Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10134783August 30, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 97 F150 A LOT OF PEOPLE DO. I HAVE 4.2 V6 THAT LOCKED UP ON ME A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MOTOR FOR A COOLANT GASKET BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ONE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND EVEN THE ONES THAT GOT CHANGE WENT BAD ANYWAY. PLEASE HELP MAKE FORD OWN UP TO THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT AND REPLACE THESE MOTORS. THANK YOU. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134600August 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1997 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OF MY RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE IS A V-8, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL AND JUST OVER 85,000 MILES. IT IS A WORK TRUCK DRIVEN DAILY, ABOUT 200 MILES PER WEEK. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH EITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AT ABOUT 8:15 ON THE EVENING OF AUG. 25TH I RETURNED HOME AND PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY ABOUT SIX FEET FROM THE GARAGE DOOR. I WENT TO BED AT 10:30 P.M. MY NEIGHBOR RETURNED TO HIS HOME AT 12:05 A.M. HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD AND WITNESSED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IGNITE INTO A BALL OF FLAMES. HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND USED MY GARDEN HOSE TO WET DOWN MY GARAGE DOOR THEREBY PREVENTING MY HOUSE FROM CATCHING FIRE. I WAS FINALLY AWAKEN AROUND 12:30A.M. BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THE INSULATION HAD MELTED FROM THE INSIDE OF MY GARAGE DOOR, THE GARAGE DOOR WINDOWS HAD CRACKED FROM THE HEAT, THE TRIM MELTED, AND THE GUTTERS ABOVE THE GARAGE WARPED. IF NOT FOR THE QUICK THINKING OF OUR NEIGHBOR WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES. OUR BEDROOMS ARE LOCATED TO THE REAR OF THE HOUSE AND THE GARAGE IS AT THE FRONT, BY THE TIME WE REALIZED THERE WAS A FIRE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO LATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131598August 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON HIS 1997 FORD F150 WENT OUT. THEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET THE BRAKE LIGHTS FIXED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT WAS SMOKING WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-17-04. HE DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH. HE BOUGHT A NEW SWITCH AND INSTALLED IT, AND NEVER HAD ANY MORE TROUBLE. HE WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT SO NHTSA WOULD BE AWARE THAT THE 1997 FORD -F150 HAD A BAD CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH . HE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL HE HAD HEARD IT ON THE NEWS THAT THE 2000 YEAR MODELS HAD A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *AK *JB UPDATED 03/29/06
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130616August 23, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: 1997 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. A NEIGHBOR ALERTED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A FIRE AT ABOUT 2:45 AM. THE NEIGHBOR SAID THAT THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME BECAUSE THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE CONSUMER'S HOUSE AND THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED. IT BURNED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE TOOL BOX. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE DAMAGE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED SMOKE INHALATION, AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CONSUMER E-MAILED FORD AND ASKED FOR SOMEONE TO CONTACT HIM, AND NO ONE DID. THERE WAS AN ONGOING INSURANCE CLAIM. THERE WAS MASSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10133685August 21, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
IN FEB./ 05 CRUISE CONTROL QUITE, MECHANIC COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM, AUG 15/05 ABS LIGHT COMES ON. THINKING BRAKE FLUID IS LOW, I POP THE HOOD AND NOTICE PLUG ON MASTER CYLINDER IS BURNED/MELTED. CAR WONT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS. I GET A NEW PLUG AND HARNESS FROM DEALER AND REPLACE BLOWN FUSE. I STILL HAVE NO CRUISE LIGHT ON ON DASH BUT BRAKES AND CRUISE WORK. DEALER SAID NO RECALL BUT PLENTY OF SERVICE BULLETINS. $15.00 PART
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133550August 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
ABS LIGHT STARTED FLASHING 16 TIMES WITH PAUSE THEN REPEATS. NOTICED #13 FUSE WAS BLOWN. REPLACED AND LOOKED UP IMMEDIATELY TO FIND WHITE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF HOOD. PULLED OUT FUSE TO FIND THAT IT WAS BLOWN (THANK GOODNESS). HEARD ON INTERNET FORUM THAT IT MAY BE THE CRUISE SWITCH ON MASTER CYLINDER. LOOKED THERE AND FOUND SWITCH PARTLY MELTED. DISCONNECTED SWITCH AND BATTERY, REPLACED FUSE AND HOOKED UP BATTERY, BUT NOT THE SWITCH. NO MORE BLINKING LIGHT, BUT NOW NO CRUISE CONTROL, OF COURSE. STILL HAVE YET TO CONTACT FORD ABOUT THE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133601August 19, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 FORD F150 4.2 L V-6 LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DESTROYS ENGINE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133403August 18, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
