1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CARGO LIGHTS AND COURTESY LIGHTS REMAINING ON INTERMITTENTLY OR STAYING ON FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE, ALSO, IGNITION SWITCH ALARM REMAINS ON EVEN AFTER VEHICLE STARTED. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFOMRED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND REPAIRS WOULD ONLY BE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK THE CARGO AND INTERIOR LIGHT STAYED ON DRAINING THE BATTERY. *YH

WHILE CROSSING A BRIDGE ANOTHER DRIVER'S BOAT STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO THE BOAT, AT ABOUT 30-40MPH ,AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE CROSSING A BRIDGE A BOAT HAD STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD. COSUMER HIT BOAT AT ABOUT 35 - 40 MPH, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

I AM A MEMBER OF A MAILING LIST ON HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM & THERE ARE ABOUT 2000+ MEMBERS ON THIS LIST. I AM AN ACTIVE DAILY MEMBER & SO FAR I HAVE ABOUT 50 EMAILS/PEOPLE COMPILED THAT HAVE THESE CRACKS DEVELOPING. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MFG. DEFECT. I ALSO WAS AT COVER FORD IN AUSTIN TX. ON SAT. HAVING WARR. WORK DONE & 11 OF THE F-150'S ON THE USED LOT HAD CRACKED DOORS ALSO. FROM 97-99 MODELS ! THE SERVICE MGR. SAID WHAT I EXPECTED, "NEVER HEARD/SEEN THAT BEFORE". WE ARE GETTING "NO HELP FROM FORD" ON THIS. JUST THAT TYPICAL COMPUTER GENERATED REPLY. HERE IS THE ADDRESS OF A SITE THAT SHOWS THE EXACT CRACK THAT WE ALL ARE GETTING. THIS CAN BE A STRUCTURAL SAFETY ISSUE IF IT GETS ALOT WORSE. PLEASE HELP US... HTTP://ARROWARANCH.COM/TRUCK/CRACK.HTML THANK YOU, WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR REPLY. SEAN STEELE

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKES WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE ABS SYSTEM LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF DEFROSTER. PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND PUT OF THE FIRE. *AK

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLOWS FUSES, WHEN THIS HAPPENS SPEED IS NOT KNOWN AND BRAKE/ABS,TEMP.,FUEL,WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALL DEAD. CHECKING INTERNET CHAT GROUPS INDICATES THIS IS NOT UNCOMON AND IS CAUSED BY A BARE WIRE EXPOSED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. REPLACING FUSE ONLY LAST TILL COLUMN IS MOVED IN THE POSITION TO CAUSE IT TO BLOW AGAIN.

NO SUMMARY

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE CRACKING ON WINDOW BEZEL JUST ABOVE LOWER REAR CORNER OF WINDOWS. POTENTIAL FOR STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF PASSENGER SAFETY CAGE DURING COLLISION. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. REDESIGNED DOORS FOR '99 MODEL YEAR. WILL REPLACE DOORS ON VEHICLES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN ERROR.

THE BAD DOOR SWITCH CAUSES THE DOME LIGHT AND BED LIGHT TO STAY ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHES ABOUT 20 MPH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN BACKING UP AT NIGHT. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF SIMILAR TRUCKS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DON'T WORK,THEY LOCKUP AND SKID.WIPER ARMS AND WIPERS LIFT OFF WINDSHIELD AT 55 MPH. OR FASTER. *AK

ONE-HALF INCH STRESS CRACK ON DRIVER'S DOOR ON LOWER-REAR WINDOW AREA. PAINT IS PEELING AND RUST FORMING.

I WAS TOLD OF A DOOR CRACKING PROBLEM, I ASKED THE LOCAL SERVICE REP ABOUT IT, HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A CRACKING PROBLEM AND THAT FORD WAS FIXING THOSE VEHICLES WITHIN WARRANTY, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DECIDED ON A FIX FOR OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLES. IF THE DOORS ARE WEAK ENOUGH TO CRACK FORM ROUTINE DRIVING, ARE THEY STRONG ENOUGH FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION? ESPECIALLY IF BOTH DOORS ARE CRACKED AND FORM THE EVIDENCE OF RUSTING, AT LEAST FOR SOME TIME..

THE RIGHT WHEEL SEPARATED DUE TO ALL THE LUGS BREAKING, THE WHEEL FELL OFF IN TRAFFIC AT A LOW SPEED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY PREVIOUS OWNER THAT THE RECALL 98V-095 WAS COMPLETED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. NLM

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT. NO APPARENT CAUSE, AND NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF COMPONENT FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS

I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTABLE TO HAVE THIS FIXED. IT IS A HAZARD BECAUSE MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK HALF THE TIME,AND WHEN THEY DO NOT WORK, THE WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN SO THEREFORE I CAN NOT SEE WHEN IT RAINS. THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE DEDUCTABLE.

MY GAS PEDAL STUCK. I HAD JUST QUIT USING MY CRUISE CONTROL AS I APPROACHED A JUNCTION AT THE FREEWAY. THEN ROUNDED THE BEND, MY TRUCK JUST SPED UP. I TAPPED THE BRAKES TO MAKE SURE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISINGAGED. THE TRUCK SURGED FORWARD AGAIN, ALTHOUGH THIS TIME IT REALLY TOOK OFF LIKE I HAD MASHED THE GAS PEDAL FULL FORCE. LUCKILY ENOUGH I WAS ON A FREEWAY AND NOT IN A NORMAL NEIGHBORHOOD. BY SHEER DETERMINATION, TWO GOOD LEGS, LOW TRAFFIC, AND GOD, I STOPPED THAT TRUCK. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY TRUCK. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT SHOULD BE FIXED.

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COMMENCE OPERATING WITHOUT ANY ACTION BY THE DRIVER. *YC

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHENEVER VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF THREE DIFFERENT DEALER SHOPS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

REAR SPRING LEAF BROKE AFTER RECALL REPAIR CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO SHRED . (98V-161) NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W208IPT376 TIRESIZE: P235/70RX1)

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEM AND WAS UNABLE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE DUE TO STABILIZER FAILURE. NLM

THE WINSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN OFF. ALSO, THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED (I HAVE A WITNESS), THE WASHER WAS ALSO CONTINOUSLY SPRAYING FLUID EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING WAS OFF.

INITIAL FAILURE- ENGINE CRANKS, BUT WOULDN'T START. LOCAL DEALERSHJIP REPLACED PCM TWICE, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, TRANS SHIFT SOLENOID, TIMING COVER GASKET, RADIATOR.. WHEN VEHICLE RETURN TO CUSTOMER, IT STILL WAS NOT RUNNING PROPE

VEHICLE'S FRAME FAILED CAUSING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS AND NOISE. MJS

NO SUMMARY

WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE THEY WOULD GO ON & OFF ON THEIR OWN. SOMETIMES HAVE TO HIT WIPERS TO GET THEM GOING AGAIN. SOMETIMES NOT RAINING WHEN THIS HAPPENS. CAUSES HAVOC WITH DRIVING. *AK

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE MULTISWITCH TWICE NOW. I AM NOW ON THE THIRD ONE ALREADY. AS FAR AS THE FRONT WHEEL HUBS, THE CLEARANCE IS INSUFFICIENT TO ALLOW FOR NORMAL CORROSION. ANY FRONT BRAKE JOB REQUIRES THAT THE HUBS ALSO BE REPLACED AS THEY ARE DAMAGED WHEN REMOVED. ALL OF MY WORK WAS DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP.

WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN OFF MODE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE COLLISION . NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. *AK

NO SUMMARY

INITIAL TIRE SEPERATED AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL ON HWY BETWEEN FT. STOKETON, TX AND CARLSBAD, NM. REPLACED WITH SPARE. TWO TIRES PARTIAL SEPERATED ON OR SHORTLY AFTER TRIP BACK TO SAN ANTONIO. ALL FIVE TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: OEM )

ONE TIRE DELAMINATED AT HIGH SPEED. FILED CLAIM WITH FIRESRTONE FOR REPLACING TIRE & REPAIR OF TRCK DAMAGE. THEY DID SO UNDER FIRESTONE INCIDENT #018399. WHILE CLAIM BENG PROCESSED, ABOUT A WEEK LATER WE NOTICED TWO MORE TIRES WITH METAL WIRES POKING THRU SIDES OF TREAD. TOK TRUCK TO IRESTONE STORE TUCSON, AZ. EMPLYEE AWARE OF MY PRIOR CLAIM, AND AT THAT POINT HE RELACED 3 MORE TIRES (THE 2 WITH METAL SHOWING + OTHER ONE THEN IN USE. WE HAD NO INJURY, I GOT NO HASSLE FROM FIRESTONE. ONLY RECENTLY WAS I AWARE OF EXTENT OF FIRESTONE TIRE PROBLEMS. THE POINT OF MY REPORT IS TO ALERT YOU THAT SIXTEEN " TIRES, (WE HAD P235/70RX16SL TIRES) ARE ALSO A PROBLEM. I RECETLY REPORTED THIS TO FORD MOTORS. REPLY FROM THEM WAS GENERAL IN NATURE, BUT THEY TOLD ME TO BE SURE TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. I MAINTAIN THESE TIRES AS I HAVE OTHER IN THE 50 YEARS I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES AND NEVER BEFORE HAVE I EXPERIENCED A TIRE DELAIMNATION AS WE DID WITH THESE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES. A CONCERN WE NOW HAVE IS THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH OTHER WLDERNESS "HT" TIRES.EE.( DOT NUMBER: )

STEEL REINFORCEMENT PLYS DELAMINATE CAUSING OUT OF ROUND CONDITION AND REMOVES TREAD FROM THE ROLLING AND SIDEWALL SURFACES. WHEN THE TREAD DEPARTS THE TIRE AN EXTREME UNBALANCED CONDITION CAUSES SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE TRUCK FRAME UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70R16 )

DOORS HAVE STRESS CRACKS AT THE LOWER RIGHT SIDES DEALER REPAIRED ONCE, BUT CRACKED BEFORE I PICKED IT UP,EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING CAR AND DISCOLORING R-RR WHEEL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH INNER TIE ROD CAME OFF, AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE TRYING TO COMING OFF. *AK

STEERING PROBLEMS; WHEN TURNING RIGHT 10MPH HEARD A NOISE.TURNED STEERING TO RIGHT AND LEFT, WHEEL DIDN'T RESPOND.*AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S WINDOWS CRACKED ALONG THE EDGES, CAUSING INJURIES. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

PAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF OF CAB IS BLISTERING, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A THREE YEAR OLD TRUCK. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WATER POURS IN THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW EVERYTIME IT RAINS. DEALER PUT SOME KIND OF SEALANT AROUND THE WINDOW, WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

NOTICED BROKEN SPRINGS 10/17/2001 RIGHT SIDE SPRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST TIRE VERY LOW SPEED 10 MPH OR LESS. *AK

ONE WEEK AFTER REPAIR WERE DONE SAME PROBLEM AROSE. NO SAFETY DEFECT INDICATED. *AK

EXTERIOR DOOR SHEET METAL IS CRACKING AT LOWER REAR EDGE OF WINDOW.

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WTH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGING WITHOUT TURNING IT ON. ALSO, HORN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL CONCERNING SPEED CONTROL . CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

WHEEL CYLINDERS LEAKED ON REAR,BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATES,TAILGATE CLIPS BROKEN SO YOU CANNOT OPEN

A CRACK HAS STARTED IN THE EXTERIOR SKIN OF THE DOOR AT THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE WINDOW OPENING (LOOKING AT IT FROM OUTSIDE THE TRUCK). THE CRACK IS CURRENTLY ABOUT 3/8" LONG AND FIRST APPEARED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE LOOKED AT DOZENS OF '97 AND '98 F150'S AND ALMOST ALL HAVE HAD A CRACK IN EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION AS MINE. SOME WERE MUCH LONGER. OTHERS ALSO HAD THIS CRACK IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AS WELL.

TRAILER WIRING HARNESS PLUG SHORTED, THE VEHICLE WAS WITHIN 3 YEAR WARRANTY BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT PURCHASE IT AT THAT LOCATION. NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

SIDEWALL SEPERATION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1,000 MILES. PURCHASED FROM MOBILE/FIRESTONE; US2 SERVICE CENTER; 1301 E CLOVERLAND DRIVE; IRONWOOD, MI 49938 (906-932-0700). TIRE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R16 )

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 55-65 MPH IN A HEAVY RAIN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY QUIT PULLING. IT WAS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WERE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. BY TURNING THE OVERDRIVE OFF I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME IN SECOND GEAR. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO SATCHER MOTORS FOR REPAIR. THEY REPORTED THAT THE THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS HAD WENT OUT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER PULLED A BOAT OR TRAILER AND HAS NEVER HAULED ANY HEAVY LOADS. THIS WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD AND TALKED TO THEM TWICE BUT THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $1322.80. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT, AS I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING TROUBLE WITH FORD TRANSMISSIONS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS AT THEIR EXPENCE. *AK

TAILGATE FELL OFF WHEN IT WAS BEING OPENED. TAILGATE FELL ON THE DRIVER'S FOOT. WENT FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT. NO BROKEN BONES. *AK