1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

05V017000/FORD CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR OVER 9 HOURS. THE NEXT MORNING THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAD THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. OWNER ALSO CONTACTED THE FORD MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD THE OWNER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

ON MARCH 7TH AT 3 AM IN THE MORNING MY 1997 FORD F-150 BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE IT WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 12 HOURS. I WAS AWOKEN BY TWO LOUD BOOMS AT 3 AM. I CHECKED MY HOUSE (BRAND NEW HOUSE 1.5 YEARS OLD) AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS NOTED. I OPENED THE DOOR LEADING FROM THE HOUSE TO THE GARAGE, THE F150 WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY HOUSE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE ENSUING FIRE.*AK

PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 10:00 AND AT 10:30 THE ALARM SOUNDED. WENT TO LOOK AT VEHICLE AND SAW FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. PICTURES POSTED AT HTTP://PLAZA.UFL.EDU/BETHIE21/. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED BEFORE THE FIRE, AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN EARLY JANUARY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. WE REPLACED THE FUSE AND IT BLEW AGAIN. WE REPLACED IT 3 TIMES AND IT STOPPED BLOWING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY STATE FARM POLICY NUMBER 8922531-59 4.*AK *NM

THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 1997 FORD F150 LOCK UP. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES GRADUALLY OVERHEAT FROM A FAILURE OF THE CALIPERS TO RETURN TO THEIR NON-BRAKING POSITION. I HAVE REPLACED THE RUBBER BRAKE LINES, REPLACED THE DISK BRAKE PADS. TURNED THE ROTORS, LUBRICATED THE SLIDING PORTIONS OF THE CALIPERS WITH HIGH-TEMPERATURE GREASE AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKES COMPUTER CHECKED AND REPAIRED. NEVER-THE-LESS, THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS PRESENTS AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK. WHEN DRIVING TO A SAFE LOCATION TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN, THE VEHICLE LOSES MOST OF IT'S BRAKING ABILITY AND I HAVE SUFFERED TIRE FAILURE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN THE BRAKES WHICH TRANSFERS IT'S HEAT INTO THE WHEEL CAUSING TIRE FAILURE. ALSO, THE ENGINE HAS TO WORK IN AN UNSAFE TEMPERATURE AREA IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO SUCH A SAFE LOCATION. THIS AFFECTS THE GAS MILEAGE, ENGINE RELIABILITY AND ENDURANCE, WHILE PRESENTING, YET, ANOTHER POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND CRUISE CONTROL. THIS ADVERSELY AFFECTS THESE SAFETY APPOINTMENTS, ALSO. I HAVE CONTINUALLY ASKED IF THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM OR A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH MIGHT PROVIDED A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, ANDALUSIA FORD-LINCOLN-MERCURY, INC. AND I AM TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME FALSE INFORMATION IN THE PAST. THEREFORE, I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR HONESTY WITH THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH SHOP BULLETINS WHICH ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLE WHO HAS INCURRED THIS PROBLEM. FOR THAT REASON I AM LODGING A COMPLAINT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. SINCERELY, RON THOMPSON *TR

THE VEHICLE WITH 4.2L ENGINE COMMENCED TO RUN ROUGH AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

LUGS:NUTS CAME LOOSE ON BACK REAR TIRE.........HUB CAME LOOSE AND RUINED THE WHEEL PULLED IN DRIVEWAY AND HUB WAS JUST HANGING THERE WITH THE LOOSENED LUGNUTS.HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO AND HAD IT SUPPOSEDLY FIXED....TOOK TO FORD DEALER AND WAS CHARGES $500.00. *AK

WHILE BRAKING THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE PROBLEM REPEATED ITSELF ON ITS OWN. DRIVER LIFTED UP THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ABS BRAKING MODULAR. THIS CAUSED SPARKS FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. DRIVER WILL CONTACT A MECHANIC FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK ON SECOND CALL. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL OPERATION ABOUT 1 YEAR PRIOR TO THIS COMPLAINT. ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AGO THE FUSE ON THE CIRCUIT CONTAINING THE SCDS BLEW. REPLACED FUSES ABOUT 2 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE FUSE LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. THE SECOND ONE DID NOT LAST LONG. THEN LEFT FUSE OUT. NEXT TIME WAS UNDER HOOD AND REPLACED FUSE SAW SPARK AT SCDS AND FUSE BLEW AGAIN. ALONG WITH THIS PROBLEM THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS COMING ON ON THE DASH AND STAYING ON. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE SCDS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT OUT. THE CRUSIE CONTROL STILL WORKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AFTER DISCONNECTING THE SCDS ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

DT: CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED BECAUSE IT QUIT WORKING, AND BECAUSE OF ITS POTENTIAL TO START FIRE. CRUISE WAS WORKING FINE WHEN I CONSUMER BOUGHT THE TRUCK. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE FOR 3 1/2 HOURS. OWNER DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM THE CENTER OF THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. *AK *TC

PARKED F-150 IN GARAGE. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER GOT A CALL TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. FIRE REPORT SAID UNDERHOOD FIRE. TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE CAUGHTON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

1997 FORD F-150 FRONT ENGINE GASKET IS CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL PAN WHICH HAS DAMAGED THE BEARINGS. I NOW NEED A NEW ENGINE. FORD HAD A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 1999 BUT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HONOR THE RECALL NOW. THEY STATE THE RECALL TIME FRAME HAS EXPIRED. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS OFF FOR 2-3 HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED.

