1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM IT. CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT PRIOR TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVAL.*AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER INSPECTED TIRES AND NOTICED THAT TREAD ON ALL FOUR TIRES OF HAD SPLIT. *AK

I PURCHASED A USED 1997 F-150 (4.2L V-6) IN JULY OF 2000. JUST AFTER I HAD PURCHASED IT A BEARING IN THE MOTOR WENT OUT. THERE WAS 68,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE BUT FORD COVERED IT 100%. THEY INSTALLED A NEW LONG BLOCK ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEW ENGINE HAD A 12 MONTH 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE #4 CYLINDER WAS BURNING RADIATOR FLUID. THE DEALERSHIP DISASSEMBLED THE MOTOR AND SAID THE ONLY CAUSE FOR THE WATER COULD BE PINHOLES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. WHICH WAS CAUSED DURING THE CASTING PROCESS. NOW THE ENGINE IS 8 MONTHS OLD WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE WORK. THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE FIRST ENGINE GOING OUT WAS A LEAKY WATER SEAL GASKET THAT WAS REPLACED. NOW ENGINE NUMBER TWO IS GOING BAD BECAUSE OF WATER. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT, BUT IT TOOK TWO ENGINES TO GET IT THERE. KNOWING THAT THE FIRST SCHEDULED SERVICE IS SET FOR 100,000 MILES. I THINK FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS SECOND ENGINE AND COVER THE COST. THIS WASNT CAUSED BY ANY ABUSE, IT WAS CAUSED FROM A FAULTY PART FROM THE FACTORY. THIS ENGINE WAS BAD FROM THE START. I JUST FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PAY THE 1,500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A FAULTY PART ON A BRAND NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD IS AWARE OF, THEY JUST WON'T ADMIT IT.*AK

I DID NOT CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS DID, HOWEVER CAUSE ME TO HAVE THE ENGINE COMPLETLY OVERHAULED. THERE WAS A "CHEWED" UP ROD. I HAVE THE MANIFOLD GASKET AND THE BAD ROD IN MY POSSESSION AND WOULD BE GLAD TO SHOW ANY REPRESENTATIVE INTERESTED.*AK

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS NOW, I HAVE HAD THE MULTI SWWITCH FAIL AND NEED REPLACEMENT. BOTH TIMES FORD DEALERSHIP IN MUSKEGON HAVE REPLACED THE PART.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THEN, UPON STOPPING FOUND OUT THAT TWO LUGS: NUTSHAD SNAPPED OFF LEFT REAR TIRE. MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

THE TRUCK HAS A STRESS FRACTURE IN THE STEEL NEXT TO THE WINDOWS. NLM

WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH MY SON IN THE CAR, I LOST ALL STEERING IN MY VEHICLE. MY STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED TO SPIN FREELY AS I WAS DRIFTING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER FRANTICALLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE, I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC. AFTER HE INSPECTED THE STEERING COLUMN, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE COUPLING BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING BOX HAD STRIPPED FREE. THE BOLT STILL REMAINED IN THE COUPLER. HE CHECKED WITH FORD AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING COLUMNS (WHICH HE WAS SURPRISED AT), BUT THERE HAD BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN.*AK

I HAD NOTICED A SQUEAK FROM THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING TURNS. I FOUND NOTHING LOOSE SO I IGNORED IT FOR A WHILE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING FOUND THERE TO BE PROBLEMS WITH PITMAN ARMS ON THESE VEHICLES. I CHECKED MINE AND FOUND THAT TO BE THE NOISE AND REPLACED THE PART. I KEPT THE OLD PART. IT APPEARS DRY AND SOON TO WEAR OUT.

TIRE DEVELOPED A 3IN.X2IN.X1/2IN. BULGE. TIRE WAS SWAPPED WITH SPARE. SINCE THEN THE TREAD HAS HAD COMPLETE FAILURE WITH A SEPARATION OF APPROX. 3 FEET AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. ALL OF THIS OCCURED WHILE BEING IN THE SPARE TIRE POSITION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

NO SUMMARY. DT

ABS BRAKE PROBLEM. ABS BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHANGED A COUPLE OF TIMES. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. DEALER WAS ALSO CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK

WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT, I WAS ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR ON GRAND RIVER AVENUE IN EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN. FORTUNATELY SOME OTHER DRIVER SAW THAT THE TIRE WAS VERY FLAT AND TOOTED HIS HORN AND POINTED AT THE TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A GAS STATION AND PUT AIR IN IT. SO I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

COMSUMER WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND HEARD SOMETHING CLICK. CONSUMER TOOK A LOOK AND WENT TO A NEARBY GARAGE. NEAREST FORD DEALER WAS 15 MILES AWAY. 3 BOLTS HAD SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF. MANUFACTURER STATED THEY HADN'T SEEN A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, BUT WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED.*AK

TIMING GASKET FAILURE FOLLOWED BY ENGINE FAILURE. GOOD RUNNING TRUCK BROUGHT TO FIRESTONE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR OF WATER LEAK. TIMING GASKET AND WATER PUMP REPLACED. WATER PUMP WAS NOT LEAKING, BUT HAD 100K MILES. AFTER LEAK REPAIR SEVERE HESITATION NOTED ON ACCELERATION FROM STOP. WHILE RETURNING TO FIRESTONE OIL PRESSURE DROP AT RED LIGHT AFTER PASSING OTHER VEHICLE. CAM SHAFT SENSOR NOW BAD AND CHANGED; HESITATION FIXED, PRESSURE OK. DROVE < 5 MILES; ACCELERATED ONTO INTERSTATE & DROVE 4 MI. AT 1ST STOP AFTER EXITING INTERSTATE OIL PRESSURE DROP. RETURNED TO FIRESTONE. NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE--$3000!

TIRE THREAD SEPARATION DAMAGING RIGHT REAR FENDER AND EXHAUST PIPE*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM FROM CANADA AND YOUR REQUEST FOR "ZIP CODE" WILL NOT ACCEPT MY "POSTAL CODE". THEREFORE, I TYPED IN 90210 SO I COULD BY-PASS THIS PORTION. MY POSTAL CODE IS K1C 5S7. I WAS BACKING UP ON LEVEL PAVEMENT WHEN I HEARD A "POP". UPON INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINT ON THE TIE ROD END HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SOCKET AT THE WHEEL. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY CORROSION OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIE ROD. ALSO THE JOINT FEELS WELL GREASED AND THE TIE ROD MOVES FREELY. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOWED TO A DEALER AND WILL BE LOOKED AT TOMORROW (APRIL 22, 01). IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO HELP OUTSIDE OF THE U.S CAN YOU PLEASE DIRECT ME TO A CANADIAN ASSOCIATION. AGAIN, MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS *TR

STEEL BELT IS SEPARATING,THE SAME PROBLEM THERE HAVING ON THE 15 INCH WILDERNESS TIRES THAT ARE BEING RECALLED.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

REAR GLASS IS COMING OUT FROM ITS SEAL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK GLASS HAD TO BE REPLACED *JB

FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT, P235/70R16, DOT UNKNOWN, ORIGINALEQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, F150 WITH 35000 MILES. AT 65-70 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, 2 WEEKS LATER AT 65 MPH, LEFT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION.*AK *JB

OVER DRIVE WENT OUT SOME WERE AROUND 56000-58000 MILES NOW AT 94,000 MILES THERE IS NO REVERSE

PULLED UP IN DRIVEWAY AND DRIVESHAFT WENT OUT. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BALL JOINTS FELL OFF.*AK

CHECKING MY TIRES I FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE COMING APART. THE TREAD IS SEPARATING ALONG THE AREA BETWEEN TREAD AND SIDEWALL. IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE IS JUST PULLING THE TREAD OFF AND LEAVING THE TIRE WITH THE BELTS SHOWING. THE TIRE STILL HAS PLENTY OF GOOD TREAD. (DOT NUMBER: W2081PT TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF GARAGE. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS LEANING ON LEFT SIDE. VEHICLE WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN SHE PULLED INSIDE OF GARAGE THAT EVENING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK THE DEALER SAYS THERE WAS A HIGH FAILURE RATES OF 1997 AND 1998 MODELS. *YH

FUEL LINE IS RUBBNING AGAINST UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AND MAY CAUSE A LEAKAGES WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER WENT OUT TO WARM UP VEHICLE IN THE MORNING, VEHICLE STARTED UP FINE. HOWEVER, THEN PISTON IN ENGINE SHATTERED. NO DETERMINATION WAS GIVEN FOR THE CAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

THERE IS A 1/4" DOOR CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCATED ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE DOOR WHERE THE BELT MOLDING ENDS. WHAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION WAS A NUMEROUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WRITING IN TO THE WWW.F150ONLINE.COM WEBSITE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I CHECKED OUT MY VEHICLE AND SURE ENOUGH I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. A CO-WORKER OF MINE HAS THE SAME YEAR FORD F150 AND HE CHECKED HIS VEHICLE AND THERE WAS ALSO ABOUT A 1/4" DOOR CRACK ON HIS DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I CONTACTED FORD BUT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE. I CALLED NUMEROUS LOCAL DEALERS WHO WOULD NOT CONFIRM THEY FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THOUGH ONE SHOP SAID IT WOULD FIX IT BY WELDING IT AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARANTEE. SEEMS ODD THAT 75% OF ALL 1997 TO 1999 FORD F150 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. REQUEST INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE AND THAT FORD INITIATE A RECALL PROGRAM TO FIX THIS ISSUE.*AK

THREE INCHES FROM WINDOW METAL IS CRACKING ON BOTH SIDES OF VHEICLE.*AK

THREE INCHES FROM WINDOW DOOR IS STARTING TO CRACK. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

BALL JOINTS ARE OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID NOT WORRY ABOUT IT.*AK

AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED FOR THE TIMING COVER, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AND GOING TO APPLY BRAKES, OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON. OIL PRESSURE WOULD DROP, AND ENGINE WOULD OPERATE ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER FORMED BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IF ENGINE COOLANT WAS ENTERED INTO OIL SYSTEM AND/OR OIL PAN, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 250 MILES, ENGINE WILL BECOME DAMAGED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED RECALL WORK STATED THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY WHEN TURNED OVER TO CONSUMER, AND THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE REGULAR OIL CHANGES WERE NOT PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM FORD , IN SERVICE PROGRAM #99B29, THAT ENGINE GASKET FRONT COVER WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A REDESIGNED MODEL. CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THERE WAS AN EXPIRATION DATE OF MARCH 31, 2001 FOR THIS SERVICE PROGRAM, AND FORD WAS NOT GOING TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT FOR FREE WHEN THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING COULD FEEL WIND COMING THROUGH DOOR. FOUND THAT DOOR IS NOT CLOSING COMPLETELY, AND RUBBER AT DOOR IS NOT SECURED AS IT SHOULD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, AND SPARE TIRE FELL OUT. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAD HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKES AND LEFT REAR TIRES LOCKED. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT DEFECT ON VEHICLE HAD BEEN REAR AXLE SEAL THAT WHEN RAINING COULD LOCK UP. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFFECTED BRAKES WERE SATURATED WITH LUBRICANT AND WOULD DO NOTHING WHEN ACTIVATED. *SLC

WE PURCHASED THIS FORD VEHICLE FROM A FORD DEALER EIGHT MONTHS AGO. WE JUST LEARNED IT HAS A BLOWN ENGINE PROBABLY RESULTING FROM COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. WE'VE LEARNED FORD HAS REPLACED OTHER '97 F150 ENGINES WITH THIS DEFECT. OUR DEALER INDICATES THERE HAVE BEEN NO SUCH SERVICE BULLETINS. WE PAID $12,000 EIGHT MONTHS AGO. *AK

UPON START UP ENGINE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BENT ROD FOR THE NUMBER ONE PISTON. *AK BLOWN INTAKE GASKET CAUSED A LEAK. *SLC

FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT IF CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK *JB

GENERAL AMERIA, STAR 55 ,TIRE SIZE P23570R16, DOT NUMBER 84024009, TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON LISTED VEHICLE, TIRE HAD 28 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. PULLED VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND NOTICED RIGHT FRONTAL TIRE WAS SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. *AK UPON INSPECTION, DEALER FOUND ANOTHER TIRE WAS SPLITTING. *SLC

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CRACKING RIGHT BELOW WINDOW *AK CONSUMER STATES CRACKING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON ALL FORD F150 INCLUDING 2 DOOR AND 3 DOOR YEARS 1996-1998 CONSUMER STATES HE HAS SEEN OVER 75 TRUKS IN HIS AREA WITH THIS PROBLEM. *JB

WITH ONLY 1200 MILES OVER WARRANTIES ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY FORD MOTROR .HEAD GASKET AND FRONT COVER SEAL SHOULD NOT OF LEAKED /100,000 MILES OR MORE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TORSION BAR ON LEFT SIDE BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

UPPER BALL JOINT IS ABOUT TO BREAK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WEAR OUT EVEN IF IT DID HAPPEN WITH ONLY 44000 MILES ON IT, DEALER REPLACED LEFT UPPER BALL JOINT AND REPLACED CONTROL ARM. *SLC

ENGINE WOULD BE MAKING LOUD KNOCKING NOISES. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE PISTONS WERE KNOCKING WITHIN CYLINDERS. THEY WERE WOBBLING.*AK THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *YH

DOORS ARE BEGINNING TO CRACK NEXT TO WINDOW AND GOING HORIZONTALLY TOWARDS EDGE OF DOOR. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT WAS OF NO ASSISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

STEEL BELT SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208IPT446 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

FAILURE OF STEERING PUMP AT LOW SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PUMP HAS BEEN REPAIRED.*AK *SLC

THIS VEHICLE ALREADY HAD A RECALL #98S18. THIS OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SPRING CAME OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY AND STRUCK MY FUEL TANK. IN MY OPINION THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE LEAF SPRING IF IT WAS NOT MADE CORRECTLY AND NOT JUST PUT A BANDAID ON IT. THEY BROKE EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX THE ERROR..

PE 00 020/TREAD SEPARATION: LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 68 MPH WITH DRIVER AND ONE PASSENGER IN A 1997, FORD, F150; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P235/70R16, DOT# W2081PT207. NO INJURIES/NO DAMAGES; FIRESTONE WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SLC