1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

PE-00-020- FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P23570R16 TIRE ON A 1997 FORD F150, TIRE SIZE NOT AVAILABLE WHEN DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM TREAD. THERE IS ONLY 25 THOUSAND MILES ON THE TIRES. *AK DOT# W2UB1PT466. *SLC

NO SUMMARY

TIRES BLEWOUT DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE(P235 70 R16) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE BEHIND WHEEL WELL. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL. *SLC

CARGO LIGHT IN VEHICLE NEVER GOES OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN BACKING UP, THEY CAN NOT SEE DUE TO THE LIGHT BEING ON, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS A SWITCH ON THE DOOR. *SLC

THE INSIDE OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE TIRE ITSELF. *AK

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-231, CONSUMER IS HAVING TROUBLE RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM THE FORD REPRESENTATIVES. NLM

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOORS HAVE CRACKS IN FRAME NEAR BACKSIDE OF WINDOW. CRACKS ARE HIDDEN BY RUBBER AROUND WINDOW.*AK

INTERIOR COURTESY LIGHT AND DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL STAY ON AFTER CLOSING THE VEHICLE DOORS. STAYS ON FROM 1 TO 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING ITSELF OFF, WHILE "DOOR OPEN" ALARM SOUNDS. DEALER NOT NOTIFIED. ORIGINAL DATE OF PROBLEM AUGUST 2000 (RANDOM OCCURRENCES). CURRENTLY EVERY TIME DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED. *JB

LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME APART. THE TREAD BELT TRAPPED BETWEEN RIM AND TRUCK THEN THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY VEARED TO THE LEFT.

I REPLACED MY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON 7/28/00 BECAUSE OF CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS (JUST PRIOR TO RECALL). I SHOWED THIS TO A SERVICE ADVISOR AT TOWNSEND MA. FORD ON 9/25/98 BUT WAS ADVISED FORD DOES NOT WARRANTY TIRES. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW W/SAME TRUCK & TIRES BLEW OUT THE SIDEWALLS OF TWO TIRES WHILE TRAVELING ON DIRT ROADS GOING TO HIS CAMP IN NORTHERN MAINE. WE BOTH BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE P235/70R16 SERIES OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. ALTHOUGH THEY DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE CURRENT RECALL PROGRAM, NOR DID THEY EXHIBIT THE REPORTED TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM, I AM CONVINCED THE "CRACKED SIDEWALL" ISSUE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED IF A DEFECT IS VERIFIED.( DOT NUMBER: VN08IPU496 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH, ALL THE TREAD CAME OFF MY TIRE. THE SHRAPNEL CAUSED $1200 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY WHEEL WELL AND GAS TANK. IT TORE OFF THE TUBE FROM THE GAS TANK WHICH ALLOWS ONE TO FILL THE TANK. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE AND MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE DIDN'T DEFLATE. ANOTHER TIRE WENT FLAT A MONTH AGO. IT DEFLATED IN A PARKING LOT AND COULDN'T BE REPLACED BECAUSE ALL OF THE RUBBER HAD CAUSED A LUMP ON ONE SIDE OF THE TIRE AND COMPLETELY FELL APART AFTER IT WAS CHANGED. A YEAR AGO, ANOTHER "EXPLODED" GOING APPROX. 30 MPH. ALL OF THE TIRES HAD MORE THAN ADEQUATE TREAD LEFT ON THEM. WE ARE SUBMITTING A PROPERTY DAMAGE REPORT TO CONTINENTAL/GENERAL TIRES, 1440-L WESTINGHOUSE BLVD., CHARLOTTE, NC 28273. WE HAVE ALSO SENT THE TIRE FROM THE 7/27/00 INCIDENT BACK TO THEM. IT IS PROBABLY NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY BUT IT IS ODD THAT 3 OF THESE TIRES FAILED IN UNUSUAL WAYS. IT IS A MIRACLE I WAS NOT INJURED FROM THE LAST INCIDENT. I AM LUCKY THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT RUPTURED, ONLY THE FUEL SPOUT WAS MISSING AND GASOLINE HAD NOT LEAKED OUT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT GAS IN THE TANK. THE TIRE WITH NO TREAD LOOKS LIKE THE FIRESTONE RECALL TIRES. HAVE YOU INVESTIGATED THE GENERAL TIRES OR HAD ANY COMPLAINTS?( DOT NUMBER: 2842006D TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

THE DOOR SKIN IS CRACKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW REARWARD. IT IS VISIBLE FROM OUTSIDE AND GOES UNDER THE RUBBER TRIM TO THE EDGE OF WINDOW FRAME. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD QUALITY CARE, AND A FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN WICHITA. NO HELP IN GETTING IT FIXED. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A MORE MAJOR FAILURE OF THE DOOR OR COULD BE UNSAFE IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. THE DOOR SEEMS TO FLEX AT THE POINT OF THE CRACK WHEN ROLLING WINDOW UP AND DOWN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, TIRE SIZE P235/70R16.*AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P235/70/R16 *MW

THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS DO NOT REEL IN THE SEATBELT. THIS ALLOWS THE SEATBELT TO BE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR WHEN IT IS CLOSED. THIS WILL DAMAGE THE SEATBELT, MAKING IT INEFFECTIVE IN AN ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION THE SEATBELT HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN THE LOCK MECHANISM MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. THIS A CLEAR AND PRESENT SAFETY HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *AK

THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

ON BOTH OCCASIONS TIE RODS CAME APART AT THE MIDDLE WITHOUT WARNING!*AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A 1/2 INCH CRACK ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR OF THE DRIVER & PASSENGER SIDE. METAL WAS SHEARING. DELEAR SAID THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY & THEY HAD TO HAVE PERMISSION FROM FORD. *AK ALSO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH

TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM AS ON THE 15" SIZES, TIRE DID NOT BLOW, HAD CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, FIRESTONE PRODUCT LIABILITIES SECTION PAID FOR THE DAMAGE, BUT FIRESTONE WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR NEW TIRES PURCHASED AS THIS SIZE IS NOT IN RECALL. I FEEL THEY SHOULD AS THE SAME PROBLEM IS EVIDENT IN THIS SIZE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 735 70R 16 )

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 70 - 75 MPH TREAD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF. THERE WERE FIVE PASSENGER'S IN THE VEHICLE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE TRUCK IS A 97, F150, VIN # [XXX]. TIRE SIZE P2357016. THE TIRE WAS NOT SOLD ON THE TRUCK. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1) AIR CONDITIONER HOSE SPONTANEOUSLY DEVELOPED LEAK AT START-UP CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF FREON AND REQUIRING 800+ DOLLAR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS. NO WEAR AREAS ON PART, NO RUB SPOTS PRESENT AND PER SERVICE TECHNICIAN, NO REASON FOR PART TO HAVE FAILED. 2) DISC BRAKE ROTOR FAILED AT 57,000 MILES WITHOUT APPARENT REASON, CAUSING NEED FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR OF DISK BRAKE ASSEMBLY. SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGAIN NOTED NO REASON FOR FAILURE, NO CALIPER FAILURE, A RECENT PAD REPLACEMENT AND HIGHWAY DRIVING PATTERN. *AK

ABS DISENGAGES BRAKES WHEN APPLIED HARD IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, AND REAPPLIES THEM AFTER APROX. A SECOND OR LONGER. DURING THAT TIME THE TRUCK TRAVELS FOWARD WITH NO BRAKES. *AK

STEERING BOX THAT IS ATTACHED TO FRAME HAD FALLEN OFF. VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT STEERING, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK THE DRIVER LOST STEERING BECAUSE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME CRACKED. *YH

BOLTS SECURING STEERING BOX TO FRAME BROKE. STEERING BOX FELL LOOSE, AND ALL STEERING CONTROL WAS LOST. LITTLE WARNING THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. SERVICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED 'A HANDFUL' OF TIMES.*AK

NO SUMMARY

TWO REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT TIRES, P235R7516 ON FORD F150, 1997 HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 TO 70 MPH UNDER DRY HOT WEATHER CONDITIONS. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. *SLC

ON 7/20/00 BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED (ADJUSTED AT 50%) BY FIRESTONE FOR BELT/TREAD SEPERATIONS. THESE ARE 16 INCH TIRES FAILING IN THE SAME MODE AS THE 15 INCH NOW BEING RECALLED. BOTH REMAINING ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE CRACKS AROUND THE SIDE/EDGES WHERE THE BELT IS BONDED TO THE TIRE BODY. FIRESTONE DEALER SAID THIS IS "NORMAL".( DOT NUMBER: W2081PT316 TIRE SIZE: 235/70R16 )

EXHAUST PIPE IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO TIRES. THE HEAT FROM EXHAUST PIPE CAUSES THE TIRES TO MELT AND RIM TO CORRODE. AK SCC

A BOLT WITHIN THE STEERING MECHANISM HAD UNSCREWED, CAUSING STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN WHILE TIRES STAYED STRAIGHT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. MECHANIC TIGHTEND THE BOLT. *AK

AT 31,500 THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DEVELOPED A LARGE BLISTER WHERE THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING FROM THE CASING. I REPLACED THE TIRE. LESS THAN 7000 MILES LATER THE TREAD ON THE RPLACEMENT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE CASING.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

VEHICLE EXPEREINCED TWO TIRE FAILURES, TREAD SEPARATING FROM CASING BOTH ON R/R. FIRST OCCURRED AT 31,000 MILES, SECOND OCCURRED AT 38000 MILES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R 16 )

TIRE BLEW OUT AND VEHICLE ROLLED. TIRE IS 255/70-16. POLICYHOLDER CALLED CONCERNING ANY SUB AGAINST FIRESTONE. TIRES INVLOVED ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES, SIZE 255/70-16(STEEL BELTED RADIAL). (CLAIM# 33-0235-399) *MW

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. WHILE ON A VACATION TRIP WITH MY FAMILY AT 70 MPH A 3" BY 16" OF TIRE TREAD CAME OFF OF MY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HTX TIRE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70R16 )

TREAD SEPARATION, ALL RUBBER PEELED OFF,THIS SIZE SHOULD BE ON RECALL( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 735 70R/16 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO LOOK INTO THIS. FORD IS BEING VERY SLOW TO FIX THIS MAJOR ISSUE. IT EFFECTS 2/3S OF ALL THE 97+ F150S. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

THIS GENERAL AMERICAN TIRE 550AF HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE. TIRE SIZE IS P235/70R16. GENERAL HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THREE OF THE FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. ONE OF THE TIRE BLEW ON HIGHWAY. *YH

COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT.HEAD GASKET WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED UNDER TSB#99131,RELATING TO COOLANT LEAKING THROUGH THE HEAD INTO THE OIL.THE PROBLEM HOWEVER HAS CONTINUED WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT THROUGH THE HEAD GASKET APPROX EVERY 6-8 MONTHS.*AK

DOORS ON MY F-150 ARE CRACKED. FORD KNOWS THIER IS A PROBLEM WITH THOUSANDS PERHAPS MANY MORE F-150S DOORS CRACKING BUT IF YOUR OUT OF WARRANTY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT .SHOULDNT BE JUST A WARRANTY ISSUE ,IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION.IT IS CRACKING ON THE OUTER SKIN OF THE DOORS(BOTH DOORS IN MY CASE). FORD BASICALLY TOLD ME TO BAD.WILL SOMEDAY BE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHEN CRACK GETS LARGE ENOUGH TO WEAKEN DOOR.

CONSUMER WAS WASHING VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT WATER COME THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW, AND GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. POSSIBLY, THERE WAS DAMAGE WITH SEATBELT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT VEHICLE WASN'T ON RECALL. *AK

HAPPENED A WEEK BEFORE THIS MADE NEWS. INFO ON OLD TIRE NOT AVAILABLE( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 16 )

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NEAR THE LOWER REAR CORNER OF THE WINDOW IS CRACKING. I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF F150S DOING THE SAME THING BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE WHICH COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH FUEL TANK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TANK, AND RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAKAGE. ALSO, RECALL NUMBER 98V161000, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK

RECALL 96V184000; WHILE TRAVELING 35-40MPH VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES HAVE FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEFORE AND AFTER INCIDENT.*AK

AFTER SEVERAL RECALLS WERE REPAIRED THERE WAS NO OIL PRESSURE IN ENGINE. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH VEHICLE SHIMMIED VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT OUTER LEFT TIE ROD BROKE. THEN, ON SEPTEMBER 7 2001, WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH, CONSUMER LOST STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEMS WHEN INNER RIGHT TIE ROD BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED TIRES FAILED PREMATURELY BY SPLITTING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALLS AND THE STEEL BELTS WERE SHOWING. CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM FIRESTONE, HOWEVER THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO AUGUST 1, 2000 CONSUMER IS REQUESTING AN APPEAL.(FIRESTONE AT 235/70/16).*JG

THE BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ROTOR DISCS WERE ALREADY UNDER (LESS THAN) SPECIFICATION WHEN MANUFACTURED (IE. THE INCORRECT SPEC. WAS INSTALLED). ALSO, THE REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK. INDEPENDENTLY OR COMBINED, THESE CONDITIONS HAVE RESULTED IN POOR BRAKING RESULTING IN NUMEROUS RUNNING OF STOP SIGNS AND NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES OR COLLISIONS WITH CURBS, SIGNS, ETC.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 THE CAP OF THE TIRE PEELED OFF. THIS WAS A SPARE TIRE THAT WAS IN USE. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT MILEAGE ON THE TIRE BUT I ASSUME WITH LOW MILEAGE. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PICTURES OR THE TIRE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )