1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UPHILL IN SNOW FRONT TIRES LOCKED AND VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING DOWN HILL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, LEFT SIDE OF DIFFERENTIAL WAS BROKEN. PART HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 15-20 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL 360 DEGREES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RIGHT-REAR GENERAL TIRE, SIZE: 235/70R16, DOT: UNKNOWN HAS A BLISTER DEVELOPING IN SIDEWALL, AND TREAD IS BEGINNING TO CRACK AND SEPARATE, THERE ARE LESS THAN 1,000 MILES ON THE TIRES, AND THEY ARE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 1997, FORD, TRUCK F150. *NOTE: CONSUMER FILED PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ON A DIFFERENT TIRE (ODI REFERENCE # 899641).*AK

NO SUMMARY. DT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

STRESS CRACKS INSIDE OF FRAME OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. ALSO, ABS BRAKING SYSTEM ISN'T OPERABLE, AND BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

LATCH PLATE OF SEAT BELT IS NOT LOCKING PROPERLY, CONSUMER HAS TROUBLE TRYING TO LOCK SEAT BELT. *AK *YD

BACK SLIDING GLASS WINDOW IS ALLOWIING WATER TO ENTER VEHICLE BECAUSE SEAL ON WINDOW IS DEFECTIVE, AND ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, DOT W208 1PT 166, P23570R16 1045 ORIGINAL TIRES ON FORD, F150, 1997. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE HAS A BULGE AND SURROUNDING THAT BULGE, TREAD APPEARS TO BE SEPARATING FROM TIRE. *AK *TT

ANOTHER TIE ROD WAS FAULTY, ONLY THE BOOT WAS HOLDING STUD TO THE TIE ROD. *AK

ENGINE FAILED AT 46,900 MILES DUE TO WATER IN THE ENGINE FROM A LEAKING GASKET. THE SAME GASKET WAS REPLACED A YEAR EARLIER BY FORD UNDER RECALL 99B29. GIVEN THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS ON THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, HOW MANY REPORTED FAILURES ARE REQUIRED TO MANDATE A VEHICLE RECALL?*AK

FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND A 3 INCH CUT AND BUBBLE WERE FOUND ON INSIDE OF TIRE. VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH WHEN TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WITH NO WARNING. TIRES WERE ORIGINAL ON A FORD, F150, 1997. SECOND SET SAME PROBLEM. NO OTHER TIRES CAN BE REPLACED BECAUSE WEIGHT OF TRUCK MAY CAUSE IT TO FLIP OVER. TIRE SIZE P235/70R16, MILES 30,000. *AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 60MPH AROUND A ICY CURVE. THEN, IT WENT OFF THE ROAD THROUGH A DITCH AND INTO A BUSH. AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AFTER GOING FIVE FEET INTO THE AIR. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *AK

WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE LEFT TIE ROD ENDS FELL OFF FROM VEHICLE. *AK ALL THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER WHO WANTS REFUNDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TIE ROD WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. *YH

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES' TURN KEY HEARD A LOUD BANGING COMING FROM ENGINE, TURN OFF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, DEALER LOOKED AT MOTOR REMOVED ENGINE COVER, IT CHECKED OUT FINE. MECHANIC STATED COOLANT IS GETTING INTO ENGINE FLUID THIS WILL DESTROY ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

GASKET FAILED CAUSED PISTON ROD TO BEND, ENGINE REBUILD COST OVER $1500. I CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THEY NEVER HAD THAT PROBLEM BEFORE.

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A V-6 4.2L ENGINE. THIS ENGINE RAN ROUGH AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WAS THEN SLOWED TO NORMAL CITY SPEEDS. THIS WAS INVESTIGATED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND EACH TIME. AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES THIS TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE SHOP WHICH SERVICED IT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT SPARK IN THE RIGHT HALF OF THE ENGINE, BUT CAME UP WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTIONS. I NOTICE THAT I WAS LOOSING COOLANT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND BLINK OCCASIONALLY. THIS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I TURNED ON THE ENGINE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND AN OBNOXIOUS CLATTERING. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED INTO A DEALER AT WHICH POINT I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH COST $4200. AFTER 55,000 MORE MILES I STARTED LOSING FLUID AGAIN AND EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND TOOK THE TRUCK INTO A DEALER WHICH FOUND NO TROUBLE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE A FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND NO HEAT WHEN THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON. ALSO, LOOSING FLUID WITH WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. FROM OTHER POSTINGS ON VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS I FOUND OUT THIS WAS A CLASSIC FAILURE FOR THE 4.2L V6 WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I SEEM TO BE ON THE VERGE OF ANOTHER BLOWN ENGINE. WHEN I CALLED A DEALER TO SCHEDULE A RETURN VISIT I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE TAURUS 3.8L WITH A LONG STROKE HENCE MAKING THE DISPLACEMENT 4.2 LITERS. ALSO, I WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE HAD THE SAME TROUBLE AND MANY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND $2000.00 DAMAGE. *AK

FRONT SUSPENSION IS A "SEALED BALL/SOCKET SYSTEM" SUPPOSEDLY NEEDING NO GREASE. THE TIE ROD DRIVER'S SIDE/INNER JUST POPPED OFF AT LOW SPEED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOCKET WAS DRY CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR/CORROSION ON THE JOINT. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PITTMAN ARM IS ALSO DRY AND IN NEED OF GREASE - ACTUALLY, REPLACEMENT, NOW. I AM CONTINUALLY ASSURED BY FORD SERVICE DEPT., THAT THE TRUCK DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE GREASE ADDED AS IT HAS A "SEALED BALL AND SOCKET JOINT SYSTEM" THESE PARTS SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE GREASE FITTINGS FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES. ****HUBS**** DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DIAMETER OF THE HUBS IN RELATION TO THE WHEEL/ROTORS, ETC., ON THE 1997 TRUCKS, THE DIAMETER OF THE HUBS DID NOT ALLOW FOR EVEN A MINOR AMOUNT OF NORMAL CORROSION. THIS RESULTS IN THE MECHANIC'S INABILITY TO REMOVE THE HUB FOR SERVICE WITHOUT DAMAGING THE HUB ASSY. (THERE IS NO "LIP" OR DIFFERENCE OF DIAMETER TO TAP HE EDGE OF THE HUB ASSY TO REMOVE IT FROM THE WHEEL ASSY. THIS HAPPENED ON THE TRUCK WHEN IT WAS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD AND HAD NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT WATER/AIR. *AK

I KNOW THAT THESE ARE NOT THE TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED BUT THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALLED TIRES. TREAD IS BECOMING SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE FIRST TIRE SHOWED THIS PROBLEM LAST OCT. THE SECOND ONE OCCURRED RECENTLY AND THE OTHER TIRES LOOK AS IF THEY WILL DEVELOP TREAD SEPARATION SOON. THESE TIRE ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A TREAD LIFE OF 60000 MILES.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

TIRE LOST TREAD, BUT DID NOT BLOWOUT. TIRE TREAD DAMAGED PICK-UP. ALMOST ROLLED OVER. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2081PT017 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

STABLIZER BAR BROKE , BOLTS FELL TO THE GROUND. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND WOULD NOT START UP AT ALL. THERE WAS WATER COMING FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

COMPLETE TREAD SEPERATION OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE EXHAUST PIPE

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE ABOUT A 1/4 INCH CRACK IN THEM JUST AFT OF THE WINDOW LOWER CORNER. FOR SOME REASON THESE CRACKS WERE FIXED ON FLEET TRUCKS BUT NOT PERSONAL TRUCKS. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 50MPH, JUST CAME THOUGH A FOUR WAY STOP, ENTERED INTERSECTION, AND REAR IN CAME APART/ BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR , AND ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING ,AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *AK

PE 01 033/STEERING COLUMN: WHILE MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT STEERING COLUMN SEPARATED FROM GEAR BOX. *AK

PE 01 033 : STEERING COLUMN : NOISE WOULD APPEAR WHEN MAKING A TURN. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK

A BURNING/SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER DASH, UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE/ VIBRATION. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER, AND LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. GENERAL, AMERI550, 85 23570R16.*AKTHE FIRST OCCURANCE WAS JULY 2001, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL AND ENTER ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC (DOTA308443316 GENERAL AMERI 550 AS). NLM

1997 FORD F150 IN ACCIDENT, FRONT COLLISION WITH ROAD SIGN AT 65 MPH, THEN ROLLING OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND LANDING ON ITS TOP. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

VEHICLE REAR SLIDING GLASS WOULD LEAK WNENEVER IT RAINS OR BEING WASHED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR WINDOW IS LEAKING WATER ON PASSENGER'S SIDE. GLASS HAS SEPARATED FROM FRAME OF THE TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN PPB29 IN DECEMBER 1999 REGARDING FAILURE OF ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL.IN MARCH 2001 FORD MOTOR COMPANY CANCELLED THE RECALL. IF THE GASKET WAS FAULTY IN DECEMBER 1999 HOW CAN IT NOT BE FAULTY TODAY. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER ESTIMATED IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $800.00. *AK

