1999 Ford F-150 Suspension Problems

SUSPENSION SQUEAKS AND GRINDS ALONG WITH STEERING WHEEL. SIDE UTILITY BACK DOORS CABLE BREAKS AND WILL NOT CLOSE OR WILL OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY.

THE FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE BOLTS ARE COMING THROUGH THE BED OF THE TRUCK. BUMPER IS RUSTED AWAY FROM FRAME. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

ON JULY 28TH AROUND 3:00 AM THERE WAS A STORM EARLIER IN THE NIGHT AND A TREE TOP FELL INTO THE ROAD AND I WENTTO APPLY THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO FISH TAIL AND LOSE CONTROL SPINNING AROUND TWICE MAKING ME STRIKE A TREE AND SPIN BACK AROUND AND NOSE DIVE DOWN AND EMBANKMENT AND LAND ON ALL FOUR WHEELS MESSED UP THE FRONT BUMPER LEFT FENDER LEFT DOOR CRACKED WINDSHIELD AND COMPLETELY WIPED OUT THE BED. *TR

UNDERFRAME IS ROTTEN AND RUSTED OUT. WAS HANGING ON BY A TWO INCH PIECE OF METAL. VEHICLE IS 1999 WITH ONLY 94,200 ORIGINAL MILES. SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT. FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FAULT OR REPAIR. *TR

1999 FORD F150 2WD TRUCK WITH 80,000 MILES THE FUEL TANK FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS HAS CORRODED APART. WHEN RE-INSTALLING NEW STRAPS, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL FILL TUBE WAS CORRODED, AS WELL, WITH SEVERAL HOLES IN IT. ALSO, WHILE RE-ATTACHING FUEL TANK IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR THREE CROSS-MEMBERS WERE ON THERE WAY TO CORRODING INTO TWO PIECES, AND HAD ALREADY COMPLETELY BROKEN IN OTHER PLACES. UPON REMOVAL OF PICK-UP TRUCK BED FOR EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR SPRING SHACKLE PINS HAD CORRODED AWAY, LEAVING NO SUPPORT. FURTHER, THE FRAME RAILS WERE CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT THEY COULD BE BENT BY HAND- NO TOOLS USED! THIS SHOULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL BY FORD AS AN UNSUSPECTING USER HAULING A TRAILER MAY LOOSE THEIR TRAILER, DESPITE SAFETY CHAINS ATTACHED, CAUSING INJURY, OR DEATH, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. AN UNSUSPECTING DRIVER WOULD ALSO BE SUBJECT TO THE FUEL TANK FALLING OFF THE TRUCK, WHILE DRIVING. IT COULD BURST INTO FLAMES, DUE TO HOT EXHAUST, OR ROAD SPARKS. THIS ALSO POSES THE SAFETY HAZARD OF FUEL SPILLAGE ON A ROADWAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TRUCK MANUFACTURED BY FORD THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE, BUT THIS IS THE WORST I HAVE SEEN, AND THERE ARE MORE THAN LIKELY MORE CASES KNOWN TO OTHER MECHANICS, AS WELL AS SOME THAT HAVE GONE UNDETECTED AS OF YET. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I FELT MY TRUCKS FRONT END VIBRATE THEN START TO WOBBLE. STOPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I COULD SMELL THE ODOR OF HOT METAL. I PULLED IN A PARKING LOT GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK ANDWALKED AROUND THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. I COULD FEEL A LOT OF HEAT COMMING FROM THE LEFT WHEEL. THERE WAS AN AUTO SERVICE DEALER OPEN BELOW WHERE I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I LEFT MY TRUCK TO BE CHECKED OUT. THE NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD I NEEDED UPPER BALL JOINT BALLJOINT ASSEMBLY ON BOTH SIDES ,LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES AND ALSO UPPER CONTRL ARMS. THE SHOP KEEP THE OLD PARTS. I WAS LUCKY BECAUSE ONE HOUR BEFORE THIS I WAS ON INTERSTATE 75 IN TRAFFIC. *NM

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. LOWER BALL JOINT CRACKED AND SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE FRAME AND BUMPER TO LAND ON PAVEMENT. DEALER MECHANIC COMMENTED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN A BALL JOINT SHEAR OFF IN SUCH A MANNER IN 23 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.*AK

ON 12/17/03 WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY TO GO TO WORK, THE LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED ON MY 1999 FORD F-150 4 WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP. THIS CAUSED THE WHEEL TO ANGLE OUT AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND LOWER "A" FRAME TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 69,100 MILES ON IT, IS ONLY USED FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION (NO SNOW PLOWING OR BUSINESS USE) AND HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. VEHICLE UP TO THAT POINT HAD DISPLAYED NO DRIVING ERRATICS THAT MIGHT INDICATE A PROBLEM. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THIS A NORMAL PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE (MY ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAS SOLD THE DEALERSHIP) AND NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRENTY OR RECALL. FORD CONSUMER REP AGREED. NOT ONLY IS IT GOING TO COST ME OVER $1,000.00 TO HAVE MY VEHICLE REPAIRED, I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT ALTHOUGH FORD IS COMING OUT WITH BALL JOINTS THAT WILL HAVE A GREASE FITTINGS, THEY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL ALL INVENTORY OF NON-GREASE FITTING BALL JOINTS ARE USED UP. ABOVE AND BEYOND MY DISSAPOINTMENT WITH FORD AND FORD PRODUCTS IS THE CONSTANT THOUGHT OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES AN HOUR AND THIS BALL JOINT FAILED AND HOW MANY OTHER FORD F-150 OWNERS ARE OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER LOST C CONTROL OF STEERING. *AK

I BOUGHT THE 99 F-150 USED. I'VE OWNED IT FOR 2 YEARS AND IN THOSE TWO YEARS SPENT OVER 3000 DOLLARS REPAIRING IT. I CANT HANDLE THE THOUGHT OF KEEPING A TRUCK THAT COST SO MUCH IN REPAIRS. AND NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS ONE WEEK AFTER I SPENT OVER 500 REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS, FUEL FILTER, AND GETTING THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED. I HAVE ONLY 58,000 MILES ON THE THING AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE PLUGS DON'T NEED TO BE TOUCHED FOR 100,000 MILES. WELL IT WAS MISSING AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK SLAMS INTO GEAR BETWEEN 1 AND 2, AND NOW THE PROBLEM IS MY TRANSMISSION IS BAD. AT 58,000 MILES? AND I'VE NEVER EVEN TOWED ANYTHING. JUST REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR? I THINK THESE TRUCKS MUST BE LEMONS. AFTER I GET THE TRANSMISSION FIXED, I'LL HAVE SPENT $5,600 IN A TWO YEAR SPAN. I HAVE TO SELL IT BECAUSE THE REPAIRS ARE MORE THAN THE PAYMENT. I GUESS THAT'S WHY IT WAS SOLD TO ME WHEN IT WAS ONLY TWO YEARS. OLD. *NLM

THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE LOSING THEIR REFLECTIVITY. THIS IS CLEARLY A FACTORY DEFECT AND PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS OF THE VEHICLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAVE BOTH REFUSED TO RECALL THE MIRRORS OR TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE MIRRORS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE MIRRORS, BUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THEM.

TWO REAR WHEEL BEARINGS CRACKED, AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT FOR CONSUMER TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

I AM CURIOUS IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS, AND CONTROL ARMS FOR BOTH SIDES AT 57000 MILES.*AK

VEHICLE MAKES A HOWLING NOISE, IT JERKED/ ACCELERATED AND A CLUNK NOISE WHEN LETTING OFF GAS. DEALER ADMITTED THEY HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER ASKED FOR A NEW REAR END, AND DEALER DENIED THE PART. *AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 MODELS, CONSUMER IS AKSING THAT THE PART BE FIXED OR THE DEALER TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. *SLC

LOWER ARM WHERE IT IS ATTACHED TO TRUCK FRAME BECAME LOOSE. WHILE DRIVING IT MAKES ALIGNMENT CHANGES. DRIVER THINKS HE IS GOING STRAIGHT, BUT IS GOING BACK AND FORTH. *AK THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED LOCK WASHERS AS A TEMPORARY FIX, BUT THE A- ARM HAS NOW MOVED AGAIN CHANGING THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT. *YH

SINCE THE CONTROL ARM KEEPS SHIFTING DUE TO THE OBLONG HOLE THAT THE BOLT IS HELD IN, THE ALIGNMENT IS ALWAYS INCORRECT...MAKES IT HARD TO KEEP VEHICHLE STRAIGHT AT 60 MPH. IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM KEEPS SHIFTING, I'M SURE THE BOLT THAT KEEPS THE CONTROL ARM IN PLACE WILL EVENTUALLY BE SHEARED OFF......CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.

DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM RETAINING BOLT SLIDES LEFT TO RIGHT. VEHICLE NOW VEERS TO THE LEFT. *AK

THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT IS MOUNTED IN A SLOTED HOLE WITH NO LOCKING MECHANISM. THIS ALLOWS THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND MAKE "CLUNKING" NOISES. I AM PERSONALLY AWARE OF AT LEAST 237 FAILURES OF THIS MODEL THROUGH THE F150ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD. FORD MAINTAINS THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. MY DEALER, BELL FORD, WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM FORD. THUS, A VEHICLE WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL REMAINS ON THE ROAD.*AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD-THE WINDSHIELD WOULD RATTLE GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY EVERYTIME WE WOULD BE IN THE TRUCK. TOOK IT IN TO ADVISE THE DEALERSHIP AND ALL THEY DID WAS RESEAL IT. TOOK IT IN AGAIN THE SECOND TIME AND THEY DID THE SAME THING. AFTER THE THIRD TIME I MADE THEM PUT IN A NEW WINDSHIELD. 2 WEEKS AGO THIS CRACKED IN HALF. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THEY REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. ALSO THE REAR END WAS LEAKING. *AK

VEHICLE PULLS A 5500LBS TRAILER: WHENEVER SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ON AN INCLINE, SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR, VEHICLE WILL SHUTTER AND JERK VIOLENTLY.ALSO, REAR END VIRBRATES WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. IF TRAVELING 70MPH AND ABOVE, ENTIRE VEHICLE SHAKES. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT. *AK