Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#704135March 7, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#704139March 7, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#835496March 5, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#704009March 4, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703762February 26, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE SYSTEM IS INCAPABLE OF GENERATING ENOUGH FORCE TO LOCK UP WHEELS, OR EVEN MAKE THEM SQUEEL, ON DRY ROAD EVEN WITH EMPTY TRUCK. VEH HAS REAR ANTI-LOCK FEATURE BUT CANNOT GENERATE ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE FEATURE TO ACTIVATE ON DRY ROAD. WITH ADDED CARGO WEIGHT OR TRAILER STOPPING DISTANCES ARE EXTREMELY LONG. RETURNED TO DEALER 2 TIMES FOR SERVICE. DEALER SAYS ALL IS NORMAL. BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK COMPARED TO PREVIOUS TRUCKS I'VE OWNED. A FRIEND WITH SAME YEAR F-150 HAS SAME PROBLEM. BRAKES ARE ADEQUATE FOR NORMAL DRIVING EMPTY BUT WITH A LOAD OR PANIC STOP SITUATION IT BECOMES APPARENT THEY ARE WEAK. I NEARLY HAD AN ACIDENT WHEN I RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT I COULD NOT STOP FOR WITH A LOAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703770February 26, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#701244February 23, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY
PROBLEM: THE CENTER CONSOLE ARMREST IN THE FRONT BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION FOR USE. THIS ARMREST CONTAINS A SINGLE, RECESSED CUP HOLDER LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ARMREST WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. ANY CUP CONTAINING A LIQUID, SUCH AS HOT COFFEE, CAN BE PROPELLED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSE POTENTIAL SEVERE INJURY TO A PASSENGER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#544023February 22, 1999
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
SPARE TIRE IS MOUNTED UNDER VEHICLE AGAINST FRAME RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO TIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703550February 21, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
RIGHT REAR WHEEL IS DISCOLORED BECAUSE OF EXHAUST PIPE COMING OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703536February 20, 1999
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#833957February 19, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
EA98018; THE FLOORMAT MOVED UNDERNEATH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK, HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF, ALMOST RESULTING AN ACCIDENT. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM IN WHICH BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS. DEALER SAID THE BRAKES REPRESNT THE CHARACTERISTS OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#832070February 18, 1999
STRUCTURE:BODY
ARM REST IN THE CENTER OF THE BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION, AS IT DOES IN THE UP AND LOCKED POSITION. THIS ARM REST ALSO HAS A RECESSED CUP HOLDER. PASSENGERS GAINING ENTRY INTO THE BACK SEAT VIA THE THIRD DOOR, PLACE THEIR HAND ON THE BACK OF THE ARM REST FOR SUPPORT, THE ARM REST FOLDS UPWARD AND ANYTHING IN THE CUP HOLDER IS CATAPULTED INTO THE BACK SEAT. FORD CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM IN THE 98 AND NEWER MODELS, BUT WON'T CORRECT IT FOR THIS 97 TRUCK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#834922February 17, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRY DAY; WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT GROUND, PULLING INTO PARKING STALL, AND WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, FRONT LEFT MADE A RACHETING SOUND. AS CONSUMER PRESSED ON BRAKES, APPLYING MORE AND MORE PRESSURE, VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER PROCEEDING APPROXIMATELY TWO CAR LENGTHS. THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED MORE THE TWO TIMES. DEALERSHIP CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM-,AND SAYS THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#543875February 16, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
DESIGN OF EXHAUST PIPES LOCATION CAUSES IT TO DISCOLOR THE REAR TIRE AND REMOVE CROME FROM CENTER WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#703362February 16, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#543746February 8, 1999
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
DUE TO FAILURE OF THE LUG NUTS (RECALL COMPONENT) WHEEL FELL OFF OF VEHICLE, WHEEL HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING DAMAGE. NO NOTICE OF RECALL WAS RECEIVED BY CONSUMER.(COMPLAINT SENT IN BY OWNER OF OTHER VEHICLE).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#702976February 5, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:TORSION BAR
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#545794February 1, 1999
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LUG NUTS REPAIRED, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (98V095000). *YC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#607219February 1, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#608890February 1, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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