THE ENGINE IS KNOCKING; WE PARK IT AND WE FEEL THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE MOTOR WE HAD IT PUT ON THE MACHINE AND THE PERSON WHOM CHECKED IT. SAID IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT COULD HVE BEEN HELPED. WE TOOK IT TO A FORD PLACE AND HAD IT CHECKED THERE . WE HAVE DONE REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT . WHEN WE GOT IT WE HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR LEAKING OIL AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE SEAL ON IT IT WENT IN TWICE FOR THIS I FEEL THIS PROBLEM MAY HAVE RESULTED IN THE LEAKING, AND I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE IT IF IT IS A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE MOTOR THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO IN THIS MATTER THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND TROUBLE *AK. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

BOTTOM OF EACH WINDOW IN RIGHT CORNER, IF INSIDE VEHICLE, THERE'S A QUARTER INCH CRACK ON OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. DRIVER STATES CRACK IS GETTING LONGER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

3/8" STRESS CRACK LOWER REAR OF DOOR WINDOW. LOOKS LIKE WINDOW FLEXING DOOR. *AK

VEHICLE HAS STRESS CRACKS AROUND DOOR ON OUTSIDE DOOR WINDOW. CRACKS SAID TO BE CAUSED BY SLAMMING THE DOOR. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

WE HAVE HAD OVER 5 , NOW 6 RECALL'S WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.THERE IS NO MODIFICATIONS TO THIS TRUCK, AND HAD BEEN GETTING VIBRATION'S IN THE REAR,BUT FORD SAID THEY SAW NO PROBLEM WITH THIS,NOW THE ENGINE HAS BLOWN AND THEY CANNOT GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS.. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING AT THE TIME.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT WHEELS TURNED INWARD. HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION TWICE WHILE DRIVING AND THE LATER ONE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.(FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P235 170R161045)*YH

TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2081PT036 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

THESE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED WITH ALL OF THE OTHER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. I HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AS THE AT TIRES AND FORD AND FIRESTONE REFUSE TO HELP. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16 INCH)

DRIVING NORMALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE TREAD ON MY TIRE JUST POPPED OFF AND CAUSED ME TO VEER ALL OVER ROADWAY AND INTO DITCH. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE FROM TREAD HITTING UNDERCARRIAGE AND BODY. POLICE HAD TO ASSIST. MY TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED AND I WAS DRIVING UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 99 F DEGREES. MY INSURANCE REFUSES TO PAY FOR A NEW SET OF TIRES AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE LARGE DEDUCTIBLE TO GET REPAIRS MADE ON VEHICLE. THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE TIRES AND I'M TERRIFIED THAT THEY WILL EXPLODE AGAIN. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE IS STILL INFLATED JUST NO TREAD IS LEFT ON TIRE. I HAVE KEPT TIRE FOR EVIDENCE AND TAKEN ABOUT 30 PICTURES OF ALL THE DAMAGE. I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

ENGINE FAILED. YD

ONE OF FIVE 1997-1998 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCKS OWNED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTAION WHICH HAVE HAD TIE ROD FAILURES AFTER REACHING 75K MILES OR MORE

CONSUMER MADE A STOP WHILE ON ROAD. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, IT HESITATED AND DIDN'T START BACK UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. MECHANIC STATED THAT BATTERY CABLE WAS ONE UNIT THAT WAS CONNECTED TO STARTER. BATTERY CABLE HAD CORRODED AND BROKEN OFF. ALTHOUGH, BATTERY CABLE WAS ONE UNIT, MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO REPAIR JUST CABLE, SAVING CONSUMER FROM T EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*AK

BOTH DOORS ARE SHOWING CRACKS A FEW INCHES AT BOTTOM OF WINDOW OPENING. CRACKS ARE HORIZONTAL AND NEAR METAL SURROUNDING THE WINDOW.*AK

SPARE TIRE LIFT AND HOLDER

LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES MIDDLE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATED AFTER PROCEDING PAST STOP SIGN. ONCE SEPARATION OCCURED, MIDDLE LEAF SPRING ROTATED INTO LEFT REAR TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE DOWN TO METAL BELT OF TIRE. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT COVER DAMAGE OF LEAF SPRING OR TIRE, REPAIR COST: APPROX. $450.00. RECALL 98V161 WAS PERFORMED ON LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT LEAF STRIKING GAS TANK, BUT DID NOT PREVENT LEAF FROM ROTATING OUT TO TIRE. MIDDLE LEAF SPRING WAS RUSTED ON BROKEN END AND HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME, MAYBE EVEN WHEN RECALL SERVICE WAS DON ON IT.*AK