1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER'S HIT A FENCE POLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

DT: 1997 FORD F150. CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V388000. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO TH EFIRE, , AND THEN IT WAS DRIVEN FOR A SHORT TIME. CONSUMER WAS NOT AT HOME, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALREADY THERE PUTTING THE FIRE OUT WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED BACK HOME FROM DINNER. *AK

COOLANT LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. RESULTING IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPLACING THE ENTIRE MOTOR FOR WELL OVER $4,000. THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT MANY MORE. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH FOR FAULTY GASKETS IN 97 4.2L ENGINES. GO TO HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=10&PP=15 FOR MORE INFO. *JB

1997 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES, HE WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

PARKED TRUCK AT AROUND 11:00 PM AND AT AROUND 9:00 AM TWO DAYS LATER HEARD HONKING SOUND, TRUCK WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES HAD BLOWN OUT. PRIOR TO FIRE THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAD CRUISE CONTROL. SPEAKERS WERE AFTER MARKET, AND WERE INSTALLED YEARS BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE HOUSE ON THE ROOF. VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY FARMERS INSURANCE POLICY #1904033-16-53. FIRE INVESTIGATOR WAS JEFF ABRAMS 281-558-9396.*AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND POPPED HOOD TO INVESTIGATE. THE BACKFIRE CONTINUED UPON STARTING ENGINE. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD. FORD HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THE ENTIRE ENGINE HEAD SHOULD BE REPLACED. $3400. FURTHER, I SAW THE SAME REPORT ON KARE 11 NEWS BY JANE SHORTAL. CHECK OUT KARE11.COM FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT FORD REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE IT.*AK

ON NOVEMBER 23,2004 VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE. CONSUMER HEARD A HORN BLOWING, WENT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND SAW VEHICLE BURNING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *TC

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH THE 4.2L V-6 ENGINE THAT IS NOTORIOUS FOR "HYDROLOCKING" DUE TO A FAULTY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS HAS BEEN A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE AMONG MANY CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THIS MODEL AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FORCED TO PAY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY IN ORDER TO REPLACE A BLOWN ENGINE DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING.

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK THE PART THAT WAS ON FIRE WAS THE DEACTACH SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CRUSE CONTROL. *SC *EH

WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL99B29 FOR A TIMING COVER/WATER PUMP GASKET ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 [XXX]. IN NOVEMBER 2004 I WAS LOSING COOLANT AND TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE GAVE ME AN EST. OF $1500.00. AT THAT TIME I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP FOR $800.00. I HAD JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FROM A CO-WORKER WHO ALSO HAS A VEHICLE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT SHOULD BE DUE REBURSTMENT OF THE REPAIRS FOR THAT FACT I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RE-CALL.THEIR RECORDS WILL SHOW THAT OTHER RECALLS I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT! *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE REPORT LISTED THE CAUSE AS A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH STARTED IN THE ENGINE. *AK

PARKED THE VEHICLE ABOUT 1:15 AT ABOUT 1:43 THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTED ON FIRE. PRIOR TO THE FIRE A FUSE HAD BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES THAT PREVENTED GETTING OUT OF PARK. AFTER FIRST FUSE CHANGE IT LASTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS THEN IT BLEW AGAIN. THE FUSES THAT WERE USED WERE THE PROPER SIZE. THE OWNER CALLED FORD TO FIGURE OUT WHY COULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT USED OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY STATE FARM AND WAS INVESTIGATED. OWNER HAS POST FIRE PICTURES AND WILL SEND.

FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 1997 FORD F150. *TS *JB

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK

THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH AND TIE ROD CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

RECALL 97V147000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE GEARS WOULD POP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP.*AK *TC

DT: THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE WIRE WAS BURNED IN TWO. THE CONNECTOR THAT COMES INTO SWITCH WAS BURNT AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT A DAY BEFORE IT BURNED. OWNER NEVER SMELLED ANY SMOKE OR SAW ANY FLAMES. THE SWITCH JUST MELTED. THERE WERE NO OTHER MAJOR CONCERNS WITH VEHICLE, IT IS REGULARLY SERVICED. AFTER THE SWITCH WAS BURNED OWNER REPLACED THE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR WITH ANOTHER ONE BOUGHT AT A LOCAL AUTO STORE. THE OWNER HAS NOT YET REPORTED TO FORD.*AK

DT: CRUISE CONTROL CAUGHT 0N FIRE. HAD REPORTED TO FORD BEFORE THIS CAME OUT BOUGHT ANOTHER CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THEN HAD DISCONNECTEDIT. VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND BURNT THE BRAKE FLUID, BUT WAS IN TIME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE.*AK

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 AND JUST HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT THE HEAD. I HAVE DONE A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS 5.4 WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A SEVERE SHAKE IN THE ENTIRE VEHICLE THAT CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO COME LOOSE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE THE REAR RIGHT FRAME BROKE ABOVE THE TIRE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150, WITH A 4.2 LITER ENGINE, AND 82,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS I NOTICED A GRADUAL DECREASE IN THE COOLANT LEVEL, HOWEVER, I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE THE LEAK WAS OCCURRING. ALSO, FOR THE LAST THREE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE OCCURRENCE, I NOTICED THE ENGINE WOULD KNOCK WHEN I WOULD START IT UP. IN OCTOBER OF 2004, AFTER STARTING THE TRUCK, I SAW WHITE EXHAUST SMOKE AND HEARD THE #1 PISTON RATTLING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OWNERS OF '96 THRU '98 MODEL FORD CARS AND TRUCKS, WITH 3.8L AND 4.2L ENGINES. I HAVE ALSO SEEN FORD TSB'S THAT PROVE THEY HAVE KNOWN FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS, THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKETS HAVE A HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURE, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CRANKCASE. ALSO, THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS CAN FAIL, WHICH CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE #1 CYLINDER. WHEN AN ENGINE IS STARTED WITH WATER IN THE CYLINDER, THE PISTON ROD IS LIKELY TO BED OR BREAK. THE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY PROBLEM, AS WELL AS THAT OF MANY OTHER FORD OWNERS. THE REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM IS AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT, COSTING ABOUT $4,000. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT, LEAVING MANY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR THEIR FAULTY ENGINES. I HAVE NOT HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED YET. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V196000 CONCERNING STEERING GEAR. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

CRACKS ON DOOR FORD 1997 TRUCK. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA THERE ARE 18 TRUCKS IN THE PARKING LOT 12 OUT OF THE 18 HAVE CRACKS.. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY FORD!!!!!!!!*AK

COOLANT LEAKING IN TO CRANK CASE DUE TO DEFECTIVE GASKETS, PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.LEAKINGFORDS.COM/ FOR DETAILS.*AK

DT: THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS BURNING. THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL SMOKE WHILE WALKING PAST THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SMOKE BEFORE THE SWITCH ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE BY DISCONNECTED THE WIRE LEADING TO THE SWITCH.*AK *NM

VEHICLE HAD A RUPTURED BRAKE LINE THAT RAN PARALLEL WITH THE GAS LINE WHICH HAD CORRODED AWAY. OWNER CALLED THE DEALER WHO WANTED TO CHARGE HIM $450.00. PLEASE PROVIDED FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

AN ENGINE ROD WENT THROUGH THE OIL PAN UPON START-UP.*AK

I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE IN TUCSON AND READ ON THE INTERNET, MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE A 1997 F150 PICKUP HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET GO BAD CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS A COMPLAINT WORTHY OF INVESTIGATION OR SOMETHING THAT IS COINCIDENTAL. I HAD TO HAVE MY ENGINE REBUILT AND IT WAS UNDER 100,000 MILES. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE GASKET.

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 4X4 4.6 LITRE PICKUP. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL DEACTIVATE ON ITS OWN. WHEN I PRESS RESUME, IT WILL PICK BACK UP AND WORK FINE FOR AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD. IT IS A RANDOM DEACTIVATION PROBLEM. DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF FORD TRUCKS REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL DEAVTIVATION SWITCH PROBLEM AND MY SYMPTOMS, I HAVE DISCONNECTED MY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION AND CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP. THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT MY TRUCK UNLESS I PAID THEM FOR THE EVALUATION OF MY PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD PAY FOR WHAT I FEEL IS A RELATED PROBLEM TO THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR A NEW SWITCH IF NEEDED HOWEVER I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR THE LABOR. I AM MAKING THIS REPORT DUE TO NEWS I HEARD TODAY THAT 1997 MODELS OF PICKUPS WERE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WANTED TO BE MADE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS. I WILL BE HAPPY TO MAKE MY VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY YOUR AGENCY IF NEEDED.*AK

TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL.*AK

DT: 1997 F150 FORD SUPER CAB PICKUP TRUCK. THE CRUISE SWITCH CAUGHT THE BRAKE RESERVOIR ON FIRE AND IN TURN, THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND THREW AN OLD TOWEL OVER THE FIRE AND SMOTHERED THE FLAMES. HAD THE ROAD SERVICE TOW IT TO THE PLACE WHERE NORMALLY THE SERVICE WAS DONE ON THE TRUCK, AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS WAS A FORD PROBLEM. THEN, IT WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP GAVE CONSUMER THE MANUFACTURER'S NUMBER, CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID A CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE WOULD CALL BACK NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, AND ON MONDAY AFTERNOON THE MANUFACTURER DID CALL AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. CONSEQUENTLY, THEY WOULD NOT DO REPAIRS FOR FREE. CONSUMER CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THEY WERE GOING TO SEND A FIRE INSPECTOR TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT THIS WAS FORD'S PROBLEM ALSO. MOREOVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS GOING TO SEND A CLAIMS ADJUSTER. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN WHILE IT WAS PARKED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY OWNER.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY FAILURE. CAUSED BY PIECE OF PLASTIC BREAKING OUT OF FILLER NECK. THEY WANT $300 TO REPLACE.*AK

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L ENGINE LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT, LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, 70 MPH OIL PUMP FAILED AT 89200 MILES CAUSING ENGINE TO THROW A ROD AND SPIN BEARINGS. THIS RESULTED IN ENGINE FAILURE. *AK I PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED 4.2L ENGINE FROM FORD TO REPLACE THE FAILED ENGINE. LD ENGINE CORE WAS TURNED IN FOR CREDIT. *AK

THE FUSE WHICH CONTROLLED THE ABS SWITCH ON AND OFF BURNED. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE AND 25 MINUTES LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW A LOT SMOKE COMING FROM THE ABS. *JB

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL.WHILE AT WORK ON 9-23-2004, AROUND 12:00 A.M., MY TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR EIGHT HOURS. IT WAS PARKED IN A GORE AREA ON I-70 WHERE WE WERE WORKING. THE FIREMEN SAID IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE. MY TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.*AK *TC

DT: CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON HIS 1997 FORD F150 WENT OUT. THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET THE BRAKE LIGHTS FIXED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS SMOKING WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-17-04. HE DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH. HE BOUGHT A NEW SWITCH AND INSTALLED IT, AND NEVER HAD ANY MORE TROUBLE. HE WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO NHTSA WOULD BE AWARE THAT THE 1997 FORD -F150 HAD A BAD CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH . HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL HE HAD HEARD IT ON THE NEWS THAT THE 2000 YEAR MODELS HAD A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *AK *JB UPDATED 03/29/06

1997 FORD F-150 WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATED IN SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 996754 WITH MY 1997 FORD F150 ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR ONLY. EVEN THOUGH THE CRACK IS NOT YET VISIBLE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR REMOVAL OF THE BELT MOULDING WILL MOST LIKELY REVEAL THE CRACK (FORD ENGINEERING DESIGN FAULT) IS PRESENT. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND EVEN THE THOUGH VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRENTY FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIRS TO FIX THEIR ENGINEERING PROBLEMS.*AK

THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE ON THE ROAD TO 80 MPH WHILE IT WAS DOWN HILL. THE DRIVER HAD TO STOMP ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER HEARD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE THEN SEIZED UP. *JB

WITHIN 1/2 HOUR OF TRUCK TURNED OFF, FIRE ERUPTED, CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE BY AND HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, I PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE THE TRUCK WENT TOTALLY UP IN FLAMES. *JB EXTENSIVE REPAIRS WERE MADE TO GET THE TRUCK BACK UP AND RUNNING. I SPENT ALMOST $3,000.00. I TRIED TO CONTACT FORD SEVERAL TIMES, BUT GOT THE RUN AROUND, AND THEY JUST DUSTED ME, TELLING ME IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, NO RECALLS, NO DEFECTS. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS SAME TYPE OF FIRE HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER'S OTHER 3 TRUCKS, F-150'S, JUST A WEEK PRIOR TO MINE IGNITING. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. ALSO, ENGINE STEAMED A WHITE MIST. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DURING A SELF INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE 'SAND PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *AK *TS

VEHICLE PARKED, HEARD LOUD BOOM, WITNESSED VEHICLE ON FIRE - CRUISE CONTROL WORKED INTERMITTENTLY

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SHIFTING TO THE LEFT. STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING INTO CIRCLES. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT STEERING SHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK, 4.2L V-6. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING VERY BADLY, SHE WAS FRIGHTENED AND DROVE THE TRUCK HOME VERY SLOWLY, WHICH ALMOST GOT HER INTO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH WITH FORD MECHANICS AND PRIVATE MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THE ENGINE IS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE THE YEARS WERE 1997 AND 1998. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DETROIT WAS NO HELP AT ALL. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT, TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT, AND IT NOW HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SAYING IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY THE TRUCK CAN'T BE MOVED UNTIL I REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND IT IS IN MY GARAGE. IF THIS TRUCK CATCHES ON FIRE AND BURNS MY HOUSE DOWN FORD WILL BE SUED. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE ENGINE WENT, FAILURE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE, AGAIN FORD HAS DONE NOTHING. *NM

THE PICK UP ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE PICK UP WAS TOTALED. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WILL INSPECT THE PICK UP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.*AK THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM