1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

LOWER STEERING SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX COMMECTION. THIS CREATED AN INABILITY TO STEER THE TRUCK.

THE UNIVERSAL JOINT ON THE END OF THE STEERING COLUMN DISCONNECTED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS ALSO REPLACED. NLM

ON FRIDAY 03/02/01 I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING IN MY FORD F-150 WHEN SOMETHING IN THE STEERING BOX FAILED.FOR SPECIFICS OF WHAT THE EXACT FAILURE WAS, PLEASE CONTACT THE MECHANIC WHO MADE THE REPAIR. THEY ARE ROCKVILLE AUTO BOUTIQUE, 360 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570. PHONE 516 766 7525. *AK

WHILE PARKED AND VEHICLE STILL RUNNING LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE JUST DROPPED. CONSUMER HAD NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK THE TORSION BAR SNAPPED CAUSING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO DROP. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THE TORSION BAR HAD MATERIAL DEFECT. *YH

BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT ROTORS FOR FRONT BRAKES FAILED DUE TO RUST. 2. FRONT SEATBELTS DID NOT LATCH INTO BUCKLE INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK *SLC

SPARE TIRE HOLDER FAILED AND SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND INTO TRAFFIC.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRUCK WOULD SUTTER AT STOPS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING WITH LOSS OF COOLANT.*AK

THE WAY THE TIE RODS ARE MADE WHEN THEY BECOME SLIGHTLY WORN THEY PULL APART. AFTER TALKING WITH SOME AUTO REPAIR SHOPS I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURANCE.

FORD DIFFICULT WITH DOOR CRACK ISSUE BUT WILL RE-SKIN DOORS - SHIFT INTERLOCK REPAIRED 2 DAYS AFTER WARRANTY AT MY COST!*AK

BOTH FRONT DOORS ARE DEVELOPING CRACKS APPROXIMATELY 8-9 INCHES ABOVE HANDLE AREAS. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK BOTH RIGHT DOOR SHELL AND LEFT DOOR SHELL WERE REPAIRED. THE VINYL STRIPPING WAS OUT AND REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY REPAIR COST BECAUSE THE DOOR HAD DESIGN FLAW. *YH

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATED THAT AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. *SLC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO BE EXAMINED BECAUSE OF A LOSS IN COOLANT. A PRIVATE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT TIMING COVER WAS CRACKED, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

BALL JOINTS. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CRACKING, WILL WINDOW GO ACROSS TO OPENING.*AK

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00522; AFTER REPLACING FRONT COIL SPRINGS, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEM STOPPING VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM WITH CLIPS. HE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE, AND COIL SPRINGS CAME OUT AND STUCK INTO TIRES. *AK

FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE ON LEFT SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, CAUSING WHEEL TO GO INTO AN ANGLE AND FRONTEND TO FALL. *AK

2/01 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO LITHIA FORD IN CONCORD TO DIAGNOSE OVER HEATING. COOLING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND STATED C.S. WAS HOLDING AT THAT TIME, TORE DOWN MOTOR, FOUND BAD BEARINGS, OIL PAN MILKY, HEAD GASKET BAD. REPLACED W/4.2 ENGINE WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXT WARRANTY, OTHER RECOMMENDED FIX CLUTCH DISC THROW OUT BEARINGS. 11/2000, PWR STEERING HOSE BAD, REPLACED,10/01 CK ENG LIT ONE,, IDLE AIR CNTROL VALVE REPLACED,6/02 OVERHEARING, NEW THERMO,COOLNT FLSH, OIL CHANGE, NEW BRAKES RECOMMENDED, DONE.9/4/02, OVERHEATING AGAIN, RECOMMENDED NEW RADIATOR/WATER PUMP, INQIRED ON PCV MODIFICATION RECALL, THEY WILL REPLACE.*AK

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON RELATING TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER CONTROLS STUCK OPEN, DUE TO INSUFFICIENT AIR/FUEL MIXTURE AND LOW VACUUM PRESSURE. DT

CONSUMER RECEIVED AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK WHEN HE OPENED VEHICLE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN HE WAS GETTING OUT OF TRUCK.*AK

FUSES TO THE GAUGES ON DASHBOARD WERE BURNING OUT. GAUGES DID NOT INDICATE SPEED, FUEL OR WARNING SIGNS. DEALER CAN NOT FIND WHERE OR WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING THE SHORTAGES. THE CONSUMER HAS ONLY SMELLED RUBBER BURNING ONCE.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TORSION BAR SNAPPED ,AND FRONT END FELL DOWN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX PROBLEM AT NO COST. *AK *JB

CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED ON OUTSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR 2 INCHES FROM WINDOW FRAME, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK IT APPEARS THE DOOR HAS STRESS CRACKS. *YH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OFF OF HOUSE AND COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

PITTMAN ARM REFERENCED EIGHT (8) TIMES IN TSB'S. REAR WINDOW ALSO REFERENCED IN TSB'S. *AK

TORSION BAR ON THIS VEHICLE SNAPPED WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. FORD ACCEPTS PARTIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FAILURE, AND HAS AGREED TO SPLIT THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS 50/50. I DISAGREE WITH THIS AND DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR THEIR NEGLEGABLE SAFETY DEFECT.*AK

FRONT END ROD SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR CONSUMER . *AK IT WAS THE TORSION BAR THAT HAD SNAPPED AND THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *YH

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND TRIED TO STOP. I PUSHED MY BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOTHING, I PUSHED THEM A SECOND TIME AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE THIRD TIME I PUSHED THE BRAKES THEY WORKED. BUT IT WAS TO LATE. I RAN RIGHT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD MY BREAKS LOOKED AT THREE TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY SAID THAT THEY CHECKED OUT OKAY. IF IT WAS REALLY OKAY HOW COME MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORK?*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN WENT OUT, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE DIED THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND WAS ADVISED BY TECHNICIAN THAT AN IGNITION WIRE HAD BROKE INSIDE THE WIRING COVER.

BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY INCONSISTANT, AND PEDAL WILL GO ALMOST TO THE FLOOR, ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL NEVER FEELS LIKE A GOOD PEDAL. THE BRAKES GIVE A VERY UNSAFE FEEL AT ALL SPEEDS, THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF MY PROBLEM, THEY LOOKED AT THEM AND INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THE BRAKES IN THE EXPEDITIONS WERE THE SAME WAY, HOWEVER THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD. AFTER SPEAKING WITH FORD'S CUTOMER SERVICE THEY INFORMED ME THAT IF I FELT SAFETY WAS A PROBLEM TO TAKE IT BACK THE THE DEALER. NO SUCCESS AGAIN, I THEN HAD A BRAKE SAFETY INSPECTION COMPLETED AT A LOCAL MAINTENCE FACILITY AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING THAT APPEARED WRONG HOWEVER AGREED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSUFFICIENT FOR SAFE STOPPING. I THEN WROTE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMING THEM OF MY COMPLETE DISSATISFACTION IN THE BRAKES AND ASKED FOR ANY OPTIONS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE AS OF 10 MONTHS LATER. I TRUELY HOPE THAT YOUR OFFICES CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, I HONESTLY FEEL THAT MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY IS AT RISK EACH TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK

TIMING COVER GASKET IS LEAKING. I HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF POSTS ON THE INTERNET THAT FORD FIXED THIS FOR FREE AS A RECALL, BUT FORD DENIES ANY RECALL. THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE THAT IS HAPPENING OFTEN ENOUGH FOR A FULL RECALL OF ALL 97 F150 WITH THE 4.2LITER ENGINE.*AK

BOTH DOORS HAVE DEVELOPED STRESS CRACKS AROUND BACK OF DOOR WINDOW. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE, AND WILL AGREE TO DO A 60/40 COVERAGE. NO MONEY WAS AVAILABLE BECAUSE NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. IT SEEMED TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR A YEAR. CONSUMER BECAME AWARE OF PROBLEM WHILE GETTING VEHICLE PAINTED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS GETTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS #HT, P2357016. FIRESTON WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

"TICK" NOTICED AT STARTUP. TOWED TO DELAERSHIP, DIAGNOSED AS BENT ROD. TOTAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO SYMPTOMS UNTIL TOTAL FAILURE. WHY DID THIS HAPPEN AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. ENGINE REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT OVER $4000. PLEASE PROVIDE INFO ON SIMILAR FAILURES VIA EMAIL. *AK

FORD NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL TO MANY REPORTS OF BAD TORSION BARS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WITH SNOW AND ICE ON ROAD VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID, AND THEN 8-10 FEET DOWN A DITCH. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THIS VEHEICLE HAD FOUR RECALLS. THE FIRST RECALL WAS JUST AFTER TWO MONTHS AFTETR PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED MULTIPLE INJUREIS DURING THE ACCIDENT AS THE RESULT OF AIR BAG FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD THREE TIRE BLOW OUTS WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. *YH

BY CHANCE I HEARD MY WIFE BACK RUCK OUT OF GARAGE AND NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAK FROM FRONT END AS SHE STEERED. WITH WINDOWS UP AND HEATER ON WE HAD NOT HEARD THE SOUND DURING THIS WINTER AND DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN MAKING NOISE. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. AS WE PULLED IN THE SHOP WITH IT SQUEAKING AT EACH TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL A MECHANIC WALKED OVER AND SAID THAT MUST BE A 1997. I SAID YES AND HE SAID THE PITMAN ARM IS SUPPOSED TO BE LUBED FOR LIFE SO THERE IS NO GREASE FITTING, AND THEY ARE KNOWN TO FAIL ON THE 1997'S. WE GET OUR TRUCK OIL CHANGED AND LUBED EVERY 3000 MILES OR CLOSE TO IT. HE SAID IF WE HADN'T NOTICE THE NOISE IT WOULD HAVE SEIZED UP AND BROKE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTS THE STEERING BOX SHAFT TO THE STEERING LINKAGE AND A FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING. WE GOT IT FIXED IMMEDIATELY BY REPLACING THE PITMAN ARM AT A COST OF CLOSE TO $300. HOW LONG WILL THE NEW ARM LAST WITHOUT GREASE? I REPORTED IT TO FORD, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRACK THE VEHICLES AND NOTIFY ME IF THERE IS A RECALL. THEN I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE ARE AT LEAST A COUPLE SERVICE BULLETINS DATING BACK TO 97 AND 98 THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN EARLY PRODUCTION. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD NOTIFY US OF THE PROBLEM WHILE THE WARRANTY WOULD COVER THE REPAIR AND AT LEAST TO ASSURE OUR STEERING WOULD NOT FAIL. THE BULLETIN NUMBERS I FOUND ARE #9810569 IN 1998 AND BC2360970501 IN 1997 BOTH ABOUT THE PITMAN ARM REPLACEMENT. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT METRO FORD OF GRAND LEDGE MICHIGAN (517-627-3293). *AK

TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/22/2000 DUE TO OWNER DETECTION OF WATER IN OIL. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY FOREIGN SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL AND ENGINE CHECKED OK. ON 01/15/2001 THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SEVERAL MILES LATER , ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO STALL AT 50 MPH WITH ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ACTIVATED. CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND RACED TO PREVENT STALL. ENGINE RECOVERED AFTER A FEW YARDS AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. TRUCK WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THAT FORD WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE IF OWNER AGREED TO PAY $500 OF THE COST.*AK

ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN FIRST APPLIED. CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS HARDER , THEN VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD. *AK *SLC

1/4 INCH CRACK ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IN SHEET METAL JUST ABOVE CURVED BELT MOLDING. OBVIOUS MANUFACTURES DEFECT. FOR NEEDS TO HONOR FIX COSTS IN FULL.*AK

HAD TO REPLACE STEERING PITMAN. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

HEATER CORE LEAKING. HEATER CORE LEAKED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK OUT AND GET ON THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER REPLACED SAID HAD REPLACED SEVERAL OTHERS IN SAME MODEL OF TRUCK. THEY BILLED ME 568.00 DOLLARS FOR THIS. I ONLY AGREED TO PAY THEM 240 BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY QUOTED OVER THE PHONE. THIS IS A PART THAT REALLY DOESN'T WARE OUT. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN.

WHILE DRIVING FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHICH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. *AK

THE DOOR POST AT LOWER RIGHT OF WINDOW IS CRACKING AT BOTH DOORS THROUGH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD F150 & F250 TRUCKS AND I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND FMCO DOES NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER. THANK YOU MICHAEL. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK

THERE ARE TWO LIGHTS THAT CONTROL DOME AND REAR LIGHTS. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

PASSENGER'S AREA DOME LIGHT WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED OR REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE HAS REPLACED THE PART THAT HOLDS THE PLUGS TWICE AND IT COSTS 450 DOLLARS EACH TIME, CONSUMER STATES HE THINKS HE MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN, THE INTERIOR LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AT TIMES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHICH HAD GOUGED THE TIRE, APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. *SLC

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT JOHN A. REUTTER FROM SUPERIOR INVESTIGATIONS FOR PHOTOS AND THE WIRING HARNESS. THE ABOVE PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ARE SUPERIOR'S INFORMATION AND NOT THE OWNER.*AK