THE CONSUMER ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WITH OUT WARNING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. AFTERWARDS THE INCIDENT HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESET THE CRUISE CONTROL, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. JB

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT ABOUT 25 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. OWNER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK

STARTED THE TRUCK ONE MORNING IT HAD A ROUGH IDLE BUT SEEMED TO SMOOTH OUT. DROVE IT OUT TO A JOBSITE AND PARKED IT FOR A COUPLE HOURS. STARTED IT AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT AND THERE WAS A BANGING AND KNOCKING SOUND. TURNED IT OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY TOLD ME I HAD THROWN A ROD.

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK SAT FOR A DAY PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE MELTED THE ENGINE COMPONENTS, DESTROYED THE ENTIRE HOOD, AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. A MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *AK

120K MILES, ADDING A LITTLE COOLANT OCCASIONALLY, FORD DEALER AND LOCAL MECHANIC CAN FIND NO REASON, CRANKED CAR ONE MORNING AND IT THREW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN... ENGINE WAS RUNNING SMOOTH UP TO THIS POINT... FORD REPLACED A GASKET FOR ME OUT OF WARRENTY WHEN THE TRUCK STRANDED ME 1500 MILES FROM HOME...COOLANT HAD LEAKED ALL OVER PARKING LOT AT THAT TIME...NOW I FACE A $4,000 REPAIR...I CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3-4000 MILES. *AK

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING THROUGH THE ENGINE'S FRONT GASKET. LEAKING A JUG OF COOLANT EVERY TWO TO THREE HOURS. WILL COST ME OVER $700 TO FIX. CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX, SO I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC PROVIDED ME WITH A DOCUMENT FROM FORD ADVISING DEALERSHIPS THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM EXISTED, BUT DIDN'T RECALL THE VEHICLE. GOT STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER AN HOUR IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER. LUCKY MY 3 YEAR OLD WAS NOT WITH ME. IF THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THE VEHICLE. *NM

AFTER BEING PARKED 45 MIN. MY 97 FORD F-150 WAS SEEN BY A FRIEND TO BE ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. IT IS VERY EVIDENT THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (THE SAME ONE USED ON 2000 AND 2001 MODELS THAT FORD IS VOLUNTARILTY RECALLING) WAS THE CULPRIT. THE TRUCK WAS EXTINGUISHED RELATIVELY QUICK AND IT IS VERY EASY TO SEE WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD QUIT WORKING PRIOR TO THIS FIRE AND THE TRUCK WAS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF PARK.*AK VEHICLE WAS INSURED. BUT NOT REPORTED. PHOTOS WILL BE SENT TO BRUCE YORK.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD IN 4.2L V6 (FORD F150) FAILED (MELTED) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER RESULTING IN HYDRO-LOCK. THE PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD IN THAT CYLINDER WERE DAMAGED (PISTON SKIRT BROKEN, ROD BENT). SINCE THEN I HAVE LEARNED THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALMOST SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW ('97) AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT TO OWNERS EXCEPT WHERE THE GASKET FAILED DURING THE REGULAR WARRANTY PERIOD. AS I UNDERSTAND IT FAILURE IS INEVITABLE, AND EVEN SO FORD DID NOT MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT OWNERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IN MY CASE FORD'S REFUSAL TO PROVIDE A WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM TURNED A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE REPAIR (REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET) INTO OVER $1300 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *JB

1997 F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS EIGHT MONTHS AFTER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE HE RECEIVED A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (05S28) WHICH INDICATED THAT EH DEACTIVATION SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT AND RESULT IN A FIRE. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED PICTURES TO THE MANUFACTURER AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO PROVIDE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE STATING THAT THE TRUCK WAS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO DETERMINE WHAT ACTUALLY STARTED THE FIRE. *NM

HAVE OWNED A 1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AND HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT IT HAS A THROWN ROD (SECOND TIME IN THE LAST 2 YEARS). *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT. TEN MINUTES LATER,THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH STARTED THE FIRE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. *AK

AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR TEN MINUTES IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON IT'S OWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THEN,FIRE INSPECTOR INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FIRE WAS STARTED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 7:30 PM AT 3:30 AM THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE FUSE IN THE SHIFT INTERLOCK CIRCUIT BLEW 2 TIMES KEEPING THE CONSUMER FROM GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE CONSUMER DID NOT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL THEREFORE DOES NOT KNOW IF IT WAS WORKING. NOT INSURED. WILL E-MAIL PHOTOS. *NM

DEFECTIVE GASKETS CAUSED COOLLENT TO LEAK INTO MY ENGINE - BENT THE ROD AND DAMAGED THE VALVE - REBUILT ENGINE -

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON FREEWAY CONSUMER HEARD AN EXPLOSION FROM ENGINE. WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR HE SAW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

I HAVE A 97 FORD F150 XL WITH A 4.2L 6CYL ENGINE. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SMALL LOSS OF COOLANT AND NEITHER FORD SERVICE TECHS NOR PRIVATE MACHANICS COULD EVER FIND THE LEAK. WELL IN JAN 2005 AFTER THE TRUCK SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS AND I STARTED THE TRUCK AND THE ENGINE BLEW. TOWED IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE DAMAGE. $4000 PLUS TO FIX IT. AFTER SERCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. I AM TRYING TO SELL THE TRUCK TO GET A LITTLE MONEY TO HELP BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HELP!*AK

I HAVE AN 1997 F150 FORD TRUCK. IT WAS PARKED AT 5:30 BETWEEN 9:30-10:00PM IT CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO REASON. IN THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT IN THE WIRES THE HOT SPOT BEING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. PARKED AT 5:45. AT 10:00 PM HEARD A LOUD NOISE LIKE THUNDER. NEIGHBOR CALLED AND INFORMED OF TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TIRE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BURNED AND EXPLODED. THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE MORE INTENSE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE CAR PORT. HAVE PHOTOS AND WILL E-MAIL TO BRUCE YORK. PRIOR TO THE FIRE A FUSE HAD BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL BUT DO NOT KNOW IF IT WORKED THE MONTH BEFORE FIRE BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN USED. VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY STATE FARM. CLAIM #53E484047. CLAIM REP KELLY JACOBS. *JB

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

MY ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET HAS FAILED IN LINE WITH FORD'S RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK IN THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY LEAKING A GREAT DEAL OF COOLANT THROUGH THE FAILED FRONT COVER GASKET. THIS COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. THEY HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF HELPING ME OR FIXING MY TRUCK. *JB

GASKET LEAKED WATER INTO CRANKCASE OF MY 97 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2 ENGINE. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN $4000.00. FORD KNOWS OF PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT COMPENSATE COST. THERE ARE A LOT OF ANGRY FORD OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY FORD TRUCK HAD ONLY 68000 MILES ON IT.*AK

MY 1997 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY 15 MINUTES AFTER THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. I DROVE HOME (APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES) THE MORNING OF JANUARY 1, 2005 AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER 15 MINUTES MY TRUCK SECURITY ALARM SOUNDED AND I WENT OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK MAINLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY PUT THE FIRE OUT. MY MECHANIC, GEORGE WATSON, INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DECLARED IT A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THE FIRE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT FORD HAS IDENTIFIED AS A HAZARD IN THE 2000 F150 MODELS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, CONSUMER CAME OUT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, AND SAW SMOKE, AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE/LOCK GETS STUCK AND THE DOOR SOMETIMES DOES NOT OPEN OR IT IS HARD TO OPEN, AND OPENS AFTER TRYING REPEATEDLY. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. HE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT ALL 1997 FORD F150 ENGINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO RECALL INVOLVING NOISE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH RESULTED IN WATER LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC PREDICTED THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT FUNCTION FOR THREE MORE MILES. *AK

BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH, LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK

WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRING OF THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK *SC *JB

FORD 1997 F150 ENGINE FAILURE - COULD BECOME VAPOR LOCKED CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

COOLANT LEAK IN #4 CYLINDER. WHITE SMOKE FROM BURING COOLANT IN ENGINE. ROUGH IDLE AND HARD START UP. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. CURRENTLY AT FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE GASKETS.*AK

WHILE BEING PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL.*AK

I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150 FROM A JACKSONVILLE RESIDENT IN DECEMBER OF 2004 ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I WENT OUT TO START IT AND HEARD LOUD BANGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED BY BELLOWS OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND, AFTER THE TECH CHECKED IT OUT, WAS IN FORMED THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. HE THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE F-150S HAVE HAD A TREND PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FOR YEARS; COOLANT WOULD LEAK INTO A CYLINDER CAUSING TOO MUCH COMPRESSION RESULTING IN A BENT OR BROKEN ROD. IT COST ME $4220.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FORD KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. I SENT A LETTER (ATTACHED) TO FORD AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY TELLING ME IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THIS VEHICLE WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL BUT, BECAUSE OF AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE ENGINE FAILED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE AT HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15 . I FINED IT EXTREMELY UNFAIR THAT I AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF REPLACING A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *NM

VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN IT WAS PARKED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER WILL INFORM MANUFACTURER.*AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 2-2.5 HOURS WHEN OWNER HEARD LOUD NOISE OUTSIDE (PROBABLY LF TIRE BLOWING). WENT OUT AND FOUND TRUCK ON FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD WAS STILL INTACT AT THAT TIME. HE DIDN'T USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, SO DIDN'T KNOW IF IT QUIT WORKING OR NOT. #13 (SPEED CONTROL), #14, #24 AND #25 FUSES BLOWN. OWNER: KURT VANDERWEST (WHO OWNS A FIRE SPRINKLER COMPANY!), PHONE 714-521-5878 PHOTOS E-MAILED TO BRUCE YORK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V231000; FORD ISSUED A FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS EXPERIENCING FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 00V231000; FORD ISSUED A FUEL LEAKAGE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT IS EXPERIENCED FUEL LEAKS FROM THE GAS TANK. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK