEXT DAY, OUR DOORBELL RANG, IT WAS THE MAIL LADY. MY HUSBAND ANSWERED THE DOOR,AND SHE ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW HIS TRUCK WAS ON FIRE? IT TOOK A COUPLE OF SECONDS FOR IT TO REGISTER, AND HE SAID WHAT? SHE REPEATED IT. MY HUSBAND HOLLERED AT ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE TRUCK'S ON FIRE. I GRABBED THE CORDLESS AND HEADED TOWARDS THE FRONT DOOR. JUST AS I WAS COMING OUT THE FRONT DOOR, MY HUSBAND SAID TURN THE WATER ON. HE ALREADY HAD THE GARDEN HOSE IN HIS HAND, PULLING IT TOWARDS THE TRUCK. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE, BY SPRAYING ON TOP OF THE HOOD, UNDER THE HOOD, UNDER THE FRONT WHEEL WELL, AND INSIDE THE CAB UNDERNEATH THE DASH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HAD THIS FIRE OCCURED FIVE MINUTES LATER, MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE BEEN IN IT, ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK THE LORD, HE WASN'T! THERE IS STILL QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE DONE TO OLD BLUE, SO WE'RE WAITING ON OUR INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND AN INVESTIGATOR FROM FORD TO COME OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE ONLY FOUND OUT THIS MORNING ABOUT ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENGINE FIRES ON F-150'S.

I HAVE 1997 FORD F150 4.2L PICK-UP THAT HAS THE "FAMOS" ANTI FREEZE INTERNAL LEAK THAT HAS RUINED MY MOTOR. I HAVE 56,000MI ON IT, AND FEEL FORD HAS SOLD MILLIONS OF THESE LEMONS AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT! IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR "US" WHO GOT SCREWED?

DT: CONSUMER PARKED TRUCK WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WHEN HE GOT BACK INTO TRUCK THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD START ONCE BUT NOT MOVE OUT OF GEAR. IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE ENGINE WAS BARELY RUNNING AND MISSING. THERE WAS A SMELL OF SMOKE. TURNED ENGINE OFF DUE TO THE ODD SMELL. INSPECTED UNDER HOOD. THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE THAT EVIDENTLY BURNED OUT ITSELF. CRUISE CONTROL QUIT EARLIER. THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFRAID TO MOVE OR ATTEMPT TO REPAIR ANYTHING FOR FEAR IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE AGAIN. CONSUMER CALLED FORD, NO RECALL ON THAT PARTICULAR MODEL, BUT THEY WERE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THOSE VEHICLES, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL. THE MOST FIRE DAMAGE WAS SEEN ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, SUSPECTED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID MAY HAVE HAD A HAND IN THE FIRE ALONG WITH THE SENSOR. WAS MISSING BRAKE FLUID UPON INSPECTION. *AK

MY 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE, AND NO LIGHTS WERE ON. I STEPED OUT THE FRONT DOOR OF MY HOUSE, AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I LOOKED OVER AT MY TRUCK, AND SAW FLAMES IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL, AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SIDE AND BACK EDGES. I GOT THE FIRE EXTENGUISHER FROM THE HOUSE, SHOT UP IN THE WHEEL WELL, THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE REST OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE SEEMED TO START IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AREA, AND I BELIEVE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECT IN THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE MASTER CYLINDER IS DESTROYED,AN EVAPORATIVE EMMISSION CONTROL VALVE AND SOLENOID ARE DESTROYED, AND SOME WIRING HARNESSES HAVE BEEN BURNT.THE REAR ANTI LOCK BRAKE CONTROL VALVE IS DAMAGED. THE LEFT COWL COVER AND HOOD SEAL MELTED, AS DID THE LEFT INNER WHEEL WELL.I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE TRUCK AT THIS TIME.

VEHICLE PARKED FOR APPROX 2 HOURS, COLD ENGINE, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DRIVER'S SIDE WHEELWELL UP THROUGH THE HOOD - FLAMES MOVED TO CAB - FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW FIRST

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WHERE SEAT BELT IN THE FRONT/PASSENGER VEHICLE WILL NOT CLASP ANY MORE. THERE IS NO DEBREE IN THE MECHANISMS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT THE SEAT BELT FROM CLASPING TOGETHER. HAVE REC'D ESTIMATE FOR $200+ TO FIX THE "ONE" SEAT BELT. CAN I TRUST THE OTHER 3 SEAT BELTS (ONE OF WHICH IS AROUND A BABY SEAT IN THE BACK). I CALLED THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE CONSUMER SERVICE LINE AT 800-392-3673 AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN NAMED CARSON. CARSON LOOKED UP WARRANTIES ON MY VEHICLE, WHICH I KIND OF FOUND COMICAL. ON A VEHICLE OF ALMOST 9 YEARS OLD, THERE DOES NOT EXIST A WARRANTY. HE ASKED IF I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND PROMPTLY LET HIM KNOW THAT THAT WOULD HAVE EXPIRED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND YES, I DID HAVE THAT. HE SAID THAT THE WARRANTY ON SEAT BELTS IS LISTED AS 5 YEARS OR 50,000 MILES. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? ARE AIR BAGS THE SAME? I HAVE JUST OVER 100,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS ON SEAT BELTS FOR THE FORD F150, ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS UNDER MY VIN NUMBER. SHOULD THERE BE A FULL SCALE RECALL OF ALL FORD VEHICLES IN AND AROUND THE YEAR 1997 THAT INSTALLED THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF SEAT BELT? I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 SEAT BELTS (AND ONE BEING OVER THE BABY SEAT IN THE BACK) AND ABOUT ALL THE OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE IN DANGER OF THEIR SEAT BELTS JUST GIVING WAY DURING AN ACCIDENT. DONT' WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN AND KILL SOMEONE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO MY SEAT BELT, I WAS SHOCKED. THAT IS THE ONE PART OF THE CAR, BESIDES MY AIR BAG, THAT BETTER NOT EVER GO BAD. THE PART HAS BEEN ORDERED FROM MY SHELL MECHANIC FROM FORD AND HOPEFULLY I WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE NEW SEAT BELT INSTALLED ON TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY (5/23, 5/24) BUT DO I TRUST THE OTHER THREE SEAT BELTS? I SEE FROM THE QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THIS DESCRIPTION, YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT -- NO, THANK GOD. BUT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN.

DOOR HAS CRACKED DRIVERS SIDE BOTTOM CORNER OF WIDOW MOLDING

UPON STARTING ONE MORNING, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. HAD THE ENGINE INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 87,000 MILES ON IT. THE MOTOR IS A 4.2L V6. IT ALL BEGAN WHEN I NOTICED THE ANITFREEZE LEVEL SEEMED TO KEEP GOING DOWN EVEN AFTER I WOULD FILL THE COOLANT JUG TO THE PROPER LEVEL. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR SEEMED HARDER TO START AND THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO START MY TRUCK AND WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION THE MOTOR MADE A LOUD POP AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT EITHER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THE HEAD GASKET, OR THE TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET HAD FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER MY MOTOR. THIS CAUSED MY MOTOR TO COMPLETELY SEIZE UP. THE END RESULT IS THAT I NOW NEED A NEW MOTOR THAT IS GOING TO COST ME OVER $3,000. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THIS HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE AND SINCE NO WARRANTY OR RECALL WAS IN EFFECT I WOULD RECEIVE NO REINBURSEMENT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD SINCE I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL WEB SITES SAYING THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL 4.2L V6 MOTORS. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE FORD PAY IF THE GASKETS ARE FOUND TO BE OF POOR QUALITY.

1997 FORD F 150 PICK UP, 4X4 EXTENDED CAB DRIVER'S SEAT NYLON FABRIC IS WORN AND FRAYED. I CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THIS WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO REPLACE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SEAT BELT GET FRAYED AND WORN OUT IN SUCH A MANNER. I HAVE 18 YEARS AS A FIRE FIGHTER AND HAVE CUT DOZENS OF PEOPLE OUT OUT CARS AND NEVER COME ACROSS A WORN OUT SEAT BELT BEFORE. IF THIS BELT FAILS IN A CRASH IT COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I WILL GET IT REPLACED BUT I THINKS THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT NOT OPERATOR'S RESPONSIBILTY.

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN 1997 FORD F150 4.2L V6 ENGINE 70899 MILES. ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. WHEN ENGINE STARTS RESULTING "HYDRO-LOCK" SHEARS OFF CONECTING ROD AND DESTROYS ENGINE.

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT AT 4 PM TPARKED THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT DAY AT 1 AM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BURNED THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, WIRING AND EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THERE WAS A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT.*AK

1997 FORD F150 4.2 L V-6 LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DESTROYS ENGINE!

1997 FORD F150 SUFFERED FROM PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S GASKETS.*MR THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCKUP EITHER FROM COOLANT IN CYLINDER BORES OR CRANK BEARING FAILURE. AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD CAUSE SKID AND LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO COOLANT LEAKS OUT FRONT OF ENGINE ON GROUND AND TIRES WHEN GOING FORWARD. *BF *NM

PICK UP TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER THEN STATED IT MAY HAVE BEEN DUE TO DUE A CRUISE TO CONTROL SWITCH.