1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

UNDER HOOD FIRE ON A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. THE FIRE OCCURED ON APRIL 29, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM WHEN A NEIGHBOR CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO REPORT THAT OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE AND THEY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE ALREADY THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND COMING OUT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. MR. CARNES WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED HOWEVER, THE BULK OF THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. MR. CARNES SIMPLY PREVENTED ANY FURTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ANYTHING NEARBY. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THEIR FIRE IINVESTIGATOR HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. WE CONTACTED FORD THE SAME DAY AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT US IN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. TODAY IS 5/5/05 AND WE HAVE STILL NOT HEARD FROM FORD. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT THIS WILL PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM HAVE TO ENDURE THIS TRAUMA. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY THE CLAIM UNTIL THEY HEAR FROM FORD. WE WAIT IN LIMBO.

I PURCHASED A 1997 F150 ON FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2005. TRUCK WAS SEEMINGLY IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I DROVE THE F150 TRUCK TO WORK AROUND 40 MILES ON TUESDAY APRIL 26, 2005, PARKED AND WENT INSIDE. ABOUT 2 HOURRS LATER I SAW SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT A FIRE HAD ERUPTED ON/NEAR THE BRAKE SYSTEM/BRAKE BOOSTER. WE PUT OUT THE FIRE WITHIN ABOUT 1 MINUTE FROM SEEING THE SMOKE. THE DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE DRIVER?S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING; BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR/BOOSTER, POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX/FUSE BOX, WIRING ALONG FIREWALL, HOOD AND PAINT, WINDSHIELD, WIPER MOTOR/WIPER, VENT BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD, DASH, INNER DRIVER?S SIDE FENDER. INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, OUTCOME PENDING.*AK

FRONT ENGIN COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29 COST OF RECOVERY BY DEALER 4,700, IT WOULD APPEAR RECALL WAS INADEQUATE AND RESULTED IN ENGIN FAILER.

ABS LIGHT CAME ON AS WE WERE PULLING UP TO OUR BACK GARAGE DOOR. WE OPENED THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK TO CHECK THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL. THAT AREA OF THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE! WE WERE ABLE TO QUICKLY PUT OUT THE FIRE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED ALL THE PARTS THAT WERE BURNT (UNFORTUNATELY WE DID NOT THINK TO KEEP THE OLD PARTS). AS A SIDE NOTE, THE TECHNICIAN WORKING ON THE VEHICLE MENTIONED THAT FORD HAS A RECALL OUT FOR 2000 AND NEWER VEHICLES FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH - WHICH THEY HAVE DETERMINED IS THE CAUSE OF FIRES IN THESE MODELS. HE SAID THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IN OUR VEHICLE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, THE VERY SAME PART THAT FORD HAS THE RECALL FOR. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THE REPAIR SHOP USED TO REPLACE THE BURNT UP ONE WAS OBTAINED FROM FORD AND IS THE VERY SAME PART THEY ARE USING IN THEIR RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY, OUR VEHICLE IS A 1997 FORD F150 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT FALLING WITHIN THE RECALL.

AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 4HRS.AND UNATTENDED MY 1997 FORD F-150 4X4 TRUCK VIN.# [XXX] CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WAS OBSERVED FROM THE HOLE THAT WAS BURNT IN THE HOOD ON THE LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE'S HOOD. FIRE REPORT STATES ELECTRICAL AS CAUSE OF FIRE.THE INTIRE ENGINE COPARTMENT IS A TOTAL LOSS.AS IS THE TRUCK ITSELF. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1. PURCHASED FORD F-150, [XXX], WITH 4.2 L SIX AT 15,000 MILES AT SUN STATE FORD OF ORLANDO FL. 2. IN 2004, NOTICED UNEXPLAINED COOLANT LEAKS. 3. ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29, BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT KNOWN AT THAT TIME; FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS TRUCK, BUILT 03/97, IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29, INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. 4. ON 4/22/05 AT 66,713 MILES, LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER, LEADING TO A THROWN ROD AND ENGINE FAILURE. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7. 5. DEALER REFUSED TO HELP EXCEPT TO OFFER A REBUILT ENGINE FOR $4500; FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CALL CENTER RELATED THAT THE RECALL COVERED UP TO 12/31/96, AND THIS TRUCK WAS MADE 3/97. NO OFFER OF HELP NOR APPEAL THERE, EITHER. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ONE OF HIS SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. . THE CONSUMER STATED MAYBE IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT BECAUSE HE HEARD THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HEAD TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS 3300 DOLLARS. *JB *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT A HOUR WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH WATER HOSE. *AK THE FIRE STARTED AT THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP WORKING. *SC *JB

