Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10252339December 20, 2008
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WATER INTRUSION INTO GEM MODULE CAUSING FAILURE OF WIPERS, ELECTRIC WINDOWS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ENGAGEMENT OF ELECTRONIC 4WHEEL DRIVE TO WORK. USUALLY TRIGGERED AFTER RAIN AND LASTING FOR DAYS. SEE TSB 98231 NHTSA 603715. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251933December 16, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL TANK STRAP REPLACEMENT LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF BROKEN FUEL TANK AT FEED TUBE. RARE OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO AUTO SHOP AND DEALER SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE SINCE VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS 97' FORD F-150. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251975December 16, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN OVER 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. WE WERE AWAKENED BY OUR LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, ALERTING US TO THE FACT THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN ON FIRE. THEY WERE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PUT OUT THE FIRE PRIOR TO IT SPREADING TO OUR HOME. THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, UNDER THE HOOD, AROUND THE WHEEL WELL. THIS WAS DOCUMENTED BY OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK AND THE DRIVEWAY HAVE BEEN MELTED, AND THE TRUCK IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE OR FIXABLE. COINCIDENTALLY, WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD THIS WEEK STATING THAT THE RECALL ON THIS TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AND THAT IT COULD RESULT IN FIRE. WE PURCHASED THIS TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE PARTY ON MAY 11, 2008 AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL. OF COURSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK WE REGISTERED IT WITH THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO OBTAIN PLATES IN OUR NAME, AND WE WERE ISSUED OUR REGISTRATION. WE OWNED THIS TRUCK EXACTLY 6 MONTHS TO THE DATE WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED. IF WE HAD BEEN SENT A NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO THE FIRE, RATHER THAN AFTERWARDS, WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS CRUISE CONTROL RECALL ADDRESSED. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE IS SCRAP. WE ARE HOLDING ON TO THE TRUCK, UNTIL WE CAN REACH A DETERMINATION OF FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251707December 14, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRAME ON MY 1997 FORD F150 HAS RUSTED THROUGH, CAUSING THE SHOCK AND SPRING MOUNTS TO BREAK. FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250703December 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 1997 FORD F150 4X4 ON THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD THE REAR SPARK PLUG CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF POWER NOW I CAN NOT DRIVE IT MAKES WEIRD NOISES IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS SPARK PLUG NO LONGER FITS IN THE HEAD WAS THIS A BAD FLAW TO THE 4.6 DUEL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE .DO I HAVE A CLAIM WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249716November 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN, MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD SAFELY. (OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED AS WELL) WIPERS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL REPAIRED. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. SEE FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 98-9-13 AND FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249618November 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150. I HAD PARKED IT FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL I SOLD MY CHEVY TAHOE. WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WHEN I RECONNECTED IT I WENT IN THE CAB AND COULD SMELL BURNING PLASTIC AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE ON, EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS IN MY HAND. I LOOKED UNDER THE DASH AND FOUND THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS SIZZLING AND SMOKING. I QUICKLY GOT OUT AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE HAD I NOT NOTICED IT IN TIME. IT SURPRISED ME THAT NO FUSES WERE BLOWN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING FOR ALOT OF 1997 - 2003 FORDS AND WAS WONDERING WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. I WORKED FOR A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN MARQUETTE MI SO I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT RECALLS AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPENSE PUT ON THE CONSUMER. I THINK THAT WITH THE DECLINE IN SALES FOR THE AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS THEY SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THESE FAULTY MODULES. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT SO IM NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME BUT IM EXPECTING IT TO BE BETWEEN $120- $160. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247841November 6, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS CHAPARRAL AP TIRES, SIZE LT265/75R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKING SEVERELY. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO BALANCE THE TIRES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO A THIRD DEALER AND THEY LOADED DOWN THE TIRES WITH WHEEL WEIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF UPDATED 11/26/08*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246912October 28, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SO WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND FOUND A FUSE THAT WAS BROKEN. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND THREE HOURS LATER WE SMELLED SMOKE IN OUR HOUSE AND FOUND MY SHOP WAS ON FIRE. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT FOUND THAT THE TRUCK WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245297October 13, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOUGHT 97 FORD F-150 TRUCK FROM PRIVATE PARTY.. IT HAD RECALL ON IT WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT IT AND MY TRUCK ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF AND HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244036September 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER CALLED BACK AND STATED THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DID NOT APPROVE THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY SENT THE CONTACT A RECALL NOTICE, BUT HE CLAIMED THAT IT WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY SENT THE NOTICE TO A DIFFERENT MAILING ADDRESS, WHICH IS WHY IT WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240964September 4, 2008
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239758August 26, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE. A CASE NUMBER WAS OBTAINED AND POLICE REPORT NUMBER PD080825409115 WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS LISTED AS THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235123July 21, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET TO LEAK COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE OIL. I HAVE HAD THIS REPLACED TWICE AND AM NOW IN NEED OF IT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233833July 10, 2008
TIRES:VALVE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN LTXM/S TIRES, SIZE P235/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON THE VALVE STEMS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES DEFLATED. THE CONTACT REDUCED THE SPEED AND PROCEEDED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO BOTH VALVE STEMS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE VALVE STEMS ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE VALVE STEM DEFECT. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233949July 9, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1997 FORD F-150 WITH RECALL ON THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER CHARGED HIM $68.00 FOR A DIAGNOSIS FEE FOR STATING THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED THE $68.00. *KB THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER TO REPAIR THE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING AND OTHER COMPONENTS THAT WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY SWITCH THAT WAS RECALLED. THE TURN SIGNAL DID NOT STAY ON WHEN MAKING A TURN . *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232630June 29, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 97 F-150 HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE NOT STARTED FOR 2 DAYS. SUNDAY MORNING WE WENT TO GO TO THE LAKE AND THE TRUCK STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK,AN ISSUE I HAVE HAD BEFORE,BUT THIS TIME THE ABS LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 15 YEARS, SO I HAD A GOOD IDEA WERE TO START LOOKING. THE FIRST PLACE I LOOKED WAS THE BRAKE SAFETY SWITCH LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSEL. EVERY THING CHECKED OUT FINE. THAT IS WERE I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE SO I THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER BROKEN WIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK BRAKE FLUID LEVEL,AND NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PLUG LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE PLASTIC PLUG AND WIRES. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT I FEEL VERY LUCKY IT WENT OUT BY ITSELF!I LIVE IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND COULD NOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE IT COULD OF CAUSED IF IT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL, AS IT WAS PARKED BY TREES ,SHED, JET SKIS,ETC. AT THIS TIME I AM GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE PLUG AND OR WIRING HARNESS AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON FRONT OF MASTER CYLINDER THAT I BELIEVE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SMALL FIRE. I WILL CALL FORD DEALER SHIP IN MORNING TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY INFO ON PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL OLD PARTS AND HAVE DOCUMENTED THE ISSUE WITH PICTURES. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BOX IS LOCATED ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SWITCH THAT CAUGHT FIRE. I DO KNOW ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL AND IT MAKES ME WONDER IF ALL OF THESE TRAGIC FORD FIRES REPORTED REALLY DID START FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231903June 21, 2008
STEERING
AS I WAS LEAVING THE ON RAMP TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-25 IN DENVER THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED WHERE THE STEERING SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THERE WAS NO STEERING CAPABILITIES OF THE PICK-UP. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS BUT WAS WITHIN FEET OF BEING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231680June 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKING AT START UP. MECHANIC SAID #4 CYCLE GETTING COOLANT ON SPARK PLUGS FOWLING OUT PLUGS. MECHANIC REPAIRED HEADS AND REPLACED BLOWN HEAD GASKET/TUNED UP ENGINE/ REPLACED FUEL AND AIR FILTER/ SERVICED FUEL SYSTEM / RESURFACED HEADS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231868June 20, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY F150 TRUCK WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT WHEN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AS OUR FAMILY WAS SLEEPING. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR, PARKED BESIDE THE TRUCK, BEGAN TO BURN AS WELL AND THE CAR ALARM SYSTEM SOUNDED. MY FAMILY AWOKE AS THE WINDOWS OF THE HOUSE UNDER THE CARPORT WERE BREAKING OUT AND THE HOUSE FIRE ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. EVERYONE GOT OUT OK, THANK GOODNESS, AND THE HOUSE WAS SAVED, ALTHOUGH DAMAGED. WE LOST THE TRUCK, CARPORT, RIDING LAWN MOWER, 4 WHEELER AND SEVERAL OTHER SMALL ITEMS. THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE SUFFERED MAJOR SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE. THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE STARTED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PART WHICH FORD HAS A RECALL ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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