Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)
2,758 consumer complaints on file.
- #10399569May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER TRACKS HE COULD HEAR THE VEHICLE DRAGGING AN OBJECT. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED A TEMPORARY REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED AND REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10400368May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE. UPDATED 08/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY ONE STRAP BROKE, WHICH BROKE IN THE MIDDLE UNDER THE TANK. THE STRAP SHOWED SIGNS OF SEVERE CORROSION. HE REINFORCED THE GAS TANK WITH A NYLON STRAP. UPDATED 08/15/11
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399660May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THE STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE FRACTURED DUE TO CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,050 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 385,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399681May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WE NOTICED A GAS SMELL THAT WASN'T USUALLY PRESENT, SO TOOK THE TRUCK STRAIGHT TO THE MECHANIC, WHO CALLED TO TELL US THAT THE STRAPS HOLDING THE TANK WERE ROTTED AND WE GOT LUCKY IT DIDN'T DROP OUT WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE IT WAS HANGING BY A THREAD. AFTER FIXING THOSE, SOMETHING STILL WASN'T RIGHT AND WHEN FILLING UP THE TANK, GAS CAME POURING OUT ON THE GROUND. TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT GAS TANK WAS ALSO ROTTED OUT. UPDATED 08/04/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CORROSION ON THE STRAPS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CORROSION OF THE TANK. UPDATED 08/15/11 *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399683May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
HI, I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150. LAST FALL (2010) I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN THE GAS TANK ON MY TRUCK DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THERE WERE SPARKS I WAS TOLD AND IT WAS LEAKING. I HAD NO PRIOR EVENTS/AWARENESS THAT WOULD HAVE LED ME TO CHECK ON THE TANK. I HAD A NEW TANK INSTALLED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. I DID NOT ASK FOR THE OLD PARTS AND ASSUME THEY WERE PROBABLY DISPOSED OF. I ONLY WRITE NOW AFTER SEEING SIMILAR PROBLEMS BY OTHERS REPORTED ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION !! UPDATED 08/05/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT STRAP BROKE. UPDATED 08/15/11 *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399678May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STRAPS WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,220 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,240.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399702May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FILLING UP FUEL AT GAS STATION WHEN THE STRAP HOLDING THE FUEL TANK WAS NOTICED THAT IT HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE INTO 2 PIECES. WENT TO FORD AND PURCHASED REPLACEMENT STRAP TO REPAIR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10400388May 9, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FRONT STRAP ON THE TRUCK GAS TANK FAILED AND THE FRONT OF THE TANK DROPPED AND SKIDDED ON THE ROAD PAVEMENT UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP. A SMALL HOLE WAS SCRAPPED IN THE TANK AND GAS WAS LEAKING. THE TANK WAS ABOUT 3/4 FULL AND I COULD NOT MOVE IT TO TRY TO PLUG THE LEAK. I DECIDED TO CALL 911 AND TWO FIRE TRUCKS, ONE STATE PATROL, AND THE FIRE DEPT CHAPLIN (WHO HAPPENED HEAR THE CALL) ALL ARRIVED. THEY WERE ABLE TO JACK UP THE TANK SO THE HOLE COULD BE PLUGGED AND I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE TRUCK HAULED AWAY FOR STRAP REPLACEMENT AND TANK REPAIR. INCIDENTALLY THE TANK ITSELF WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE YEARS BEFORE THAT AND THE REPAIR SHOP THOUGHT THE STRAPS LOOKED OK AND REUSED THEM, SO I PRESUME THE STRAP DETERIORATION MAY NOT ALWAYS BE OBVIOUS OR APPARENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398291April 29, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP SHORT BED 4.2 6CYL 5 SPEED TRANS. 1 GAS TANK SUPPORT STRAP IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. OTHER IS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. THE GAS TANK WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OFF. THE DANGER IS SELF EVIDENT. JUST NOTICED TODAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398314April 29, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 1997 F150 4.2 V6 THAT I PURCHASED NEW FROM FORD. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LOSING COOLANT, BUT COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. IN 2005, WITH ONLY 89000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I STARTED IT UP ONE AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH. I DROVE IT HOME AND PARKED IT AND WENT OUT APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER AND STARTED IT UP AND IT HAD A VERY LOUD ROD KNOCK. I WAS JUST RESEARCHING REBUILD KITS AND REBUILT ENGINES WHEN I CAME ACROSS ALL THE POSTS ABOUT HYDROLOCK. I NOW KNOW THAT THIS WAS A SITUATION THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF, BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT AND LEFT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND DID NOT LAST. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO REPAIR AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING ALL THIS TIME. I THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY WHEN THEY FOUND OUT AND PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WOULD HAVE HAD PROTECTION ON OUR INVESTMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10398022April 27, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED FROM THE INTAKE GASKET INTO THE CYLINDER IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10395577April 12, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I HEARD A CLUNK FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF DRAGGING METAL. I ASSUMED THE MUFFLER HAD DROPPED OR SOMETHING INSIGNIFICANT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE CAUSE AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MY NEARLY FULL GAS TANK HAD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, AND GAS WAS LEAKING BADLY. THE TANK WAS HANGING BY THE FILLER TUBE AND THERE WAS A 2" HOLE ON THE NOSE FROM DRAGGING IT. ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF GAS SPILLED OUT. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO CONTAIN THE SPILL. THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU AND FAILED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392686March 23, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STRUCTURE
I HAVE A 1997 F-150 WITH JUST OVER 150,000 MILES AND LOST BOTH STRAPS JUST AFTER FILLING UP AND GOING OVER TRAIN TRACKS @ 25 MPH. THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT ON WAS THE FUEL LINES, HOPE THERE IS NOT MAJOR DAMAGE THERE. I HAD THE TANK REPLACED ABOUT 3 YEARS PRIOR. UPDATED 08/01/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO FUEL SPILL. BOTH OF THE STRAPS BROKE, DUE TO RUST. UPDATED 08/02/11 *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10392393March 21, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE STRAPS THAT HELD THE TANK HAD SNAPPED AND CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO FALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 192,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390227March 15, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRUCK HAS 112000 MILES AND THE TRANNY WOULD NOT SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR, THE FLUID AND FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGE 5 TIMES MORE THAN RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER, I ALSO HAD AAMCO INSTALL A LARGER TRANSMISSION COOLER. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TRANNY IS THE C CLAMP THAT LOCKS THE MAIN DRIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OFF, AND DESTROYED THE OD DRUM AND GEARS I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY VEHICLES WELL MAINTAINED AND AT A COST OF $1,900.56 I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD RE IMBURSE ME FOR THIS , THE TRUCK HAS NEVER HAULED ANY HEAVY LOADS OR PULLING A TRAILER WITH ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN A RIDING LAWNMOWER. I HAVE A 1970 FORD TRUCK THAT IS A BETTER TRUCK THAN MY 1997. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A NEW TRUCK IF DRIVEN LIKE THE COMMERCIALS THEY PRODUCE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD MAN BUT THEY ARE CHANGING MY MIND QUICKLY. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. IT'S ABSURD THAT A POSSIBLY $5.00 PART COULD CAUSE ME ALMOST 2 GRAND. I AM ABOUT TO BUY A NEW TRUCK AND I WILL BE SHOPPING AROUND AND LOOKING AT CONSUMER REPORTS TO MAKE A DECISION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10390095March 14, 2011VISIBILITY
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.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10389691March 10, 2011VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CONTACT'S HOME, GARAGE, A SECOND VEHICLE AND OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TIO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SAFETY SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE CONTACT WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10386452March 4, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150. YESTERDAY WHEN I TO GET INTO MY VEHICLE THE AREA SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE, WAS UNSURE IF IT WAS MINE SO I DROVE HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME THE SMELL WAS EVEN WORSE. UPON CHECKING THE FUEL LINES AND GAS TANK I FOUND THAT THE STRAPS ON THE FUEL TAKE RUSTED THROUGH WHERE THEY CONNECT WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE FUEL TO RUST SPECIFICALLY WHERE THE STRAP WAS RUBBING ON IT CAUSING THE TANK TO RUST AND NOW IT HAS A HOLE IN IT. THIS IS GOING TO COST $250-300 IN PARTS ALONE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANY VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT THE COST OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10384509February 25, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1997 F-150 WAS FUELING UP VEHICLE AND HEARD POP AND LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND THE REAR GAS TANK STRAP HAD BROKEN FREE OF THE SLIDE IN ATTACHMENT ON THE OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE TANK. THE STRAP WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION BUT THE REAR SLIDE IN MOUNTING POINT ON THE CROSS MEMBER HAD ROTTED OUT COMPLETELY. THE FRONT SLIDE IN POINT DID NOT HAVE ANY CORROSION ON IT. DEALER DID NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED USED FROM A LARGE CAR DEALER IN JUNE 2010. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10379976February 2, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I JUST BOUGHT A 1997 FORD F150 WITHIN A FEW DAYS I FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING, LOOKED UNDER AND FOUND STRAPS WERE RUSTED AND CAUSED TANK TO RUST AND LEAK. IS THERE A RECALL BY FORD TO REPLACE STRAPS AND TANK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0