1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, STARTER WILL MAKE NOISE AS IF STARTING CAR WHEN ALREADY RUNNING. DEALER CONTACTED ,AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. *AK

IM NOT HAPPY WITH DOORS CRACKING AND PAINT CRACKING I GET NO HELP CAUSE IM"OUT OF WARRANTY". *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 TO 45MPH THERE IS SHAKING COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TORSION BAR TO BREAK ON THIS VEHICLE. THE LEFT FRONT BAR BROKE PREVIOUSLY WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AT HOME. THIS HAPPENED THE SPRING/SUMMER OF 1998. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS SAID THIS WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS IF IT HAPPENED AT REGULAR SPEED ON A HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE. I WILL GET THE DETAILED INFORMATION AND FILE A SECOND REPORT WHEN THE BUSINESS IS OPEN TOMORROW. THE 3/6/99 TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE I WAS HUNTING AND DRIVING MINIMUM SPEED.

NO SUMMARY

HAD FOOT ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE ON AN INCLINE. IF FOOT IS REMOVED OFF ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK AFTER BEING APPLIED AGAIN. *AK

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. FEELS LIKE GOING OVER SPEED BUMP. HAD CALLED DEALER & WAS INFORMED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED OUT. *AK

NO SUMMARY

TRAVELING ON I-95 AT 55MPH WHEN TIRE BLEW OUT. HAPPENED TWO TIMES ON DIFFERENT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/70R16 )

FRONT DOORS DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE CRACKS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE DOOR

A COUPLING BROKE ON THE STEERING ROD CAUSING A COLLISION ,WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MJS

CHECK ENGINE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIP KILLMAN FORD IN TYSON'S CORNERS, VA. THEY PERFORMED AN ENGINE DIAGNOSIS TEST THEN REPLACED 2 HEGO SENSORS (TOTAL COST $269). PROBLEM SURFACED AGAIN 6 DAYS LATER AFTER ONLY HAVING THE VEHICLE 6 DAYS. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO KIP KILLMAN TO GIVE THEM ANOTHER TRY AT PRACTICING FORD TRUCK REPAIRMANSHIP.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH CONSUMER HIT A VEHICLE THAT HAD JUMPED IN FRONT UNEXPECTEDLY ,DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING NECK/CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT WHICH INVOLVED AN IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

VIBRATION INVEHICLE WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR.

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V095000 & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & HAD LUGS: NUTS REPLACED. DURING THE REPLACEMENT, THE "O" RINGS WERE REMOVED. THEY SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED. *AK

CLUTCH SLAVE ASSEMBLY CAN START LEAKING AT ANY TIME, RENDERING CLUTCH USELESS, CAUSING STALLING, AND LUNGING AT A STOP. FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE PART, MEANING THE ORIGINAL HAS A FLAW. (TECH BULLETIN # BC2301970501,) BUT SAFETY WARRANTS A RECALL. *AK

EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO WAL MART TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. MECHANIC COULD NOT USE SPARE TIRE DUE TO DAMAGE FROM STORAGE OF CROSS BOARD SUPPORTS. TIRE HAD SEVERE INDENTATIONS. GOOD YEAR PS235/704X16 SL BSW. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED TRW RECALLS FROM THE MANUFACTURER . HE HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. AK

NO SUMMARY

MANY OTHER TRUCKS HAVE THIS SAME CRACK, SOME ON BOTH DOORS

I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE AT ABOUT 2-5 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS TILTING NOTICEABLY TOWARD THE RIGHT OR PASSENGER SIDE. I INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR HAD SNAPPED IN TWO, AND WAS HANGING DOWN. TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY MINUS 7 DEGREES F. WHICH WAS THE LOW FOR THE OVERNIGHT. I HAVE NOTED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHERS AT THE NHTSC SITE AS WELL AS SOME FORD INTERNET BBS SITES. I ALSO NOTED THAT AN INVESTIGATION WAS INITIATED BY NHTSC BUT HAS BEEN CLOSED ALREADY, I WOULD SUGGEST PERHAPS PREMATURELY SINCE FAILURES ARE OBVIOUSLY STILL OCCURRING. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO CONSUMERS BY FORD MOTOR CO. OF THIS PROBLEM OR SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION TO TAKE IF FAILURE OCCURS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 65 MPH. *AK

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. JUST PRIOR I THOUGHT I HEARD THE STARTER BUT LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SAW NO ONE IN THE TRUCK. SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRE STARTED. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR 24 HOURS.

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30-45MPH VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. BEEN BACK & FORTH TO DEALER FOR 13 DAYS & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF VIBRATION. MECHANIC CHANGED MOTOR MOUNTS, ROTORS & BALANCED TIRES. VIBRATION STILL EXISTS.

THE TORSION BAR FAILURE WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. I HAVE HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHERS REPORTED TO MY DEALER, AND HAVE FOUND A NUMBER OF OTHERS ON THE WEB. I FOUND THE FAILURE UNUSUAL SINCE I DO NOT USE THE TRUCK OFF-ROAD, IT IS DRIVEN LIKE A CAR. ALSO, I HAVE NEVER HAD OR HEARD OF SPRING OR TORSION BAR FAILURES LIKE THIS. I SUSPECT EITHER FAULTY MATERIAL OR A DESIGN PROBLEM. HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY CONSIDERABLE SPEED, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN ALOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH NOTHING SUPPORTING HALF THE FRONT END. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATION OF LOWER LEAF FROM UPPER PART OF SPRING. PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BY REPLACING BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THE PART THAT FAILED APPEARS TO BE A SHEAR PIN THAT LOCATES AND MANTAINS THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LEAF SPRING LAYERS. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE INNER TIE ROD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TIE ROD HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES TREMEDOUSLY, SHAKES, WHEN SITTING STILL MOSTLY, AND DEALERSHIP/MFR. HAS NO REMEDY. NEW BRAKES AND SHOCKS WERE PUT ON TRYING

WHEN ACCELERATING TO TAKE OFF TRUCK JERKS AND CAUSES CONSUMER TO GO SIDEWAYS. MECHANIC SAID THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR END. *AK

TAIL PIPE IS IN FRONT OF THE BACK WHEEL EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH IS MAKING THE WHEELS HOT. *AK

BACKING OUT OF LOT, TORSION BAR SNAPPED ON RIGHT FRONT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT REGULAR SPEEDS, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AS WELL AS INJURIES WOULD HAVE RESULTED. DEALER REPAIRED BUT FORD REFUSED TO PAY DUE TO OVER WARRANTY MILEAGE. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT AND MUST BE CHECKED TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM INJURY.

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 TO 30 MPH ON ICY ROADS UPHILL THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECTADLY. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BY ITSELF. I STOMPED THE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT DECELERATE. I DID NOT TOUCH THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE ICY CONDITIONS. I WAS ALREADY OUT OF CONTROL SO I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND TRIED TO RECOVER THE TRUCK. NO RECOVERY WAS POSSIBLE AND A ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE TRUCK ROLLING OVER OCCURED. THANKFULLY I WAS THE ONLY PERSON INVOLVED OR HURT.

THIS 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 1996 WITH 6,000 MILES FROM NATIONAL AUTO SALES. IN MAY 1999 WE NOTICED THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK WAS CHIPPING AWAY. THE PAINT IS GONE AND THE GRAY PRIMER IS NOW SHOWING IN AN 18 INCH AREA. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR FORD DEALER (HOLMES TUTTLE FORD) AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE TECHNICIAN HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS CALLED "CRAZING". HOWEVER, DUE TO THE MILEAGE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND WERE TOLD THE SAME THING, IT WAS OUT OF WARRAMTY AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN COVERED PARKING AND IS ONLY DRIVEN ABOUIT THREE TIMES A WEEK. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION OR SOMETIMES DONOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND AND INFORMED CONSUMER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING. THE ENTIRE REAR WAS MAKING HIGH PITCH NOISES. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPLACED REAR END & ROTATED TIRES. *AK

AFTER BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY TORSION BAR BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIRS AT CONSUMER'S COST. ALSO, PARTS ARE ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE SOME HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC OPERATION OF RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND STOP LIGHT; WHENEVER STEERING COLUMN TILT WHEEL IS IN AN UPRIGHT POSTION, THE TURN SIGNAL AND STOP LIGHT WOULD WORK PROPERLY. IF STEERING WHEEL IS MOVE BELOW NORMAL POSTION , THE RIGHT SIDE TURN SIGNAL & STOP LIGHT WILL NOT OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. REPORTING AND SEEKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM; VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS IN WHICH ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED ON DURING REPAIRS, CONSUMER BELIEVED WARPED ROTORS CAUSED VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE BEING USED. ASKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WITH THE SWITCH ON/OFF WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER WOULD INTERMITTENTLY OPERATE. ALSO, DOOR AJAR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL THE FLOOR MATS WILL CURL UP AND GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PEDALS. CONTACTED THE DEALER.*AK

REAR BACK GLASS LEAKS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. EVERYTIME SHE WASHES VEHICLE WATER COMES IN THOUGH THE WINDOW.*AK

THERE IS A CRACK DEVELOPING ON LOWER CORNER OF DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS/PHOTOGRAPHS.*AK

DOOR IS CRACKING AND PROGRESSING EVERY DAY I USE THE VEHICLE. SOON, IT WILL RESULT IN INJURY TO PASSENGER OR OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO LOOK AT VEHICEL AND FOLLOW FORD'S SUGGESTED RESOLVE ON THIS ISSUE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A RECALL ON THE REAR LEAF SPRING CLIP TO PREVENT LEAF SPRING FROM PUNCTURING TANK. CONSUMER STATES FEELS THAT RECALL WAS NOT PROPERLY CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A DEAD STOP SUDDENLY IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE SLAMMED FOOT ON ACCELERATER. VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT WANTS TO TAKE OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THROTTLE CABLE STICKS IN WIDE OPEN POSITON, CAUSING A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL. DRIVER ABLE TO USE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. DEALER NOT CONTACTED YET. *AK *ML

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL, RECALL 98V095000. DEALER HAS INFORMED OWNER THAT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE & DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE COMING IN. WILL CALL WHEN THEY HAVE ARRIVED. *AK

WHEN THE REAR SLIDING WINDOW IS CLOSED, WATER/RAIN WOULD LEAK THROUGH THE OPENING AREA. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK