1997 Ford F-150 Visibility & Wipers Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ENGAGED. AS HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WINDOWS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 240,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN A RAINSTORM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER THE RAIN STOPPED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REINSTALLED THE GEM MODULE, AS WELL AS INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. THE WIPERS FAILED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEM MODULE HE INSTALLED FROM FORD WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, INCLUDING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MECHANIC CANNOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND DETERMINE IF THE AIR BAGS WORK. PRIOR TO THE GEM MODULE FAILURE, SEVERAL COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. AT 30,000 MILES, THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

HEATER MALFUNCTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WATER LEAK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD OR A FIREWALL THAT CAUSED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSE BOX OR THE GEM MODULE. THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING THE RAIN. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RPM, THE FUSE BOX WOULD SHORT OUT. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 3/5/09 *CN THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED AND NO LONGER LEAKS. AN IMPROPER SEAL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LEAKAGE. UPDATED 03/10/09. *JB

BACK WINDOW LEAKS, PLASTIC FRAME THAT HOLDS GLASS ONTO CAB BRAKES WITH TIME. VARIOUS GLASS COMPANIES HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COMMON THING WITH THE 97-2000 FORD F-150'S IT'S NOT THE RUBBER NOR A WEATHER STRIP IT'S THE PLASTIC FRAME THAT BRAKES WITH TIME. *TR

HVAC BLEND DOOR FAILURE, CAN NOT HEAT/AIR CONDITION OR DEFROST CAB. *TR

REAR SLIDING GLASS WINDOW LEAKING IN THE INSIDE TOP LEFT SECTION. TAKEN TO FORD DEALER WHO IN TURN SUBCONTRACTS OUT TO A LEAK SPECIALIST. I WAS INFORM BY THE SERVICE DESK THAT HE INFORM THEM THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE REAR WINDOW AT A COST ESTIMATE OF A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS. I IN TURN CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND OF COURSE MY VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 82,000 MILES. I WAS INFORMED BY FORD MOTOR CO. THAT THE DEALERS ARE FRANCHISED AND WHAT EVER POLICY THEY HAVE IN PLACE FORD CO. CAN'T CONTROL. *AK

REAR WINDOW OF 1997 F150 LEAKS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDOW, AND NEW UNIT LEAKS. PROBLEM SEEMS TO EXIST IN 1997-2003 F150'S.*AK

1/28/03 - HEATER CORE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. 11/29/03 - HEATER CORE FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED. FORD DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR ANOTHER CORE BUT I DID HAVE TO PAY AGION FOR THE LABOR, $400.00. THIS PART SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 11 MONTHS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A STRONG ANTI FREEZE ODOR, AND THE WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS NO LONGER WORKING.*AK

THE TOP OF THE BACK WINDOW LEAKS, CAUSING WATER TO DRIP INTO THE CAB OF VEHICLE. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE WINDOW AND THE TRACK NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

REAR WINDOW LEAKS WATER AROUND WINDOW SEAL.*AK

HOOD POPS UNLOCKED WHILE DRIVING.SEAT BELTS ON FRONT SEATS DO NOT RETRACT FULLY WHEN UNBUCKLED, HANG ON FLOOR BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR. UPON OPENING OF DOOR, THE LOOSE BELT LOOP FALLS PAST THE DOOR SEAL AREA AND UPON DOOR CLOSURE BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN DOOR AND JAMB. WHEN VEHICLE RE-ENTRY IS MADE BY DRIVER OR PASSENGER, AND BELT IS PUT ON, A FALSE TENSION IS ACHIEVED BY DOOR JAMB SEAL. THIS LEAVES UP TO 10 TO 14 INCHES OF LOOSE BELT THAT FEELS LIKE IT IS ACTUALLY TENSIONED AS TO PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. THIS LOOSE BELT SLACK CONTINUES AS THE BELT EXTENDS AND RETRACTS IN NORMAL, NON INERTIA LOCKED MODE. ONLY UPON HEAVY BREAKING, OR FORWARD FORCE BY OCCUPANT DOES THE BELT SLIP PAST THE LOWER DOOR JAMB SEAL AND EXTENDS THE BELTS REACH. THIS CAN CAUSE A FATALITY FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR REASONS. FIRST, ON FRONTAL IMPACT, THE BELT ALLOWS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BE THRUST FORWARD AND EITHER COME INTO UNDUE CONTACT WITH THE DASH OR STEERING WHEEL. SECONDLY, THE FALSELY TENSIONED BELT ALLOWS THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO BE PROPELLED TOO CLOSE TO A DEPLOYING FRONT AIRBAG, CAUSING UNDUE FRONTAL CONTACT WITH AIRBAG WHICH CAN RESULT IN INCREASED INJURY OR DEATH. THIRDLY, ON PICKUP TRUCK MODELS EQUIPPED WITH KEY DEACTIVATED FRONT SEATS OCCUPIED BY CHILDREN, THE LOOSENING BELT CAN REACH THE YOUTH PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT RIGHT INTO WINDSHIELD. AND FOURTH, IN PASSENGER PICKUP TRUCK MODELS, WITH THE AIR BAG TURNED OFF BY KEY SWITCH, UNTENSIONED BELT DOES NOT RESTRAIN A BABY / CHILD CAR SEAT, LIKELY CAUSING THE SEAT TO BE RENDERED INEFFICTIVE AND POSSIBLY MORE HAZARDOUS IF IT WERE NOT USED AT ALL.HE BELT ASSEMBLIES MADE FOR FORD BY TRW. THIS CONDITION WAS EVIDENT WHEN VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN YEAR OLD , GOT PROGRESSSIVELY WORSE , FIRST INCIDENT FALL 1997. I WAS FIRST TITLED OWNER, BOUGHT DEMO. ELBOW INJURY IN 2003. I'M A FORMER MI. LIC.MASTER MECHANIC .I HAVE TESTED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN SIMILAR FORD VEHICLES ON USED CAR LOTS AND HAVE OBSERVED SAME EFFECT IN MANY FORD F-150'S. *AK

HEATER CORE FAILURE. ALL INDICATIONS THAT THIS IS COMMON TO FORD, BUT THE DEALER DENIES IT. THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE.*JB

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BACK WINDOW FELL OUTWARD WITHOUT WARNING ALL IN ONE PIECE. TS REAR WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WINDOW GLASS IS LEAKING WATER INTO CABIN OF VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH THE ASSEMBLY OF THE GLASS. DEALER NEEDS A SPECIAL FORD PART DUE TO GLASS ASSEMBLY BEING PART OF VEHICLE'S FRAME. TS REAR WINDSHIELD REPLACED. *TT

HEATER CORE FAILED. INSTANTLY FOGGED INSIDE OF ALL WINDOWS. IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT 65 MPH THIS COULD BE LETHAL! WHY, HAS THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT NEVER BEEN ADDRESSED?*AK

1997 FORD F150, HEATER/DEFROST DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ALL THE TIME, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT BLOWS COLD AIR. IN BAD WEATHER VISABILTY IS GREATLY REDUCED.