1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

WHEN DRIVING THERE IS SOME SHAKING WITHIN THE WHEELS, AND RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING LUGS: NUTS:BOLTS. THE PARTS ARE NOT IN, AND THE CONSUMER DOESN'T LIKE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DUE TO WAITING FOR THE PARTS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING OTHER COMPONENT FAILURES. YH

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE SENT 15-SEP-98. CONSUMER CONTINUALLY BEING INFORMED THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE OR THEY RAN OUT OF PARTS, AND TO CALL BACK NEXT FRIDAY. STILL NO PARTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CARDBOARD PART THAT DAMPENS THE SOUND (ROAD NOISE) FROM COMING INTO THE CAB, FELL DOWN ON TOP OF THE MUFFLER AND VECHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER STOPPED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. DEALER WILL INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS COMES ON BY THEMSELVES. MANUFACTURER/ DEALER STATED NOT COMMON TO HAVE A SHORT IN SYSTEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

RECALL # 98V095000 FORD/LUG NUTS; SERVICE MANAGER TOLD CONSUMER PARTS ARE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT RECALL. CONSUMER UPSET BECAUSE HE HAS NOT RECEIVED 2ND RECALL NOTICE, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY HE HAS NOT RECEIVED 2ND NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AT 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND THE DOOR AJAR CHIME CONTINUOUSLY CHIMES. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, DON DAVIS FORD 1901 N. COLLINS ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76101 NUMBER 817-461-1000. WE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE TRUCKS PROBLEMS AND THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED TO TELL US THAT THE DOOR CHIME HAD BEEN FIXED BUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTION. WE STATED THAT IF THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER BILLY WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TOWARDS HOME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IN THE TRUCK FAILED HE HAD TO PUSH THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WALK TO GET HELP. WE TOOK THE TRUCK THIS TIME TO ANOTHER FORD DEALER, WESTWAY FORD 801 W AIRPORT FREEWAY IRVING, TEXAS 972-256-5551, THIS DEALERSHIP FOUND THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE BURNT. THE FLUID SMELLED BURNT BUT WAS STILL RED IN COLOR ALSO THEY FOUND METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION FILTER WAS NOT CHANGED OUT AT THE TIME THE "DELUX FLUSH" WAS PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP. HENCE: IF THE FLUSH WAS NECESSARY THEN WHY WOULD`NT THE FILTER CHANGE OUT BE? ACCORDING TO DON DAVIS FORD, FORD RECOMMENDS THE FLUSH BUT NOT THE FILTER TO BE CHANGED AND THEY WERE GOING BY THE MANUFACTURERS SUGGESTIONS. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD BUT THEIR ONLY RESPONSE IS "IF YOU HAD PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW THEN WE WOULD HAVE COVERED THE TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED" . GREAT HUH? AS FAR AS THE DOOR AJAR CHIME WE STILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND IT HAS BECOME A NUSANCE DUE TO THE FACT THAT NO FORD DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIR OR ADVISED US ON HOW TO DISCONNECT THE SILLY CHIME BUZZER. YOUR RESPONSE AND OR COMMENTS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, DEBBIE HOLSOMBACK

BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED AND CAUSED SEVERE SHAKING OF VEHICLE.

HAD CALLED DEALER AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL 98V161000. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON SUSPENSION. WOULD NEED TO ORDER PARTS. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V095000 IN THE MAIL. CALLED DEALER & WAS INFORMED NO LUGS: NUTS AVAILABLE. DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THE LUGS: NUTS WILL BE IN FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 98V095000, MANUFACTURER'S RECALL98S14; DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE LUGS:NUTS DUE TO THE CONSUMER PURCHASING NEW TIRES AT A TIRE SHOP. TIRE SHOP REPLACED TIRES, AND TIRES SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THE TIRE SHOP DID NOT TIGHTEN THE LUGS: NUTS, AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THEM. *AK

RECALL 98V161000. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE PROPER REPLACEMENT MATERIALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WIPERS TO OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, PROBLEM WITH THE OIL STICK. IT SEEMS TO BE CRACKING OR FALLING APART, WHICH MAY CAUSE BY SOME TYPE OF METAL RUBBING AGAINST THE OIL STICK. CAUSES UNKNOWN. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW F-150 XL IN AUGUST 1997 WITH FACTORY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRES. THE ORIGINAL SET LASTED 1 YEAR UNTIL I HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE REAR, DRIVER-SIDE TIRE. THERE WAS A COMPLETE TIRE SEPARATION DOWN TO THE RIM WITHIN SECONDS (10). I BROUGHT THE TIRE TO DISCOUNT TIRE IN LAKE CHARLES,LA TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH THE MATCHING TIRE. THE NEW TIRE WAS PLACED IN THE SAME LOCATION AND BECAUSE THE THREE OTHER TIRES STILL ONLY HAD ~15,000 MILES, NO ROTATION WAS PERFORMED. APRROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER, WITH ONLY 3000 MILES OF TREAD WEAR, I HAD A REMARKABLY SIMILAR BLOW-OUT AND TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH, JUST DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IN A CAREFUL, STRAIGHT DIRECTION. I RETURNED TO DISCOUNT TIRE AND EXPLAINED THAT I HAD JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED THE TIRES AND THAT I BELIEVED THE TIRES MUST BE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THIS WAS MY SECOND COMPLETE TIRE SEPARATION ON THE SAME LOCATION OF MY VEHICLE UNDER NON-EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS. I INQUIRED AS TO WHETHER IT COULD BE A DEFECT IN THE TIRE OR THE VEHICLE. HE REASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS AN IMPOSSIBILITY. MY SECOND BLOW-OUT WITHIN 1 MONTH WAS ONLY A COINCIDENCE. I HAD TO PAY THE NOMINAL TREAD-WEAR FEE AND THE MOUNTING FEE. LESS THAN ABOUT 6000 MILES LATER, I HAD A BLOWOUT AT THE EXACT SAME TIRE WELL (RIGHT REAR). THE MANAGER ONCE AGAIN CONVINCED ME THAT I MUST BE RUNNING OVER DEBRIS ON THE INTERSTATE, EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALWAYS IN THE SLOW LANE AND NOT VEERING WITH MY RIGHT TIRE ONTO EITHER SHOULDER. THE MANAGER ONCE AGAIN CONVINCED ME THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF THREE DEFECTIVE TIRES WAS NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE (ALTHOUGH, THIS TIME, HE REPLACE AND MOUNTED MY TIRE FOR FREE). TO SHORTEN MY STORY, AFTER MANY FUTILE ATTEMPTS AND ABOUT TEN HOURS OF WAITING AT THIS INCOMPETENT STORE, OVER THREE VISITS, THEY REPLACED MY TIRE FOR FREE WITH A WILDERNESS AT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE LOCATION AND I LEFT IT AT THAT. THE WILDERNESS AT NEVER BLEW OUT FROM 30,000 TO 45,000 MILES WHILE I STILL OWNED MY TRUCK. *AK

PE00-020; TIRES SIZE 23570R16, DOTW2, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, FORD, F150 1997. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH, SIDEWALL WAS VERY THIN, FORD'S OPINION WAS THAT THOSE TIRES WERE NOT INTENDED FOR TRUCKS, BUT FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. *AK TIRES WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL, KNOCKING OUT INSULATION AND COMPUTER, SECOND TIME CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PAINT JOB, THIRD TIME NOTICE VIBRATION AND THEN DISCOVERED TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, STRUCK TWO VEHICLES. VEHICLE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

RECALL 98V095000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL98S14, LUGS:NUTS:BOLTS; RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED IN JULY, AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE THEN. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED NUMEROUS TIMES. APPOINTMENTS SET UP BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE PARTS WERE IN. THE DEALER CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE NO PARTS. *AK

THE EDGES OF THE 4 U CHANNELS ON THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER CUTS INTO THE SIDEWALL OF TIRE. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

LUGS: NUTS ON WHEELS WOULD BREAK OFF WHENEVER TIRES HAVE TO BE ALIGNED OR BRAKES REPAIRED. MECHANIC SAYS HAPPENS EVERY TIME ON F150. *AK

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION PLANETARY GEAR SHATTERED CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP.

DRIVESHAFT KEEPS BREAKING. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALL; FORD/LUG NUTS. CONSUMER BEEN WAITING SINCE THE ABOVE DATE, AND DEALER KEEPS INFORMING CONSUMER NO PARTS HAVE RECEIVED. *AK

CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT HIGH ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED OR REPRODUCED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH , STEPPED ON BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED, PAVEMENT WAS DRY. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS OR PENDING INVESTIGATIONS. *AK *SLC

WHEN TRUCK WAS REARENDED, THE DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS AUTOMATICALLY RECLINED ABOUT 3/4 QUARTERS. THE SEATS WERE NOT BROKEN. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK *ML

OIL PAN IS RUSTING THROUGH.

BRAKES NOT EFFECTIVE UNDER MODERATE HARD BRAKING. THEY MAKE A CLACKING NOISE. SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ABS IS NOT ALLOWING THE CALIPERS, SHOES AND PADS TO WORK AS ONE UNIT.

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP, AND HAD NO STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY, AND CAUSED 2 FRONTAL CRASHES. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOUND OUT THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATING ON THE SIDE WHERE CONSUMER REPLACED THEM. *AK

WHILE THESE ARE 16" TIRES AND H/T'S THEY FAILED MUCH LIKE THE STORIES ABOUT THE TIRES ON THE FORD EXPLORER. WE WERE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH OR MORE WHEN THE LF FRONT TIRE THREAD SUDDENLY RIPPED OFF AND THEN THE TIRE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ROAD WAS STRAIGHT, TRAFFIC LIGHT SO WE MADE IT TO THE SIDE SAFELY. THE FIRESTONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT HAD TO BE A ROAD HAZARD. AND THAT THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE FAULT OF THE TIRE. I HAD TO SHELL OUT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRE AND HE SOLD ME ROAD HAZARD INSURANCE ON ALL OF THEM TIRES. I BET THERE ARE ALOT OF OTHER FOLKS LIKE ME WHO TRUSTED THEIR DEALER AND DID NOT FILE ANY COMPLAINTS!! FORD EXPLORERS( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATLEY 55 MPH CONSUMER HIT COW WITH LEFT FRONT SIDE ,DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES P235/70R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, DOT BM089434, CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE WHO SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *SLC

THE FORWARD PARKING BREAK CABLE SNAPPED.

THE ENGINE ALWAYS MADE A LOT OF NOISE DURING INITIAL STARTUP. CONTACTED SEVERAL DEALERS DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD WHO DECLARED THIS AS "NORMAL". NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF STANDARD WARRANTY, THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THERE IS "MAJOR LOWER END PROBLEMS" THAT CAN ONLY BE ESTIMATED BY AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN. FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING IN SPITE OF A) THIS BEING REPORTED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE DEALERS NOT DOING ANYTHING AND B) THIS PROBLEM NOT NORMAL FOR AVEHICLE WITH THESE FEW MILES. A ENGINE SHOULD LAST SEVERAL TIMES THIS LONG WITH NORMAL MAINTENANCE.

CENTER CONSOLE/ARM HOLDER/CUP HOLDER DOES NOT LOCK IN DOWN POSITION WHICH CAUSES ANY DRINK WHICH MIGHT BE IN THE CUPHOLDER TO BE THROWN INTO THE BACK SEAT WITH MINIMAL EFFORT. ALSO, WHILE CLIMBING INTO THE TRUCK VIA THE 3RD DOOR IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS ARMREST TO BE USED AS A HAND HOLD WHICH AT A CRITICAL MOMENT GIVES WAY, AND CAUSES A PERSON ENTERING THE CAB TO FALL IN BETWEEN THE SEATS.

WHILE DRIVING AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHICH DETERMINES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES AND REPLACED AIRBAG SENSOR. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILS CONTINUALLY CAUSING POWER HESITATION.

THROTTLE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. INCIDENT OCCURRED FIVE TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE CHIP AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

CONSUMER 98V161000 REPAIRS WERE DONE BY DEALER. AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE DEALER INSTALLED CLIP ON FORWARD END OF REAR SPRINGS. CONSUMER STATED APPARENTLY DEALER DID NOT REPLACE SPRINGS ON VEHICLE BECAUSE SPRINGS BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HE DID WHAT RECALL REQUIRED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE LUGS: NUTS:BOLTS, RECALL#98S14. THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH TREAD PULLED AWAY FROM BODY OF THE TIRE ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 97, FORD, F150. TIRE MILEAGE BETWEEN 15,000 - 17,000 MILES. OWNER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND. PLEASE LIST TIRE SIZE AND DOT # IF POSSBILE.*AK WHEN THE OTHER TIRES WERE REPLACED, THEY DESCOVERED THAT THE OTHERS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF SEPARATION. *YH

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE VIBRATES AND MAKES SOME NOISE. *AK

MFR. RECALL NOTICE 98S-14, CONCERNING LUG NUTS. HAD STATED SECOND NOTICE WILL BE RECEIVED AROUND THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, AND STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN RECEIVED AT THIS TIME. BUT LEARNED FROM DEALER IN CONSUMER'S LOCATION, THAT THE LUGS: NUTS ARE IN. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY IS THE MANUFACTURER NOT HONORING THE RECALL AS STATED IN RECALL NOTICE. COULD YOUR AGENCY HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM?*AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND HIT A VEHICLE HEAD ON, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES. *AK

POLICE PULLED VEHICLE OVER BECAUSE IT HAD NO BACK TAIL LIGHTS VISIBLE AT NIGHT. ALSO, HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED WILL HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. MIGHT BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALLS 98S-14 AND 98S-18, CONCERNING LUG: NUTS AND REAR LEAF SPRINGS. CONSEQUENCE DEFECTS: CAN RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WOULD CONTACT THEM WHEN THEY CAN BE AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK.*AK

THERE IS GRASS/WHEAT AND WEEDS THAT PACK IN TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CROSSOVER, CATCHES ON FIRE. THE SPARKS IN THE FIELD, CAUSING THE FIELD TO CATCH ON FIRE. TUCKER FORD HAD TRIED TO CONTACT FORD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK