Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10148403January 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
GASKET FAILED ON 4.2 LITER FORD ENGINE, CAUSING A ROD TO BREAK. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE GASKET RECALL IN 1999. IT'S GOING TO COST ME $3000 TO FIX. FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THIS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS JUST LIKE MINE OUT THERE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148422January 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V-6 ENGINE BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT BEGAN HAVING AN ERRATIC STARTING PROBLEM. IT THEN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I CHECKED THE COOLANT SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE GAUGES, AND EVERYTHING SHOWED TO BE FINE. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE WHITE SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THEN I WENT TO START IT THE OTHER MORNING AND IT TURNED OVER THE ROD IN THE #4 CYLINDER IS BENT DUE TO COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE, AND THINK THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! . THE TECH THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE F-150S HAVE HAD A TREND PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FOR YEARS; COOLANT WOULD LEAK INTO A CYLINDER CAUSING TOO MUCH COMPRESSION RESULTING IN A BENT OR BROKEN ROD. IT COST ME OVER $2000 FOR SOMETHING FORD KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. I SENT A LETTER (ATTACHED) TO FORD AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY TELLING ME IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THIS VEHICLE WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL BUT, BECAUSE OF AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE ENGINE FAILED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE AT HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15 . I FINED IT EXTREMELY UNFAIR THAT I AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF REPLACING A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147792January 14, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I'LL HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 FOR NO REASON MY MOTOR BLEW A ROD I'LL READ IN THE INTERNET ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THE MOTOR ARE DEFECT, ISN'T FORD DEALER DURING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS NOT RIGHT I'LL WENT TO WORK IN MY TRUCK CAME HOME FROM WORK, 3-HOURS LATER STARTED MY TRUCK THE ENGINE KNOCK CONTINUES TO BANG, I TURN IT OFF I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK BLEW A ROD. THIS IS VERY ON FAIR I CAN'T AFFORD A ANOTHER CAR. PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147432January 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD IN 4.2L V6 (FORD F150) FAILED (MELTED) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER RESULTING IN HYDRO-LOCK. THE PISTON AND CONNECTING ROD IN THAT CYLINDER WERE DAMAGED (PISTON SKIRT BROKEN, ROD BENT). SINCE THEN I HAVE LEARNED THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ALMOST SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW ('97) AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT TO OWNERS EXCEPT WHERE THE GASKET FAILED DURING THE REGULAR WARRANTY PERIOD. AS I UNDERSTAND IT FAILURE IS INEVITABLE, AND EVEN SO FORD DID NOT MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT OWNERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. IN MY CASE FORD'S REFUSAL TO PROVIDE A WARNING OF THIS PROBLEM TURNED A RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE REPAIR (REPLACEMENT OF THE GASKET) INTO OVER $1300 IN PARTS AND LABOR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146810January 3, 2006
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT STEERING LINKAGE AND TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A SOLUTION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146647January 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAD PURCHASED A USED FOR F-150 FOR THE DEALER IT WENT THROUGH INSPECTION AND WAS WORKING VERY WELL. HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS OF USE IT STARTED TO LOOSE COOLANT, BUT DOT VISIBLY. IT WOULD RUN HOT , I WOULD ADD COOLANT AND CONTINUE. THEN IN APRIL OF 2005 THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD HYDROLOCKED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146652January 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V-6 ENGINE BEGAN GIVING ME PROBLEMS A FEW MONTHS AGO. IT BEGAN HAVING AN ERRATIC STARTING PROBLEM. IT THEN BEGAN TO BLOW OUT WHITE SMOKE OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I CHECKED THE COOLANT SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE GAUGES, AND EVERYTHING SHOWED TO BE FINE. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE WHITE SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THEN I WENT TO START IT THE OTHER MORNING AND IT TURNED OVER AND FIRED ONCE. THEN IT MADE A REAL LOUD BANGING NOISE, AND WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. I CONTINUED TO WORK WITH IT, AND FINALLY GOT IT TO CRANK AGAIN, AND IT WAS KNOCKING. THE KNOCKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE OIL PAN. I PULLED THE ENGINE OUT, AND TOOK IT APART. THE ROD IN THE #4 CYLINDER IS BENT DUE TO COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER. I HAVE HEARD THIS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE, AND THINK THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146607December 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALLY DUE TO KNOWN MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN GASKETS. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL LEAKS, JUST DISAPPEARING COOLANT LEVELS AND CAR OVERHEATING. AFTER THE COOLANT WAS TOPPED OFF, I TRIED STARTING THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WOULDN'T START DUE TO HYDROLOCK. WHEN IT DID FINALLY START, THE ENGINE PRODUCED A LOUD PINGING SOUND (SUCH AS A ROD KNOCK). I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GOING FURTHER INTO THE ENGINE TO ASSESS DAMAGE. THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT TO THE MANUFACTURER AS THEY HAVE RELEASED A TSB TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE THIS IS ONLY SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC AFTER DAMAGE IS DONE. PLEASE HELP! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146364December 29, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALLS CAMPAIGNS 05V388000 AND 98V007000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146382December 29, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 F-150 4.2 ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO KNOWN (BY FORD) DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK IN TO ENGINE AND DAMAGE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ([XXX] FAILED AT MY SON'S SCHOOL OVER 100 MILES FROM HOME. THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT REALIZE THIS UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED. THERE ARE MANY FORD CUSTOMERS ANXIOUS FOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO REQUIRE A RECALL TO HELP FINANCE THIS VERY EXPENSIVE (~$4,000) PROBLEM. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146109December 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
LEAKING FRONT GASKET AND/OR INTAKE GASKET CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE ON A 1997 FORD PICKUP V6 4.2 . I WAS NOT ADVISE AT NO TIME OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND PAID FOR THE GASKET REPAIRS MYSELF. ONLY NOW AFTER A MAJOR FAILURE HAVE I LEARNED ABOUT THE FORD TSB 99-20-7 AND/OR ON P99B29 AND THE DEALER IS LEAVING ME STRANDED. I'M DISABLED, AND NEARLY BROKE. ALSO LATER IN THIS FORM I DON'T KNOW WHAT OEM IS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146136December 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER ACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DEACTIVATE WITH THE OFF SWITCH OR THE BRAKE PEDAL. PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES HARD FOR APPROXIMATELY A MILE AND A HALF. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED BACK ON THE ENGINE WAS IDLING HIGH. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A SERVICE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146076December 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
RECALL ON FORD TRUCK THAT I DID NOT RECIEVE, WHICH MY HAVE SAVED ME FROM GETTING A NEW ENGINE. RECALL#99B29. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145502December 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150 FROM A JACKSONVILLE RESIDENT IN DECEMBER OF 2004 ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, I WENT OUT TO START IT AND HEARD LOUD BANGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ACCOMPANIED BY BELLOWS OF SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND, AFTER THE TECH CHECKED IT OUT, WAS IN FORMED THE ENGINE WAS SHOT. HE THEN EXPLAINED THAT THE F-150S HAVE HAD A TREND PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES FOR YEARS; COOLANT WOULD LEAK INTO A CYLINDER CAUSING TOO MUCH COMPRESSION RESULTING IN A BENT OR BROKEN ROD. IT COST ME $4220.00 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE FORD KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE. I SENT A LETTER (ATTACHED) TO FORD AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY TELLING ME IT WAS THE OWNER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THIS VEHICLE WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL BUT, BECAUSE OF AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THE ENGINE FAILED. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF STORIES LIKE MINE AT HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15 . I FINED IT EXTREMELY UNFAIR THAT I AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF REPLACING A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145300December 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FAILURE OF SPARK PLUG ON F150 1997 4.6L. NO EXTRA CONSEQUENCES EXCEPT COST OF REPAIR OF A FEATURE THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144949December 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1997 FORD F150 DEC. 7, 2005 - AIR CONDITIONING CONTINUED RUNNING WITH ENGINE OFF. DEC. 8, 2005 - ENGINE REPEATEDLY TRYING TO TURN OVER WITH TRUCK IN PARK WITH IGNITION OFF AND NO KEY IN IGNITION. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144990December 12, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
OUR 1997 FORD F150 BURNED DEC 5,2005. THE FIRE PROCEED TO OUR 1993 CHVY BLAZER PARKED IN FRONT OF IT AND THEN PROCEED TO OUR HOME. WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER AROUND END OF SEPT BEGINNING OF OCT. FOR THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR. THE RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY AND PARTS WOULD NOT BE IN UNTIL NOV. OUR CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK, WE WERE NOT REAL CONCERNED AT THE TIME. WE RECEIVED A POSTCARD THE WEEK BEFORE THE FIRE, STILL STATING A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND NOW PARTS WERE NOT TO BE IN UNTIL FEBRUARY 2006. NO WHERE ON THESE RECALLS ARE THE DANGER OF A FIRE DISCUSSED. I THINK THIS RECALL SHOULD BE MANDATORY!! WE CAME HOME AROUND 7:00 PM AND THE FIRE STARTED AROUND 3:00 AM OUR BLAZER ONLY HAD LIABILITY AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BE COVERED. THE INSURANCE IS PROCESSING TWO CLAIMS ( 2 - $1000.00 DEDUCTIBLES) AND WE ALSO HAVE AN MEDICAL CLAIM FOR OUR DAUGHTER GOING IN FOR TOXIC SMOKE INHALATION. WE HAD 6 PAYMENTS TO GO, NOW WE WILL BE LUCKY TO PURCHASE ONE DECENT VEHICLE AND DEFINITELY NEED TWO, WE BOTH WORK! FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE CONSUMERS! I HAVE MY DOUBTS THAT WE WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. MY GRANDFATHER HAULED NEW CARS FOR FORD FOR YEARS, BUT I HAVE NO LOYALTY WHEN I FIND WEBSITES GALORE ABOUT THIS RECALL AND NOTHING IS HAPPENING. HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO SUFFER OR DIE BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN CARE OF!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144552December 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. RESULTING IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPLACING THE ENTIRE MOTOR FOR WELL OVER $4,000. THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT MANY MORE. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH FOR FAULTY GASKETS IN 97 4.2L ENGINES. GO TO HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=10&PP=15 FOR MORE INFO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144490December 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE 4.2 F150 1997. 110,000 MILES FRONT GASKET REPLACED RECALL. NO LOST OF COOLANT UNTIL NOW. MORNING ENGINE MISSED FOR 15-20 SECONDS FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO FAILURE. DAY OF FAILURE ENGINE TURNED A SMALL AMOUNT AND WOULD NOT MOVE BY STARTER. ALLOWED TO SET AND STARTED LATER AND WHEN STARTED IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING APART. ALL LUBRICANTS CHANGED REGULAR WITH SYNTHETICS. APPARENTLY A ROD BROKE WHEN COOLANT RAN INTO CYLINDER AND STARTING CAUSE THE ROD TO BEND AND STARTING LATER CAUSED THE BEND TO BREAK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144175December 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE GASKET WENT OUT CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO PISTON AND WHEN TRUCK WAS CRANKED UP IT BENT ROD BROKE PISTON REPAIR BILL WAS $1685.00 SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOWN ABOUT THIS. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM JUST LOOK UP 1997 F150 INTAKE FORUM THANKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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