MY SON TOLD ME HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKE LIGHTS ON HIS TRUCK, A 1997 FORD F150. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A FUSE SINCE HE SAID THAT HE REPLACED THE BULBS. WHEN I REPLACED THE FUSE THERE WAS A ABUNDANCE OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF SMOKE WITH THE HOOD OPEN WE REPLACED THE FUSE AGAIN. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. WE REPLACED THE PART AND I HAVE KEPT THE OLD PART. I CAN SUPPLY THE NUMBER ON THE PART OR SEND IT ANYWHERE YOU LIKE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133160August 17, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1997 FORD F 150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT COMPLETELY. THE OWNER PARKED THE TRUCK AT 6 PM IN THE GARAGE AND AT 9 PM HEARD THE HORN. THE OWNER THEN WENT TO THE GARAGE TO CHECK ON THE TRUCK AND FOUND THE TRUCK BURNING. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THE OWNER SAID THE FIRE WAS FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CLAIMED THAT HE WAS JUST SECONDS FROM LOSING HIS HOUSE. THE OWNER HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING IN THE TV NEWS OR NEWS PAPERS ABOUT THE ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE SWITCH. THE OWNER HAD NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL THAT DAY OR DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING FUNNY ABOUT HOW THE TRUCK WAS DRIVING. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT, AND AN INSURANCE REPORT WERE ISSUED. PICTURES WERE TAKEN. THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY BEEN MOVED FROM THE FIRE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTALED. LOSS AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE OWNER'S HOUSE, SEVERE SMOKE DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. THE INSURANCE TOOK CARE OF THE SMOKE DAMAGES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133033August 16, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL FOR THE 2000 FORD F150, STATING IT CAN LEAD TO FIRES. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND THE IGNITION WAS OFF. WENT OUT TO THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. SOME WIRING MELTED. CONTACTED FORD, THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS FOR 2000 MODELS. THE CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED, THEY REPLACED THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 23, 2005. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE, BUT DID HAVE THE INVOICE FROM WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133034August 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 97 FORD F150. THEY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE GASKET FAILURE. I AM ON MY 3RD MOTOR IN IT. THEY DONT MAKE IT 100,000 MILE. YOU JUST START THEM @ THEY WILL BLOW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133125August 16, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE WATCHING CNN NEWS AUGUST 16 2005, A REPORT WAS ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OF FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. I WAS PARKED AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MINUTES WHEN I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AT THAT POINT, I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM, THEN GRABBED THE WIRING WAY ABOVE THE HEAT SOURCE AND STARTED PULLING THE WIRES UNTIL THEY BROKE LOOSE. THE WIRING WAS ATTACHED TO A SWITCH AT THE END OF MY BRAKE CYLINDER, IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK AND I COULD NOT REMOVE IT FROM PARK, I HAD TO CALL FOR HELP. A DAY OR SO LATER, I SAW A REPORT ON CNN NEWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR THIS SWITCH AND FORD WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD ,IF FORD WOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAD DRIVEN MY MOM TO VISIT SOMEONE IN A NURSING HOME, OTHERWISE MY TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN ON MY CARPORT. IS THERE MORE HIDDEN PROBLEMS THAT FORD IS HIDING THAT COULD, OR WOULD, HAVE DESTROYED MY HOUSE BY FIRE IF I HAD NOT BEEN IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME? IS IT SAFE TO PARK IN MY GARAGE NOW? I ASKED CHEROKEE FORD IN WOOKSTOCK, GEORGIA IF THEY KNEW OF A RECALL ON THIS SINCE IT WAS ON THE NEWS, AND THEY SAID SOME VEHICLES WERE, BUT NOT MINE, AND TO KEEP WATCHING THE NEWS AND IF, (BIG WORD)FORD DID HAVE A RECALL, COME BACK AND THEY COULD REIMBURSE FOR THE PART ONLY, SINCE MY REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132940August 15, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
MY 1997 F-150 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEN IN 18 HOURS. MY TWELVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND A NEIGHBOR PUT THE FIRE OUT. IN SPEAKING WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY HAVE A RECALL ON CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES BUT UNTIL TODAY IT DID NOT GO BACK TO MY YEAR MODEL. DUE TO A TELEVISION BROADCAST ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2005 FORD HAS NOW INCLUDED VEHICLES UP TO 1995 HOWEVER WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM TODAY THEY ADVISED IT ONLY INCLUDES VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AT PARTICULAR PLANTS WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER STATED "MORE THAN LIKELY THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH". MY FAMILY AND I WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE THE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF LIFE AS MY CHILDREN'S BEDROOMS ARE LOCATED ABOVE THE GARAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FORD EXTEND THIS RECALL TO EVERY VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF THE PLANT IT WAS MANUFACTURED AND AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COSTS HOWEVER FORD IS DENYING ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU COULD OFFER TO HELP MAKE THIS COMPANY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR MANUFACTURING PRACTICES WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132967August 15, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS. THE THIRD DOOR HANDLE/LOCK GETS STUCK AND THE DOOR SOMETIMES DOES NOT OPEN OR IT IS HARD TO OPEN, AND OPENS AFTER TRYING REPEATEDLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132552August 12, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EL CAJON FORD REPLACED PLUGS. NEVER WARNED ME ABOUT PLUG BLOWOUT. HEARD TICKING FOR 2 WEEKS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS MINOR EXHAUST LEAK. PLUG BLEW OUT DRIVING HOME AT 30 MPH. TOWED TRUCK TO EL CAJON FORD AND SERVICE WRITER SAID FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE HEAD AT $3500 WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE HEAD. I ASKED ABOUT THE DEPENDABILITY OF THE OTHER HEAD AND HE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY RARE AND USUALLY ONLY HAPPENED WITH THE LIGHTNING AND ONLY 1 PLUG WAS EVER BAD IN EACH MOTOR. I REFUSED REPAIR AT FORD AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127672August 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE OF THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND SPREAD QUICKLY. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSPECTING THE TRUCK, AND THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR FROM FORD CHECKING THE VEHICLE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132422August 11, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: 1997 FORD F150. THE CONSUMER STATES ON AUGUST 10, 2005 H VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS BEFORE THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND THEY FILED A REPORT. FORD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THIS OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED IT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132218August 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING ALONG 26 MILE ROAD AND INDIAN TRAIL. DASH BOARD BEGAN TO SMOKE, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AS I EXITED VEHICLE THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. I ATTEMPTED TO REACH IN TO RETRIEVE SOME PERSONAL BELONGS AND BURNED LEG (MINOR). VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND A POLICY REPORT WAS FILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132249August 10, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1997 F-150 PICKUP CAUGHT FIRE AFTER RETURNING FROM THE STORE, 10 MINUTES LATER WE HEAR A HORN BLOWING WE GO TO SEE WHAT IS WAS AND THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. IT IS AN OPEN CLAIM WITH MY INS. COMPANY RIGHT NOW. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-7-2005. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132260August 10, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1.WELL FIRST THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 97 FORD F150 WENT OUT. THEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT TOO. REPLACECD BRAKE LIGHTS ,THEN FUSE WENT OUT IN INTERIOR FUSE BOX SO, TRUCK WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. REPLACED FUSE THEN IT BLEW IT AGAIN. REPLACED AGAIN TRUCK COULD NOW SHIFT INTO GEAR. I WENT HOME PARKED TRUCK THE TRUCK IN DRIVE WAY AND DID NOT MOVE IT FOR THE TRUCK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. WAS WAKEN UP ABOUT 3 IN THE MORNING BY COPS TELLING ME MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE TRUCK ENDED UP BURNT EVERYWHERE BUT THE BED TOTAL LOSS PRETTY MUCH UN DRIVABLE. BURNED A 95 CARAVAN AND PART OF A 2002 FORD EXCURSION. I KNOW HAVE I VEHICLE TO MOVE MY KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL AND MYSELF AND MY WIFE WHICH ALSO NOW HAS SOME SERIOUS NERVE DAMAGE SHE HAS NIGHTMARES OF OTHER VEHICLE BURNING AND CAN HARDLY SLEEP. TRIED CONTACTING FORD BUT C.S. DEPARTMENT PUTS ME ON HOLD ALL DAY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford F-150