1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANAFOLD GASKIT CAUSED ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO CYLINDER ON TOP OF PISTON WHEN ENGINE WAS STARTED THE CONNECTING ROD BENT CAUSING ENGINE FAILURER

SAME PROBLEM ON RECALL OF 1995-1996 FORD MINI VANS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHLE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED A SPARK PLUG BROKE. AS A RESULT OF BROKEN SPARK PLUG, ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING SEVERELY. TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF DAMAGES TO HEAD AND ROCKER ARM. *AK *YH

LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. STABILIZER BAR FELL OFF FOR THE SECOND TIME

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATER AND BRAKE ARE TOO CLOSE. CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO BRAKE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A HOUSE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

HEATER CORE FAILED. INSTANTLY FOGGED INSIDE OF ALL WINDOWS. IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT 65 MPH THIS COULD BE LETHAL! WHY, HAS THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED?*AK

HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF OF THE INTERSTATE AFTER ABOUT AN 8HR DRIVE, ALL ON THE INTERSTATE, 65MPH AVG SPEED, WHEN I BEGAN TO NOTICE A STRANGE VIBRATION AND ASSOCIATED STRANGE THUMPING SOUND. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. CALLED AAA AND THE REPLACED WITH THE SPARE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FLAT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A SECTION OF THE TREAD, ABOUT 5 INCHES, HAD PEELED AWAY FROM THE TIRE CORE. THE 3 REMAINING TIRES WERE CHECKED FOR PROPER INFLATION AND WERE ALL FOUND TO BE IN THE 35PSI RANGE. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND IN THE LOW 90S. ALSO THE REMAINING TIRES WERE INSPECTED FOR ANY SIGNS OF FAILURE AND NUMEROUS CRACKS BETWEEN THE TREAD AREA AND SIDEWALL WERE NOTED AND ALL TIRES WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS AN ESTIMATED 50% OF ORIGINAL TREAD REMAINING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 15MPH TIE ROD: INNER BROKE OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT AND STARTED TO SMOKE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ON BOTH OCCASIONS WHILE TAKING TURNS AT LOW SPEED TIE RODS SNAPPED WHERE THREADED ROD ATTACHES TO MAIN HOUSING OF TIE ROD. IN BOTH CASES I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BEFORE STRIKING EITHER ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR OTHER OBJECTS. WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURENCE HE HESITATED THEN SAID NO. THEN WHILE WALKING TO SERVICE AREA TO FILL OUT FORMS I PASSED TWO OTHER TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEMS OF SNAPPED TIE RODS. WHILE RELATING THIS STORY TO SEVERAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICE OFFICERS WHO DRIVE SIMILAR VEHICLES, THEY REPORTED THAT THEY WERE ON THERI THIRD AND FORTH SETS OF TIE RODS FOR THEIR VEHICLES.

TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE - CAUGHT BEFORE TIRE FAILED. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR RIM CRACKED AT WELD WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONSUMER NOTICED THE TIRE WENT FLAT, WHEN PULLING THE VEHICLE OVER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK JLG

HORN ASSEMBLY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL, AND AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THE HORN WOULD NOT STOP BLOWING, AND THE AIRBAG WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECASUE THE HORN CONTACTS WERE ON THE SAME MODULE AS THE AIRBAG.*JB

CONSUMER STATE WHILE DRIVING THE REAR FLEX BRAKE LINE CHAFFED THROUGH CAUSING IT TO RUB AGAINT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CAUSE WAS FORD HAD CLIPPED AND TUCKED THE BRAKE LINE UP. CONSUMER IS SEEKING A REFUND, BUT THE DEALER REFUSED. *YH *DT

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, AND WHEN DOING SO, BRAKE LINE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER COULD NOT STOPVEHICLE. HAD TO STOP VEHICLE WITH PARKING BRAKE ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AKI

THE VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FRONT COVER GASKET ON THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT LEAK IN TURN CAUSING AN OVERHEAT SITUATION WHICH LEAD TO AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE, WHICH MAY ALSO LEAD TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE T&W FORD DEALERSHIP IN WILLIAMSTOWN, KY WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT COVER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE GASKETS AND ALSO O2 SENSORS AT A COST OF 1500.00, I DID THE WORK OF GASKET REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF 60.00. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE TYROD FAILED AT THE BALLJOINT ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH. WE HAD A MECHANIC REPLACE THE TYROD AND HE DISCOVERED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TYROD EXTREMELY WORN. NO CRASH INVOLVED-THANK GOODNESS. THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE REPORTED. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE FORD-F150 WITH JUST OVER +65,000 ON VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANKS. K. PAGANO. *AK

TIE ROD END BROKE IN TWO WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. DEALER AND FACTORY BOTH REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FAILURE, AND THEY IMPLY THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGES, I SHOULD NOT EXPECT ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE OR INVESTIGATION ON THE MATTER. I CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN A PARKING LOT, HAD IT BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHER INNOCENT PARTIES.*AK

ALUMINUM WHEEL SPLIT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE WHILE GOING 40-45MPH ON STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROAD. SUDDENLY THER EWAS A NOISE, AND THE PASSENGER FRONT END FELL TO THE GROUND. FORD WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

COOLANT LEAKING AT FRONT COVER GASKET AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. 1997 FORD F-150 4WD. VIN#[XXX]. I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. HAVE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS BEEN MAINTAINED ON THIS VEHICLE? I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO JACOB GEORGE FORD, HOUTZDALE, PA FOR FULL INSPECTION TOMORROW. ANY INFORMATION ON THE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE USEFUL FOR US TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK INTO GEAR. THE DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *MJ

DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE 1/2 INCH CRACKS IN METAL NEAR THE WINDOWS.*AK

WHILE BACKING VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, HEARD A NOISE. DROVE APPROXIMATELY TWO BLOCKS WHEN I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE UPON INSPECTION DISCOVERED THE TIE ROD HAD BROKEN.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

UNDER HOOD FIRE AFTER SITTING FOR 3 HOURS WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE FIRE STARTED AT MIDNIGHT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAYS THE ORIGIN WAS AT THE MASTER CYLINDER.

CONSUMER NOTICED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND DISCOVERED THAT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE REPLACED ONE YEAR AGO. *AK

SEAL FAILED ON TIMING GEAR VERY SIMILER TO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS LISTED. *AK

UPON COLD START, ENGINE THREW A ROD. ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR FRAMES ARE CRACKING DOWN THE CENTER BELOW THE WINDOW. MR

LOWER BALL JOINTS WENT OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THEY COUDL NOT HELP. *MJ

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. WE TURNED THE KEY ON TO START THE ENGINE AND THE ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND OIL PAN. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS INDICATING ANY PROBLEMS. THE VEH DID NOT USE ANY OIL. IT RECIEVED ITS OIL CHANGES REGULARLY. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING JUST FINE. THEY PUT A NEW ENGINE IN IT AND NOW IT VIBRATES MAKES A POPPING NOISE AND RUNS LOUD. THEY TOLD US THIS IS ALL WITHIN FORD SPECS. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. WE PAID OVER $13000 FOR A VEH THAT TOOK A DUMP AFTER 10 MONTHS. WE COULD NOT EVEN GET THIS DEALERS SALE MANAGER TO RETURN A CALL. EVERYONE ELSE AT THE DEALER SAID WELL IT WORKED GOOD FOR 10000 MILES. I CALLED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND THAT IS IT. THEY ALSO DID NOTHING FOR US. I AM GETTING NO WHERE WITH ANYONE. I FINALLY WENT OVER THERE AND CORNERED THE MANAGER AND HE SAYS HE DOESN'T REMEMBER AND I SHOULD CALL HIM ON MONDAY. WHICH I WILL. ALSO THEY TRIED TO STICK US WITH AN EXTRA $1100 BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING GEAR. WE ENDED UP PUTTING A NEW CLUTCH IN ALSO AT THIS TIME. WE HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN WE BOUGHT IT AND THEY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG THAT IT GROUND GOING INTO 2ND GEAR BECASUE WE WERE GOING TO FAST. ACTUALLY THE CLUTCH CLEARED THAT PROBLEM. THEY TRYED TO SAY IT WAS THE SYNCRONATION GEARS AND THEY NEEDED TO BE REPALCED. WHICH WAS NOT TRUE. THE CLUTCH FIXED THIS PROBLEM. THEY ALSO AT THIS TIME ARE NOT PAYING FOR THIS EVEN THOUGH WE BOUGHT IT THAT WAY AND I BROUGHT THAT UP AT THE TIME WE TEST DROVE IT. I FEEL THEY NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT AND ALSO I AM WONDERING IF THIS FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW. WE WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THE VEHICLE BACK IF THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THERE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. I WAS UNSURE OF WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE 2 PT BELT , 3 POINT BELT OR MANUFACTURE BELT SO I DID NOT CHECK ANYTHING. THANK YOU CHRIS PAULEY. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR FIVE HOURS. *PH CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT CRUISE CONTROL, TAIL LIGHT FAILED. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNKNOWN, HOWEVER, CONSUMER HAD A TELL TALE INDICATION THAT CRUISE CONTROL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH COULD BE THE CAUSE. SINCE THE SWITCH WHEN IT CATCHES FIRE IT IGNITES THE BRAKE FLUID THUS CAUSING VEHICLE TO BURN. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INCIDENT. *LA

WHILE DRIVING, LEAF SPRING THAT HOLDS AXLE BROKE. VEHICLE FRAME DROPPED ALMOST TOUCHING WHEELS. COULD HAVE SLASHED THE TIRES.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE DAY THE LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS THE REASON THE REAR PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER HAS PICTURES OF THE BREAKAGE THAT SHOWS THE RUST AT THE BROKEN SITE. BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT SPRING WAS WEAK. *JG

VEHICLE WAS HIT AT 30 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK *YH

DROVE VEHICLE 60 MILES TO AIRPORT AND WORKED JUST FINE. RETURNED TO VEHICLE ONE HOUR LATER AND STARTED IT UP. HEARD RATTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THERE WAS ALMOST ZERO MOVEMENT IN STEERING WHEEL. WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND TO HAVE IT TOWED. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING IT COULD HAVE CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. WISH TO URGE MANUFACTURER TO REIMBURSE SINCE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIES. VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT THIS POINT IN IT'S LIFE CYCLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, STEERING WHEEL KEPT TURNING BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL GOING STRAIGHT. DEALER DETERMINED THE PIVOT ARM HAD DISCONNECTED.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THERE IS A 1/4 INCH CRACK IN OUTSIDE DRIVER DOOR NEAR DOOR HANDLE. CRACK IS INCREASING FROM OPENING AND CLOSING. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP OR REVERSING VEHICLE HAS A ROUGHOR UNEVEN IDLE.*AK

4.2 LITRE V-6 ENGINE FAILED AFTER ENGINE SEIZED. FORD AGREED TO PAY 1/3 OF COSTS TO MAINTAIN CUSTOMER LOYALTY. SHOWED THEM DEFECT REPORT FROM NHTSA WEBSITE.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS WORKED POORLY CONFUSE THE ONCOMING DRIVERS, AND SCARES THE HELL OUT OF THE DRIVER OF THE MENTIONED VEHICLE. OUTSIDE MIRRORS------OUTSIDE MIRRORS ( RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE) FAIL TO OPERATE WITH THE ADJUSTING SWITCH LOCATED IN THE INTERIOR DRIVER SIDE ARM REST. MIRRORS FAIL TO ADJUST. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DIFFERENT DRIVERS USE THIS VEHICLE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR STRESS FACTOR 2 INCHES ABOVE WINDOW IS CRACKED AND CAN BREAK AT ANYTIME, AND COULD CAUSE MAJOR INJURIES.*AK

ROD BEARING FAILURE AT ONLY 73000 MILES. *AK

ON 5/3/02 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT AND REPLACED THE DPF SENSOR, UPDATED COMPUTER AND CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS. THE FOLLOWING WEEK, I HAD TROUBLE STARTING 3 TIMES AFTER WORK. THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY, MY WIFE DROVE IT TO WORK AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO START IT AFTER WORK THERE WAS A LOUD "BANG" AND IT TOOK ANOTHER 1/2 HR TO GET IT GOING. WHEN SHE GOT IT GOING AGAIN THERE WAS A LOUD "TAPPING" FROM THE ENGINE. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND TOWED IT IN. THEY CHECKED AND SAID THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE REBUILT. IT WAS GOING TO COST US $4000 PLUS LABOR TO HAVE ANOTHER ENGINE PUT IN. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. ON DOING SOME RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, AND THERE WAS A RECALL (#99B29) RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM THAT WE NEVER RECEIVED. WE ORDERED THE TRUCK IN JAN 1996, AND TOOK DELIVERY IN MARCH 96 WHICH FALLS WITHIN ALL OF THE DATE RANGES SPECIFIED ON F150.COM. WE HAVE SINCE CONTACTED OUR SALESMAN, HE CHECKED OUT THE PROBLEM AND CALLED US BACK TELLING US TO BRING IT IN. THIS WILL INVOLVE ANOTHER TOWING AND I'M NOT SURE IT WILL SOLVE ANYTHING WE DO NOT ALREADY KNOW. WE DO NOT FEEL THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $4000 FOR AN ENGINE ON A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?*AK

NO SUMMARY. DT

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7. DT

ENGINE FRONT COVER FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK, BUILT IN 1996 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. DT