1997 Ford F-250 Complaint Log

REAR SLIDING WINDOW LEAKS WHEN RAINING OR WASHING VEHICLE.*JB

WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING WHEN RIGHT REAR AXLE SLID OUT, VEHICLE STOPPED. AXLE WAS SITTING OUT FROM UNDER VEHICLE. CONTACTED A TOW COMPANYAND HELPED PUSH AXLE BACK IN, AND PLACED ON FLATBED. TOW DRIVER INDICATED POSSIBLE SHEAR PIN CAME OFF OR BROKE. *AK

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED AT THE QUICK CONNECTOR ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONNECTOR CAME APART AND CAUSED A RAPID LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF STEERING ASSISTANCE.*AK

STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME VERY LOOSE, WILL NO LONGER TILT UPWARD, FEELS LIKE IT WILL COME OFF, DEALER SAID VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

ALL FOUR OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES ON 1997, FORD, F250HD ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR. THESE TIRES ARE NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH VEHICLE, AND CURRENTLY HAVE 29,000 MILES ON THEM. SIZE OF THE TIRES L235/85R16. *AK *JB

FUEL SELECTOR SWITCH GOT STUCK IN DID POSITION, CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. JUST LIKE RECALL 91S39. *AK

CUSION RUBBER COMING THROUGH TREAD RUBBER ON ALL 4 TIRES,6/32 TREAD LEFT,HAS NOT CAUSED PROBLEM YET, LOCAL DEALER (NOT FIRESTONE)DIDNT LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS,FIRESTONE HAD NO COMMENT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNOR 1XK TIRESIZE: 235X85X16)

REMAINING 3 TIRES SHOW STRESS MARKS ON SIDEWALLS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XORRAB359 TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

FUEL WAS SPRAYING OUT AT AN ALARMING RATE. *AK

ALL FOUR (4) TIRES ARE SPLITTING ON THE SIDEWALLS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: C39816 TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED UNDERNEATH A RAILROAD TRACK. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED SELECTOR SWITCH TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CUSTOMER NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT HE IS EXPREINCING A SELETCTOR SWITCH PROBLEM.( THE RECALL WAS ON FORD F150 1989 NOT ON F250). *YH

THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE BLOW OUT WAS LOCATED AT THE INSIDE SIDEWALL, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO HOLES THAT COULD BE FOUND. WE BROUGHT THE TIRE INTO FIRESTONE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD FIND A HOLE BECAUSE THESE TIRES DON'T JUST BLOW. I WAS ALSO TOLD ON THE PHONE THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I HAD SUCH A HEAVY DUTY VEHICLE, OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE ROLLED. JUST APPALLING TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FROM A PERSON THAT WORKS AT THE FIRESTONE STORE. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THERE IS RECALLS HAPPENING NOW. WE ASKED IF THIS PARTICULAR TIRE WAS BEING RECALLED, BUT WAS TOLD "NO". WE ENDED UP BUYING ANOTHER TIRE AND THEY PRORATED THE RATE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 26575R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 26575R16 )

WHILE DRIVING A 1997, FORD, F250 CARGO VAN WITH A REPLACEMENT FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIAL FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, 22575R16. TIRE SUDDENLY SEPARATED. THERE WERE THREE TIRES LEFT ON THIS VAN. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE CUSTOMER FEELS UNSAFE DRIVING WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. *YH

THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STARTED SHOWING A SPOT WHERE THERE SEEMS TO BE A BLISTER (AIR POCKET) UNDER THE TREAD ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER. THE TREAD CAN BE PUSHED IN ABOUT AN 1/8 OF AN INCH. ALSO THE CENTER OF THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TREAD SHOWS A DARKER COLOR THAN THE REST OF THE RUBBER.( DOT NUMBER: VDOR1XK TIRE SIZE: LT235/85 R )

DAMAGE TO TIRE WELL, RIGHT REAR FENDER,MUFFLER AND TAIL-LIGHT DUE TO TIRE TREAD PEELING OFF ON HIGHWAY I84 IN S.W. IDAHO. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDOR1XK087 TIRESIZE: LT2358516M)

AT 25 MPH THE VEHILCE TIE ROD PULL APART.....DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MFR'S RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE AIRPORT. HE WAS IN FRONT FOR A DROP OFF, AND REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE BLEWOUT. HE HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMING TO COME REPAIR IT. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIALS, R4S 16INCH, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK DOT # VDOR. *SLC

MY TIRES WERE SEVERELY WORN ON THE INSIDE EDGES. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES AND WENT TO HAVE THE TRUCK ALIGNED. VIRGINIA SPRING AND ALIGNMENT, ARLINGTON, VA, 22213, INFORMED ME THAT MY RIGHT FRONT SPRING WAS DANGEROUSLY WEAK AND HAD CAUSED THE UPPER BALL JOINT TO BECOME LOOSE. THEY SAID EVERY FORD 250 DIESEL THEY SEE HAS THIS PROBLEM AND THAT FORD DID NOT PUT STRONG ENOUGH SPRINGS ON THESE TRUCKS. FORD IN FACT HAD ISSUED TSB-96-23-16 WHICH CALLED FOR ADDING A LEAF TO EACH FRONT SPRING AND REALIGNMENT. THEY REFUSE TO FIX THE DEFECT IN MY TRUCK BECAUSE IT HAS OVER 36,000 MILES ON IT. IF THIS SPRING FAILS, A 3/4 TON TRUCK GOES OUT OF CONTROL. *AK

THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL (265/75/16) TIRE ON THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS

THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL (265/75/16) EXPERIENCED BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE, TIRE SIZE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS

TIRE FAILURE. TIRES ARE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70 R16 109 M/S. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CALL ME. (CLAIM# 49-3225-909) *MW

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235R16 )

TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON DASH. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN OVERDRIVE. WHEN THE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK, IT STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN OUT OF OVERDRIVE. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF OUR DRIVE THE VEHICLE HAS TO STOP AND THE ENGINE SHOULD BE TURNED OFF. SEVERAL DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES THEY COME ON WITHOUT APPLICATION, AND OTHER TIMES THEY CUT OFF WITHOUT APPLICATION. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SWITCH BEFORE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

TREAD SEPERATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE WHILE TRAVELING @ 75 MPH ON I-10 BETWEEN QUEEN CREEK & RIGGS ROAD EXITS. THE TIRE DID NOT LOOSE PRESSURE. ON CLOSER INSPECTION OF REMAINING THREE TIRES, EVIDENCE OF TREAD COMING APART. FORD DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR TIRE WARRENTY. DAMAGE TO WHEEL WELL AND TRUCK BED CAUSED BY THE SEPERATED TIRE TREAD. TIRES ARE ORGINAL TIRES ON TRUCK WHEN BOUGHT FROM DEALER. ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, STILL HAVE ALL ORGINAL TIRES FOR INSPECTION. WHILE NOT FIRESTONES SOUND LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT235/85RX )

STRUCTURE OF THE BODY HAD A CRACK. CRACK IS STARTED AT THE WINDOW OPENING, AND WAS WORKING ITS WAY REARWARD. ALSO, NOTICED WHEN WASHING VEHICLE PAINT WAS CHIPPING BECAUSE THE CRACK BEHIND THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR POST WAS GETTING BIGGER. *AK

WHILE INDICATING THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMSSION WAS IN "PARK" POSITION, IN FACT TRANSMISSION GEAR WAS IN "NUETRAL POSITION" WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A ROLLAWAY. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V17000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BOTH THESE RETAINING BOLTS FAILED. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE I NOTICED A BOLT HANGING DOWN FROM THE FRONT END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE SHOP OWNER NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SIDE BOLT WAS MISSING. HE COMMENTED THAT HE LOOKS FOR THIS ITEM ON FORD F150 AND F250 UNITS. HE HAS HAD VEHICLES COME IN WITH BOTH BOLTS MISSING! FORD CHANGED THE BOLT MECHANISM RETAINING THE STABALIZER BARS IN THIS MODEL YEAR (1998). THEIR DESIGN APPEARS FAULTY AS THE PLASTIC RETAINING DEVICES ON THE BOLT DO NOT APPEAR TO WORK PROPERLY.*AK

MIRROR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPERATES ERRATICALLY, IT IS DIFFICULT TO JUDGE DISTANCE WHEN IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE OUTSIDE OF REAR VIEW MIRROR. * AK

ORIGINAL AND AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, F250, LT235/85R16 SIZE. TREAD ON ONE TIRE SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND TWO OF TIRES HAD BLOWNOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. FIRESTONE HAS REPLACED TWO OUT OF THREE TIRES.*AK FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES, DOT NUMBER VN0R1XK317. *SLC

IN ORDER TO GET WHEELS OFF RIM, CONSUMER HAD TO USE A SLEDGE HAMMER, TOOK TO DEALER. *AK ALUMINIUM WHEELS STICK TO TRUCK HUBS. *YH

THIS TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW,HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED,MAN THAT FIXED IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS UNLESS THE TRUCK WAS BEAT ALL TO PIECES,AND THIS ONE ISNT, HE FIGURES IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK

FIRST AIR SPRING ON DRIVERS SIDE BLEW LAST SUMMER AND WAS REPLACED. THE OTHER ONE, PASSENGER SIDE, BLEW LAST FRIDAY. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED WITH TRUCK CAMPER ON BOARD, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT OVER LOADED. FAILURES WERE EXPLOSIVE, RESULTING IN VEHICLE LOWING SUDDENLY ON THE SIDE AFFECTED. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELLING STRAIGHT AHEAD BOTH TIMES, BUT FAILURE ON A CORNER COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE ROLLING OVER. COMPONENT DOES NOT APPEAR TO MATCH THE LOAD RATING OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

I HEARD A LOUD VIBRATING OR THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AT A FIRESTONE IN SANTA FE, WHERE THEY SHOWED ME THAT LAYERS OF THREE OF THE TIRES WERE PEELING OFF FROM THE INSIDE. I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES ON THE SPOT -- AT JUST 26,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R )

TORSION BAR FAILURE, CAUSED SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

TORSION BAR SNAPPED WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, YET WAS NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING AND RENTAL CAR WHILE MY TRUCK WAS DISABLED. I THINK FORD SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR AS THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING STEERING WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, FRONT END FELT LIKE WAS NOT ROLLING FREELY, AND NO ADEQUATE STEERING CONTROL. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTUR. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO ALIGN THE FRONT END. *AK

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A LETTER THAT I SENT TO FIRESTONE ON 8-10-2000. ALL THAT THEY DID WAS SEND ME FORM LETTER THAT DIDN'T EVEN APPLY TO MY TIRE. CAN YOU ASSIST IN OBTAINING COMPENSATION?: IN 1997, I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD F-250 EXTENDED CAB LWB DIESEL TRUCK (FROM VALLEY FORD IN ONEONTA, AL). IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE "STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT 235 85 R16 M/S" TIRES.I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND STAY WELL UNDER THE RATED CARRYING CAPACITY AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS. ON 3-24-2000, APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AFTER I HAD (COINCIDENTALLY, I SUPPOSE) CHECKED FOR THE PROPER PRESSURES AND CAREFULLY INSPECTED ALL THE TIRES, WHILE LOADED AT OVER 1 TON LESS THAN THE BED CARRYING CAPACITY, TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AFTER DARK IN A MOSTLY RURAL AREA, THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY EXPLODED. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL ONTO A CONCRETE DRIVE AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE WHEEL HUB WAS SERIOUSLY ABRADED/SCRATCHED. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING AFTER THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TIRE INSPECTION.EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 40% TREAD LEFT ON ALL TIRES, THIS SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW SET OF FOUR TIRES THE VERY NEXT DAY.I HAD NOT GIVEN IT ANY MORE THOUGHT UNTIL THE RECENT PUBLICITY OVER FAILURES OF FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES COMING AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS DURING THIS PERIOD. SO, IN MY OPINION, A VERY CAREFULLY MAINTAINED TIRE (AS MINE WAS), WELL "UNDERLOADED" INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, PROPERLY INFLATED, WORN ONLY 60%, AND SUBJECTED TO NO "INJURY" SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A DRAMATIC/DANGEROUS FASHION, AND THEREFORE MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE WHEN SOLD.I AM ASKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE COST OF MY NEW SET OF TIRES ($767.99NTBHOOVER, AL).R CRAIG BRADLEY 8-10-2000 (TIRESIZE: 235 85 R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 85 R16 )

FRONT AXLE HOUSING CRACKED ON 4X4. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK

MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS CRACKS IN THE DOOR SHEET METAL AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE BELT MOLDING ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDES. THESE CRACKS ARE RUSTING AND IN TIME WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DOORS AND THEREBY THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES REAR END VIBRATES. *AK PARKING BRAKES ARE STICKS ON CAUSING VIBRATION AND INADEQUATE BRAKING. *YH

NO SUMMARY( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245 85RL6 )

THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE BROKE, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CRUISE WON'T SHUT OFF- HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES NOW AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO CAUSING WRECKS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS SMOKING AN APPEARS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- AGAIN "NOTHING WRONG"

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A F250. TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE.*AK FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT235/85/R16 M/S DOT# VDOR1WW *MW

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN FRONT AND ON TOP OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, DAMAGEING THE FRONT BUMPER,/HOOD AN D/LEFT FENDER. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

REAR BRAKES LOCK UP; ABS NOT WORKING PROPERLY; EMERGENY CABLE NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A SKID, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, PARTS REPLACED. *AK

SHIELD AROUND THE GAS TANK IS TOO CLOSE TO THE DRIVESHAFT. THIS WAS NOTICED WHEN EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING A TRAILER HITCH ON THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. PLEASE LIST OTHER VEHCILE IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS. *AK

WHILE GETTING NEW TIRES PUT ON VEHICLE DEALER NOTICED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE CRACKED. DEALER REFUSED TO FIX PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.