MY '97 FORD F150 4.2L V6 FAILED IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING THREE WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING IT. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION, I HEARD LOUD KNOCKING AND BANGING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I SHUT IT DOWN. I FOUND OIL POURING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE # 2 CONNECTING ROD WAS SHATTERED WHICH TOOK OUT THE OIL PAN, THE OIL PICK UP TUBE, AND BENT THE CRANK SHAFT. REMOVED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND FOUND COOLANT IN THE REAR PORT OF THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD.

CONTACT STATES: SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF HEAD WHILE DRIVING, WAS GOING SLOW BUT CAUSED A JERKING OF THE VEHICLE-NO ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAD EVER HAPPENED. NO REPAIR WORK OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS.*AK

TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. NEIGHBOR ALERTED CONSUMER THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM HIS VEHICLE. HE LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW WHITE SMOKE THEN PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM HIS GARAGE. AFTER MOVING THE TRUCK HE SAW FLAMES AND PUT THEM OUT WITH WATER. PARTS WERE REPLACED BY FORD DEALERSHIP IN KATY, TEXAS. *RP *NM

I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 97 F150 A LOT OF PEOPLE DO. I HAVE 4.2 V6 THAT LOCKED UP ON ME A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MOTOR FOR A COOLANT GASKET BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ONE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND EVEN THE ONES THAT GOT CHANGE WENT BAD ANYWAY. PLEASE HELP MAKE FORD OWN UP TO THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT AND REPLACE THESE MOTORS. THANK YOU. *JB

I HAD PURCHASED A USED FOR F-150 FOR THE DEALER IT WENT THROUGH INSPECTION AND WAS WORKING VERY WELL. HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF USE IT STARTED TO LOOSE COOLANT, BUT DOT VISIBLY. IT WOULD RUN HOT , I WOULD ADD COOLANT AND CONTINUE. THEN IN APRIL OF 2005 THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD HYDROLOCKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. *NM

WHILE WATCHING CNN NEWS AUGUST 16 2005, A REPORT WAS ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OF FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. I WAS PARKED AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AT THAT POINT, I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM, THEN GRABBED THE WIRING WAY ABOVE THE HEAT SOURCE AND STARTED PULLING THE WIRES UNTIL THEY BROKE LOOSE. THE WIRING WAS ATTACHED TO A SWITCH AT THE END OF MY BRAKE CYLINDER, IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK AND I COULD NOT REMOVE IT FROM PARK, I HAD TO CALL FOR HELP. A DAY OR SO LATER, I SAW A REPORT ON CNN NEWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR THIS SWITCH AND FORD WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD ,IF FORD WOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAD DRIVEN MY MOM TO VISIT SOMEONE IN A NURSING HOME, OTHERWISE MY TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY CARPORT. IS THERE MORE HIDDEN PROBLEMS THAT FORD IS HIDING THAT COULD, OR WOULD, HAVE DESTROYED MY HOUSE BY FIRE IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME? IS IT SAFE TO PARK IN MY GARAGE NOW? I ASKED CHEROKEE FORD IN WOOKSTOCK, GEORGIA IF THEY KNEW OF A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT WAS ON THE NEWS, AND THEY SAID SOME VEHICLES WERE, BUT NOT MINE, AND TO KEEP WATCHING THE NEWS AND IF, (BIG WORD)FORD DID HAVE A RECALL, COME BACK AND THEY COULD REIMBURSE FOR THE PART ONLY, SINCE MY REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE.*JB

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OWNER WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE TORSION BAR. CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS HAVING A VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A HEAVIER SUSPENSION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 DAYS. THE HORN STARTED BLOWING, AND CONSUMER'S WIFE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. PUT WATER ON VEHICLE FROM HOSE, BUT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO STOP FIRE. CALLED 911. BY THE TIME THE FIRE COMPANY CAME VEHICLE WAS CONSUMED BY FIRE. ALSO, THE HOUSE ALMOST CAUGHT ON FIRE. CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING ABOUT 1 OR 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. CHECKED THE FUSES, AND THEY WERE FINE. ONE EVENING, BEFORE THE FIRE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. FOUND THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT THE PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. REPLACED THAT SWITCH. THEN, FOUND A BRAKE LIGHT BULB OUT. REPLACED THAT BULB, AND VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BLINKED REAL FAST, AGAIN THE BULB WAS REPLACED. THIS TROUBLE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL WAS INTERMITTENT. REAR GLASS LEAKED, AND DOOR PANELS WERE CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. GEICO INSURANCE SENT AN ADJUSTER TO TAKE PICTURES. OWNER FELT CRUISE CONTROL CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK

DT: I OWN A FORD F150 AND I WAS HIT, AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I WAS HIT IN THE DRIVERS' SIDE FRONT FENDER SIDE. *AK

UNDER HOOD FIRE ON A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. THE FIRE OCCURED ON MARCH 29, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM WHEN A NEIGHBOR CAME TO OUR HOUSE TO REPORT THAT OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE AND THEY HAD CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE ALREADY THROUGH THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND COMING OUT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL. MR. CARNES WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED HOWEVER, THE BULK OF THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. MR. CARNES SIMPLY PREVENTED ANY FURTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ANYTHING NEARBY. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY HAS TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THEIR FIRE IINVESTIGATOR HAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. WE CONTACTED FORD THE SAME DAY AND WERE TOLD THAT THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT US IN 2 BUSINESS DAYS. TODAY IS 5/5/05 AND WE HAVE STILL NOT HEARD FROM FORD. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO FROM HERE, BUT I HOPE THAT THIS WILL PREVENT ANYONE ELSE FROM HAVE TO ENDURE THIS TRAUMA. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY THE CLAIM UNTIL THEY HEAR FROM FORD. WE WAIT IN LIMBO.

CAUGHT PROBLEM BEFORE TRAGEDY

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR AND A NEIGHBOR BOUGHT THE FIRE TO CONSUMER'S ATTENTION. FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON DRIVERS SIDE. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE OF THE 4.2L V6 IN A 1997 FORD F150 TRUCK. BROKEN ROD ON NUMBER 6 PISTON. THIS IS AN APPARENTLY KNOWN PROBLEM AND IS EFFECTING MANY VEHICLES. ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS EQUAL TO THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. ($4000.00)*JB

LOSS OF BRAKES DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUPTURING CAUSED BY RUST.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOUR A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1997 FORD F-150 PICK UP. CAUGHT FIRE IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE. VEH HAD BEEN IN DRIVEWAY FOR OVER ONE HOUR. TOTALLY DISTROYED

1997 FORD F 150 STARTED ON FIRE AND BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

MY F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE AT WORK, APPROXAMATELY 1 1/2 HRS AFTER RETURNING FROM LUNCH. THE FIRE DEPTA\RTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE TRUCK. THEY DID FILE A REPORT. *AK

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND WHILE PARKED ON THE STREET. THIS OCCURRED 15 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY FOR A CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT COULDN'T DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF IT, JUST THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND OR WARM WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. *SC *JB

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR AND HALF TO ONE HOUR AND FORTY-FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK *BF *NM

FORD F150 4.2 V6 W/110K MILES FAILED IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING TWO DAYS AGO. AFTER TURNINIG THE IGNITION I HEARD LOUD KNOCKING AND BANGING COMINIG FROM THE ENGINE AND SHUT IT DOWN. I NEVER GOT A RECALL I HEAR THERE WERE TWO OF THEM. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. THE FAILURE IS PREVALENT AND CONSISTENT WITH NO OFFICIAL ADMITTANCE YET FROM FORD THAT I'VE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN EXPLAINED TO ME THEY UNDERSTOOD IT AS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT OF EXPECTATION. WHAT ELSE DOES IT TAKE? SO I ASK NHTSA FOR YOUR HELP PLEASE!!!!

AFTER SITTING UNUSED FOR 2 DAYS, THE CRUISE CONTROLL SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT QUICKLY AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND PUTTING SODA ON THE SWITCH. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY NORMAL REPAIR SHOP FOR CORRECTION. IT WAS CORRECTED WITH A NEW SWITCH. I BELIVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR ENTIRE COST.*AK

WENT TO START TRUCK BEGAN KNOCKING FROM MOTOR UPON STARTING.MOTOR THROWN ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED.THIS 1997 F-150 ONLY HAD 93000 MILES NOT EVEN MECH.LIMIT WHAT A LEMON FORD BUILT HERE .*AK

ENGINE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH SHORTED OUT, FLAMES APPEARED AND BURNT THE BRAKE BOOSTER.*AK

'97 FORD F150 V6 4X4 4.2L, 2000 RECALL TO REPLACE MOTOR. REPLACED BY FORD. REPLACED WITH SAME PROBLEMATIC ENGINE. FORD KNOWING THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN SOLVED. ONLY 48,000 ML ON RECALLED ENGINE THAT WAS REPLACED. WITH ONLY 48,000 ML ON NEW ENGINE, LEADS TO MANAFOLD GASKET LEAKAGE, HEAD LEAKING AND THROWING A ROD. WHICH ALLOWED WATER IN THE OIL. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ASSIST IN CORRECTIONG THIS PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. AT FAULT REPLACING A RECALLED ENGINE WITH SAME ENGINE KNOWING THE PROBLEM WOULD ARISE AGAIN. *AK

WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

1. TICKING NOISE SIMILAR TO VALVE TRAIN NOISE. ENGINE SEEMED DIFFICULT TO START LAST USAGE DAY PRIOR TO FAILURE. 2. ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. ENGINE DETERMINED TO BE HYDRO-LOCKED. WON'T TURN OVER. 3. ENGINE REPLACED WITH REBUILT ENGINE. (GOOD DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM IS AVAILABLE FROM JASPER ENGINES AT HTTP://WWW.JASPERENGINES.COM/PDF/38_42_TB.PDF). A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-224.HTML

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 6 HOURS CONSUMER NOTICES SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SWITCH ATTACHED TO THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WHICH WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE 15 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED IN THE PARKING . LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. HOW THE FIRE GOT STARTED WAS NOT DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THE CONSUMER LEFT A VOICE MAIL TO THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

ON 03/09/2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 6:50 P.M. (TX TIME) MY NEIGHBOR INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND SHE HAD NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS A 1997 FORD F150 QUAD CAB (I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 08/12/2001 FROM A USED CAR LOT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARK FOR ONLY ABOUT 20 MINUTES, AS I HAD JUST COME HOME FROM WORK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS INDICATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. I DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR THE THE INCIDENT; THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY ALL THAT DAY. I PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE AROUND 11 A.M. ON THIS DATE AND CHECKED THE OIL AS WELL, TIRES, ETC.; AS FAR AS I COULD TELL EVERYTHING WAS OK. ON 03/24/2005 THE NBC NEWS AIRED A STORY CONCERNING THE FORD F150, INVESTIGATING A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL EMISSION WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE INAVERTANTLY CATCHING ON FIRE. MY VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED (AND I DO HAVE PICTURES). MY CONCERN NOW IS THAT THE FINANCE COMPANY (UNITED AUTO CREDIT) IS EXPECTING TO RECEIVE CAR PAYMENTS AND ARE HARASSING ME AND MY HUSBAND DAILY. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS CALLED ON 03/10/2005, I CONTRACTED CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND INFORMED THEM OF THE SITUATION AS WELL, I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD COMPANY THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS IN MY VEHICLE AT ALL (WHICH ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORTS IS NOT TRUE). *AK *NM

MY TRUCK IS A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 140000 MILES LAST WEEK I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE AUTO SHOP BECAUSE I COULDNT FIND OUT WERE THE ANTIFREEZE WAS GOING I WAS TOLD THAT 4.2LITER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A HEAD GASKET WAS THIN AND-ANTIFREEZE LEAK IN MOTOR AND WASHING OUT BEARING. *AK

WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK POSSIBLE DEFECT OF "TIE ROD ENDS". *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 9 HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER A THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 2/28/2006 - THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT IT HAD STOPPED WORKING ON 2-18-05. *NM

WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK *SC *JB

ONCE THE ENGINE IS STARTED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR. THERE IS AN OVERRIDE PROCEDURE BUT IT IS INCONVENIENT. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY TOLD ME FORD HAD PUT A STOP ON SUPPLYING THE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE SWITCH. SO IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO GET THIS REPAIRED UNTIL FORD REPLACES THE PART WITH ONE NOT DEFECTIVE. AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION, THEY REMOVED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO AVOID FIRES AT OR AROUND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. HOWEVER, BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING FROM THE PART AND DRIPPING. IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD TO REFILL THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TWICE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKES WILL NOT FUNCTION UNLESS THE PART IS REPLACED. THE DELIMMA SEEMS TO BE FORD WILL NOT ALLOW THE PART TO BE REPLACED AND YET THEY DO NOT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE.

IN FEB./ 05 CRUISE CONTROL QUITE, MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, AUG 15/05 ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THINKING BRAKE FLUID IS LOW, I POP THE HOOD AND NOTICE PLUG ON MASTER CYLINDER IS BURNED/MELTED. CAR WONT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I GET A NEW PLUG AND HARNESS FROM DEALER AND REPLACE BLOWN FUSE. I STILL HAVE NO CRUISE LIGHT ON ON DASH BUT BRAKES AND CRUISE WORK. DEALER SAID NO RECALL BUT PLENTY OF SERVICE BULLETINS. $15.00 PART

PARKED VEHICLE AT 7:40 AM AND 10 MINUTES LATER A WITNESS SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE NEAR THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. HAD NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL IN A VERY LONG TIME. THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD SOMETIMES CLICK VERY FAST, INDICATING A BULB WAS OUT, BUT NO BULBS WERE DEFECTIVE. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR OR MORE. A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. NO AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT. VEHICLE WAS INSURED, BUT A CLAIM WAS NOT MADE DUE TO MINOR DAMAGE. MECHANIC, WHO REPAIRED VEHICLE, INDICATED THAT SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK

WHILE PARKED IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATES TWO DAYS PRIOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OFTHE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

I PURCHASED A FORD F-150 IN JAN 97 WITH 4.2L V-6 ENGINE, I HAVE FOLLOWED THE SERVICES RELIGIOUSLY, ON OR AROUND JAN 2000 I TOOKED THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER IN PUERTO RICO BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FRONT GASKETS TO BE REPLACED, I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ASCHEDULED AN APPMT. I TOOKED THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERD 4 DAYS LATER THEY CALL ME AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DONE. I WENT TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP AND NOTICE THAT THERE WAS NO WORK DONE TO THE VEHICLE. THE ATTENDANT TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT REPLACED THE GASKETS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT DID NOT NEEDED THE GASKETS REPLACED. CAME TO UNITED STATES SINCE I AM IN THE MILITARY IN FORT LEONARD WOOD. I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOSS IN COOLANT THIS CONCERNED ME AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP THEN IT STARTED LEAKING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET SO I REPLACED THE COVER THE GASKET AND THE WATER PUMP GASKET ONCE MORE COSTING ME AROUND $900.00. THEN THIS PAST WINTER ONE MORNING I WENT TO START THE VEHICLE AND STARTED TO MAKE THIS KNOKING KNOICE VERY LOUD KNOICE SO I TURNED OFF AND CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HERE IN ST ROBERT MO, DEALER SELLER SEXTON THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE AND THEN IS WHEN I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAS BROKEN A PISTON ROD BECAUSE COOLANT HAD GOTTEN IN THE OIL. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME AROUND $4,500.00 I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD NO MONEY TO PAY FOR THOSE TYPE OF EXPENCES. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE GASKETS. I CONTACTED FORD FOR ASSISTANCE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY CAN NOT HELP ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IN THE VEHICLE IS EXPIRED. TO THIS SHOULD MAKE NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM NOT THE OWNERS FAULT MY TRUCK ONLY AROUND 73,500. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD LIABLE FOR THIS THEY CLAIMED THAT THIS VEHICLES SPARK PLUGS ARE TO BE CHANGED AT 100,000. MILES HOW IS THIS IF THE ENGINES ARE ONLY LASTING 73,500 MILES. PLEASE NEED YOUR HELP ON ENSURING FORD IS HELD LIABLE FOR THIS. THANK YOU.

WHILE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A FIRE STARTED FROM THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND PUT OUT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK