1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER STUCK IN ON POSITION. UNABLE TO START VEHICLE OR SHUT OFF IGNITION. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY TO PREVENT DRAIN. THE PLASTIC SLIDE THAT ACTIVATES THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE WHILE THE IGNITION WAS IN THE "ON" POSITION, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT WORK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED UP CAUSING VEHICLE TO NEARLY GO INTO A DITCH, CONSUMER WAS INJURED WHEN SLAMMED INTO DOOR DURING LOCK UP, THE CALIPERS AND BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE SEVERLY RUSTED WHICH CAUSED LOCK UP TO OCCUR. *MJS

TIRE TREADS CAME OFF FIRESTONE TIRE ON I.V. AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO FENDER & MUFFLER. A. 390 CLAIM. S. POSSIBLE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT P235/70R16 104S LOST TREAD AND DAMAGED PICK-UP. NI AND HE STATED THTA THE TIRE IS IN THE BACK OF TRUCK AND THAT THE TIRE HAD 35,000 MILES ON IT AND IS TWO YEARS ONLY, NI HAS STATED THAT HE WAS REVIEWED INFORMATION ON LAWSUIT PENDING ON TIRE OVER THE INTERNET ON THE SAME TIRE, NI WENT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST NI, NI COULD NOT GIVE MAKE OR MODEL OF TIRE, MOVED TO F/O FOR HANDLING. (CLAIM# 53-C581-678) *MW

DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW FUEL FILLER TUBE CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HAD A TIRE TO COME APART, TIRE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *AK

SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT-JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHIMMY THEN SHOOK VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE ON I37. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE HIGHWAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND SLAMMED THRU BRUSH SMALL TREES, CAREENED OFF A LARGE OAK TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ROLLED THREE TIME COMING TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED AND INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE POLICE REVEALED THE RIGHT REAR TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE CAUSING A BLOWOUT PLUS A BLOWOUT ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE DUE TO THE VIOLENT MANUVERS PRIOR TO LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. THANKS TO GOD, SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGES MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT KILLED BUT BRUISED PRETTY GOOD. WE STILL SUFFER NECK PAINS AND SHOULDER PAINS ON THE RIGHT SIDE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235/70RX16)

TIRES PEEL OFF ALSO ON MY P235/70R16 I TURN THEM INTO FIRESTONE CENTERS STORE # 029386 WHICH CAUSE ME AN ACCIDENT ON I-75 ACCIDENT REPORT NO #00-03-0004964 FHP.( DOT NUMBER: 864180 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R16 )

TEMPERATURE WAS OVER 100 DEGREES. TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE SIDEWALL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

VEHICLE HIT A BUMP.CONSUMER FELT A SHAKE IN FRONT END. UPON INSPECTION CONSUMER NOTICED FRONT OUTER BALL JOINT HAD DISCONNECTED. PART WAS REPLACED. ON 1 JULY 2001, RIGHT INNER BALL JOINT FELL OFF. ONE DAY LATER , LEFT BALL JOINT FELL OFF WHILE BACKING UP. MILEAGE WAS 67000 AT THE TIME.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT STEERING LINKAGE AND TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A SOLUTION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

PART FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS FORCED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DEALER AND FORD WERE CONTACTED. THEY BOTH AGREED THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED. THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE, JUST THERE WARRANTY LIABILITY. WHEN THE PART FAILED IT DAMAGED THE BACKING PLATE AND PUNCTURED THE RIM, CAUSING TIRE FAILURE. WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED?*AK

LAST SUMMER (2000) MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING FROM MERCED, CA TO SANTA CRUZ, CA FOR VACATION. THE TEMPS WERE AROUND 100 DEGREES. I HAVE A 1997 F-150 XLT EXTENDED CAB WITH WILDERNESS HT TIRES AND APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD AND BLEWOUT. I PURCHASED ANOTHER WILDERNESS HT TIRE IN SANTA CRUZ FOR A REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS ABOUT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE RECALL OF THE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. THIS YEAR DURING THE SAME TRIP AND SAME CONDITIONS AND ABOUT 27,000 MILES ON THE SAME TRUCK WE ARRIVED IN SANTA CRUZ AND I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A LARGE CHUNK OF TREAD MISSING AND THE STEEL BELT WAS EXPOSED. THIS WAS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE TIRE NEAR THE SIDEWALL. I EXAMINE THE LEFT REAR TIRE AND NOTICED A CRACK FORMING IN THE SAME AREA. I HAD PLACED THE NEW TIRE PURCHASED IN 2000 ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK WITH THE SPARE AND THE TIRES ON THE BACK WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SEPARATION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)

WHILE DRIVING BOTH SIDE DOORS RATTLE AND SHAKE. THE PLATE THAT IS INSIDE THE DOOR HAS NO ADJUSTMENTS. *AK

DRIVER SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE WHICH CAUSED MOMENTARY BRAKE LOSS. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

I TRAVELED TO HOUSTON FRON NORTH CAROLINA. ON MY WAY BACK MY PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE FELL APART ON I-610. LUCKY FOR ME, I WAS JUST GETTING ON I-610 FROM AN ON RAMP. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE RIGHT . I FOUND THAT MY TIRE HAD JUST TORN APART ON ME. I CALLED FORD EXTENDED SERVICE AND THEY HAD A TOW TRUCK COME IN AND REPLACE THE TIRE WITH MY SPARE. ONCE IN NC, I REPACED ALL MY TIRES FOR FEAR OF A REOCCURANCE OF THE PROBLEM IN MY OTHER TIRES. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, I REPLACED THE TIRES WITH THE SAME NAME BRAND AND TYPE. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TIRES WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION OR I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ANOTHER BRAND. I ESTIMATED THE $300.00 DAMAGE ON THE LOST TIRE, THE QUESTIONABLE CONDITION OF THE MAG RIM, AND THE LOST RIM COVER. I THINK THAT IT IS CRIMINAL THAT FORD AND FIRESTONE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND NOT INFORMED THEIR CUSTOMERS. I HOPE NHTSA DOES EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO CORRECT THIS. I WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS WITH BOTH FIRESTONE AND FORD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN WITHIN A FEW SECONDS . ALSO, STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE WHILE TURNING OR DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

AFTER FEELING VIBRATION IN TRUCK ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT WAS TAKEN TO A WHEEL ALIGNMENT SHOP. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE PART WAS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH FORD. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE REPAIR WAS MADE. *AK *ML

TIRE SEPERATION--- WHILE DRIVING NOTICED A TREMENDOUS VIBRATION--- UPON INSPECTION NOTICED A LARGE "DIP" IN TIRE TREAD, AFTER JACKING UP TRUCK THE DIP WOULD BULGE OUT DURRING ACCELERATION--WAS TOLD BY ASST. MANAGER OF S&S TIRE THAT THE PLY HAD SEPERATED AND THAT I WAS REAL LUCKY TO HAVE MADE IT IN( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 26575R16 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS VIBRATION. HE PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER, AND SAW THAT TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM, RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD TREAD COME OFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #HT, P23570R16, #DOT W20. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE TOLD HIM THAT HIS TIRES WEREN'T THE ONES FROM DECATUR, ILLINOIS. *AK

THE TIRE BLEW OUT.. THE RUBBER PEELING AWAY FROM THE METAL( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE, AND TIRES DIDN'T LOOK GOOD. ALL FOUR TIRES HAS SPIDER CRACKS ALL AROUND SIDEWALL. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS ATX, P2357516. SHE WILL CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK

THERE WAS A SQUEAK, AND FORD CALLED IT A GROAN WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. DEALER SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PITMAN ARM.*AK

DOOR IS CRACKED WHERE WINDOW AND DOOR COMES TOGETHER. *AK

ARE WE DOING ANYTHING ABOUT TIRES BLOWING OUT FOR THESE VEHICLE? ANY WARRANTY CLAIM? THE TIRE IN QUESTION IS A FIRESTONE P235-70R16101045. (CLAIM# 43-R491-464) *MW

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 68 GOING UP A MOUNTAIN AND TOWING A RV, UPON REACHING TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. STARTED SLOWING DOWN, PASSED THE GUARDRAIL, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE JACK KNIFED OUT OF CONTROL. RV IMPACT FORCED TRUCK OFF THE ROAD. SHATTERED THE REAR CAB. WHEN THEY TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER, WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE BEARINGS FAILED DUE TO BEARING SPINS IN THE HOUSING UNIT FREEZING UP. *AK

ENTIRE TREAD/BELT SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHICH DAMAGED THE FENDER AND EXHAUST SYSTEM UPON ITS DEPARTURE FROM THE VEHICLE.( DOT NUMBER: A308443416 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING REAR LEFT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE DUE TO LUGS: NUTS:BOLT S SHEARING OFF. THIS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL FOR THE LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS . HOWEVER, OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION CONTROL INDICATOR LIGHT (TCIL) STARTED BLINKING AT 39940 MILES. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO DRIVE THR TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. A CHECK OF VEHICLE REVEALED INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAS OCURRED ON OTHER FORD TRUCKS. THIS TRUCK'S SUSPENSION HAS NOT BEEN OBUSED IN ANY WAY. I AM ONLY RELIEVED THAT THIS FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING DRIVEN. *AK

LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE OR COOLANT BOTH DOORS STARTING TO CRACK REAR SLIDING WINDOW LEAKING. *JB

CRACK IN DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. FAILURE POINT IS LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF WINDOW, NEAR RUBBER MOLDING. *AK

TREAD SEPARATED, VERY SERIOUS PERMANENT INJUIRES, PERMANENTLY DISABLED, TIRE WAS MOUNTED 1 DAY EARLIER BY PROFESSIONAL INSTALLED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VN11B1A447 TIRESIZE: 245/75R16)

WHILE DRIVING TWO BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE STEERING SHAFT SNAPPED IN HALF, RESULTING IN NO STEERING ABILITY WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK THE SNAPPING OF THE BOLTS DID CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *YH

TIRE HAD A LARGE BUBBLE COME UP ON THE MIDDLE OF THE TREAD. THE STEEL BELTS COULD BE SEEN COMING THROUGH. THE AREA WAS VERY SOFT TO THE TOUCH( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

TIRE BLOWOUT AT 60MPH AT35,358MILEAGE IN NM. 5/08/2000. *AK( DOT NUMBER: CANADA TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

AFTER HEARING ABOUT FORD TRUCKS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR METAL "SPLITTING" ASKED DEALER WHERE TO LOOK? DEALER SHOWED ME THE AREA AND STATED HE HAD NOT SEEN ANY REG. CAB PICKUPS WITH THIS PROBLEM, ONLY EXT. CABS. AFTER LEAVING DEALERSHIP, I DOUBLE CHECKED AREA AND FOUND THAT THE DOOR SKIN ON BOTH DOORS, ARE SPLITTING / TEARING. AFTER FINDING MINE, THIS MAKES APPRX. 35 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I MYSELF HAVE HEARD OF. AFFECTED AREA IS APPRX. 8 - 12 INCHES ABOVE THE DOOR HANDELS.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AT 20 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL DUE TO A TIE ROD END FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON RANDOMLY AND HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT. ALSO, THE WIPER FLUID IS PROJECTED ONTO WINDSHIELD BY ITSELF. LATEST INCIDENT OF THIS SEVERELY AFFECTED BY VISION OF THE ROADWAY AND TRAFFIC DURING HEAVY RUSH HOUR INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE ON SOME OF THE INTERNET NEW GROUPS THIS IS A NOT UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS. *AK

SMALL STRESS CRACK IN DOOR SKIN AT BACK EDGE OF DOOR WINDOW FRAME. *AK

THE 2 MAIN DOORS ON MY TRUCK HAVE A CRACK IN THE METAL AROUND THE LOWER SECTION OF THE WINDOW AREA. THIS CRACK APEARS TO BE CAUSED BY STRESS. I FEEL THAT THIS CRACK WILL CONTINUE TO GROW WHICH WILL WEAKEN THE OVERALL STRENGHT OF THE DOOR. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD AND THEY ARE STATING THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY ME SHUTTING THE DOOR. ALSO THE WILL ONLY COVER 50% OF COST. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR THIS PROBLEM IN OTHE FORD TRUV\CKS OF THIS TIME FRAME AND HAVE NOTICED ABOUT 2-3 OUT OF 4 HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

BOTH INCIDENTS, INVOLVED THE REAR RIGHT HAND TIRE POSITION LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE EXHAUST PIPE EXIT. IN BOTH CASES 90% OF THE TIRE SHREDDED BY ITSELF DOWN TO THE STEEL BELTS. TIRES REMAINED INFLATED IN BOTH CASES. BOTH TIRES HAD LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THEM. (ONE TIRE WAS A NEW REPLACEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE 2ND WAS THE ORIGINAL SPARE). THE 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER 20 MILES HIGHWAY TRAVEL AT 70MPH, HOWEVER THE PREVIOUS DAY THE TRUCK HAD COMPLETED 800 MILES CONTINUOUS HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER 6 HOURS CONTINOUS HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 70MPH. IN BOTH CASES THE INCIDENT BEGAN WITH SEVERE "FELT-LIKE" WHEEL WOBBLE, THEN IMMEDIATE SEVERE JOLTING AND LURCHING OF THE TRUCK ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LANES OUT OF CONTROL. FORTUNATELY NO ACCIDENT OCCURED AND I STOPPED SAFELY. IN THE 2ND INCIDENT THE SHREDDING OF THE TIRE ALSO RIPPED OUT THE EXHAUST BARCKETS, BENT THE EXHAUST PIPE DOWNWARDS (REQUIRED RE-BENDING TO OBTAIN DECENT ROAD CLEARANCE). I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I REPLACED BOTH REAR TIRES WITH NEW FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES AT FORD. I AM NOW DEEPLY WORRIED THAT THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN, AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY I HEAR THERE ARE NOW REPORTS OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES SHEDDING. IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN GENERAL TIRES AND FIRESTONE, BOTH SUPPLIED BY FORD? IS THERE A CONECTION WITH THE EXHAUST EXHITING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE TIRE CAUSING SEVERE OVER HEATING OF THE TIRE? I SHAL BE REPLACING THE EXHAUST WITH A REAR EXIT EXHAUST AT MULLINAX..*AK( DOT NUMBER: A308443276 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

BACK IN MAY WE HAD A FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT DEVELOPED A SPOT ON THE TREAD AND QUICKLY THE STEEL BELTS COULD BE SEEN COMING THROUGH. IT HAD SORT OF A LUMP TO BEGIN WITH. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, WE NOTICED THE OTHER BACK TIRE DOING THE SAME THING. IT HAS ABOUT 44000 MILES ON IT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: UNK TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

THE ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT ENGINE BLOCK COMPONENTS FAILED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING THERES A SKIP IN ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

FRONT TORSION BAR/STABILIZER BAR SNAPPED COMPLETELY IN HALF, FRONT END OF TRUCK DROPPED 1'9". DEALER SAID THIS WAS THE TENTH IN FOR THIS PROBLEM, CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE AND PUT A LOT OF STRESS ANOTHER PARTS.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT ENGAGE. *AK

BRAKES DID NOT GRAB IMMEDIATLY. BRAKES FAILED AT SLOW SPEEDS FOR BOTH ACCIDENTS. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKING IMPROPERLY FOR SOME TIME, HOWEVER WHEN EVER WE TAKE THEM IN THEY TELL US THAT ALL IS FINE. EVEN THE DEALERSHIP. NOW WE'VE BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS WHERE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED US TO REAREND THE OTHER PARTIES. *AK

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERES A RECALL FOR THIS PROPLEM, FOR A NEW TRUCK WITH LOW MILES WHY DID THE TRANSMISSION GO. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD THE RECALL (98V-095) COMPLETED ON THE WHEEL LUG NUTS AND BOLTS, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES OF THE LUG NUTS WHICH SHEARED OFF CAUSING THE WHEELS TO FALL OFF, FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON 4-24-00 AND THE SECOND ON 11-08-00. *MJS