Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10179475January 23, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1997 FORD PICKUP F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 01/22/2007 HE WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PLATE IN THE COLUMN THAT IS LOOSE AND COULD PUSH UP AND DOWN AN INCH. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR, AND HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE LAST FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 02/22/07*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178639January 13, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
AT AROUND 5:45 PM EST 1/13/2007 MY HUSBAND WAS WORKING ON OUR COMPUTER WHILE MY SON AND I WATCHED A MOVIE. THE DOORBELL RANG AND I WENT OUTSIDE TO FIND MY HUSBAND'S 1997 FORD F150 WITH FLAMES SHOOTING HIGH OUT OF THE HOOD. I GRABBED MY SON AND CAME BACK INSIDE AND SCREAMED FOR MY HUSBAND. HE GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT IT WAS FAR TOO INVOLVED. A NEIGHBORHOOD KID HAD BEEN WALKING BY AND SAW THE FIRE AND RANG THE DOORBELL - HE WAITED WITH US DOWN THE STREET FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS. I CALLED 911 AND EVACUATED THE HOUSE AND RAN DOWN THE STREET. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 5 MINUTES OR SO - WHILE WE WAITED THERE WERE SEVERAL MINOR EXPLOSIONS BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE IT GOT TO THE HOUSE (ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE TRUCK) OR THE OTHER CAR PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED - THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD ARE GONE - THE INTERIOR IS BLACK AND DEVASTATED AND THE TIRES ARE MELTED - THE PAINT IS GONE - IT LOOKS NOTHING IT DID A FEW HOURS AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177855January 5, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
COMPLAINT: FORD MOTOR COMPANY, POOR DESIGN OF LOWER INTAKE PLENUM/MANIFOLD GASKET IN THE ESSEX 4.2L V-6. 1: EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE ORIGINALLY THERE WERE NO OBVIOUS SIGNS OF IMPENDING FAILURE. THE INDICATIONS OF FAILURE ARE LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT WITH NO VISIBLE EXTERNAL LEAK, AND COOLANT IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. 2: FAILURE AND IT'S CONSEQUENCES THIS DEFECT ALLOWS COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, CAUSING A HYDRAULIC LOCKING CONDITION WHICH WILL BREAK/BEND ONE OR MORE CONNECTING RODS. THIS RENDERS THE ENGINE UNUSABLE, AND IT MUST BE PULLED, REPAIRED IF POSSIBLE (SOME ARE NOT), AND RE-INSTALLED. 3: FAILURE CORRECTION. IN MOST CASES THE ENGINE CAN BE REPAIRED BY REPLACING A CONNECTING ROD, PISTON, AND CRANKSHAFT, AND ALL THE OTHER ASSOCIATED PARTS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS LEVEL OF DISASSEMBLY. IN SOME CASES THE CONNECTING ROD WILL BREAK AND DAMAGE THE BLOCK BEYOND REPAIR. THIS HAPPENED IN MY CASE. THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WAS OVER $2000, NOT TO MENTION THE LABOR INVOLVED IN IT'S REPLACEMENT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW, AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING IT. HOWEVER, TO THIS DAY THEY WILL STILL NOT OFFER ANY AID, IN ANY FORM, FOR DAMAGES INCURRED DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177528January 2, 2007
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS WEEK THE ENGINE IN MY 1997 F-150 BLEW. THE PLUGS WERE WET. COOLANT LEAKED. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE ABOUT PURCHASING AN ENGINE AND I FOUND A WEBSITE CALLED FIGHT BACK WITH DAVID HORIWITZ. THERE ARE 27 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. HTTP:WWW.FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHPT=224 YOU NEED TO SEE FOR YOURSELF. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177382December 30, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
MY TRUCK FORD F150 1997 WAS PARKED ON FRONT DRIVEWAY AND GET ON FIRE BY ITSELF. ENGINE WAS COLD AND TRUCK WAS IDLE FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS. DAMAGE WAS TOTAL. FIRE MARSHAL WAS AT THE SCENE AND GET TO THE CONCLUSION THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177112December 27, 2006
TIRES
TL* - WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE STARTED WOBBLING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. THE TIRE DISENGAGED, AND THE CONTACT CAME TO A STOP. THE TIRE WAS NEW, AND ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 15 MILES. THE TIRE ALWAYS TEARS BETWEEN THE BEAD AND SIDEWALL. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177012December 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOW ON COOLANT- OIL PRESSURE STARTED TO DROP, COOLANT IN OIL. AFTER READING CONSIDERABLY ABOUT THIS ON INTERNET FOUND OUT ABOUT TSP #99B29 AND THE RESULTING ONP DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS EVER FIXED I AM SECOND OWNER AND THE ONP EXPIRED IN 2001. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM LEAKING GASKET. MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES REGARDING THIS. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD A $4000 MOTOR BECAUSE FORD DID NOT GET IT RIGHT AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ERRORS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175030December 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1997 FORD F-150 4.2 L 6 CYLINDER MYSTERIOUSLY THROUGH A ROD AT 80K MILES RESULTING IN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM PLAGUING MANY FORD CUSTOMERS, YET FORD HAS PROVIDED NO RELIEF. AN EXPENSIVE $4000 REPAIR! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175032December 3, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 4.2L. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT FOR A WHILE! I HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, REPLACED HOSES, REPLACED THERMOSTATS,ETC. MY TRUCK IS NOW HAVING A TICKING SOUND WHEN I START IT IN COLD WEATHER. I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAD PREVIOUSLY ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS TRUCKS ENGINE FOR A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL!!! I WAS INFORMED OF OTHER RECALLS LIKE LUG NUT FAILURE, CRUISE CONTROL CABLES,ETC, BUT NEVER ABOUT THE MOST EXPENSIVE, MOST VITAL PART OF THE TRUCK THE ENGINE. THE INFORMATION OF THE RECALL WAS DISCOVER AS I WAS ON THE WEB TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW TO FIX THE KNOCKING SOUND. THE WEB SITE HAD OVER 350 MESSAGES OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM!!! PLEASE HELP!! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174634November 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT RUNNING LOW,STARTED MY TRUCK AND IT STARTED KNOCKING VERY LOUD,AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP ALMOST INSTANTLY,HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REBUILT AND NOW IT IS KNOCKING AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172659November 5, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON OCCASION, TRUCK WOULD HESITATE, TAKING A BIT OF TLC ON THE GAS PEDAL TO CLEAR IT UP. ONE OCCASION, IN TRAFFIC, ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A NEAR MISS, I ACCELERATED THROUGH THIS. WHITE SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. HEAD GASKET FAILURE. LIMPED HOME. ENGINE HYDRO-LOCKED. DIAGNOSIS = REPLACE HEAD GASKETS ($2,100) IN THIS SAME 'WEAK' 4.2 V-6 OR REPLACE MOTOR ($2,500) WITH NEWER 4.2 V-6. REPLACEMENT WILL BE DONE TOMORROW. FORD FAULTY ENGINE / GASKETS - NOT MY FAULT. MY PROBLEM THOUGH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171127October 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
F150 FORD RIGHT SIDE UPPER HEAD GASKET FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169665October 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1997 FORD F150, 4.2L V6, HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE ABOUT 2004. MY SON HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE ONE AFTERNOON. FINALLY I GOT IT STARTED AND DROVE 5 MILES HOME. THE NEXT AFTERNOON THE CAR STARTED QUICKLY BUT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BANGING AWAY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS DEAD - BAD ROD. NOW I FIND OUT FROM THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE BUT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. TRADE IN VALUE ON THE CAR IS ZERO BECAUSE ALL THE 2ND TIER DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THE ENGINE PROBLEM. I'M OUT THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE (SEEMS ONLY FAIR AFTER MY 96 WINDSTAR NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKETS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT AT 30K MILES) APPARENTLY IF YOU KNOW A FORD MECHANIC, HE WILL TELL YOU THE MOTOR HAS BEEN BAD SINCE THE DAY IT WAS FIRST MANUFACTURED. THIS MOTOR SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE FAULTY GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE MOTOR IT WOULDN'T HAVE. FROM READING WEB SITES I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON THE GASKET AND THEN PULLED IT. I NEVER RECEIVED A BULLETIN ON THE FAULTY GASKET. DON'T EXPECT TO OWN ANOTHER FORD, BUT SOME FINANCIAL HELP WOULD SURE SOOTHE MY FRUSTRATION IF SOMEONE WANTS THE PARTS TO USE TO ACQUIRE COMPENSATION FROM FORD I CAN KEEP THE DEAD ENGINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169635September 29, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF TRUCK AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOWOUT. AS I CHANGED LANE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER I SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE PIECES OF TIRE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE PULLED OVER, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE, AT FIRST EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL I LOOKED AT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, SAW THAT THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED, BUT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THE SIDEWALLS WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION, BUT THE TREAD HAD JUST PEALED AWAY FROM THE CENTER. *MM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169502September 28, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA RECALL # 05V388000, PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER 2 WEEKS, THERE WAS A SMELL INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE OF SOMETHING BURNING. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER THAT ORIGINALLY PERFORMED THE WORK, WHO THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR PART OF THE RECALL HAD BEEN FULFILLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE VIN IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED THE NOTICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169276September 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HYDRO-LOCK ON 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 4.2L V6 CAUSED BENT ROD. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FORD ON-99B29 WAS EXERCISED IN 2000 WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168222September 14, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 3 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND EXPLODED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167208September 1, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V6. ENGINE FAILURE. BROKEN ROD FOLLOWING HYDRO LOCK. PROBLEM PRECEDED WITH COOLANT LEAK AND REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166821August 29, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. IT HAS THE 4.2L V6. I HAD 84,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR DUE TO A BENT ROD. THE ROD DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A LEAKING GASKET THAT ALLOWED COOLANT INTO THE CYCLINDER. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED THE FLUID (DOES NOT COMPRESS) PREVENTED THE PISTON FROM FULL TRAVEL AND BENT THE ROD. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS AND DENIES EVERYTHING. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I BECAME AWARE OF MANY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166503August 25, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I DRIVE AN IMPORTED F150 FROM 1997 (4X4, 5.4 ENGINE). LAST WEEK MY CRUISE STOPPED WORKING. AFTER INSPECTION AND SURFING THE NET, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME A LOT OF F150 HAD (HAVE), OIL LEAK TO THE CRUISE-CONNECTOR. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A GARAGE, INSPECTED CAREFULLY AND CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. I WROTE TO FORD.COM TO ASK FOR HELP TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. NO REACTION. I ONLY ASK FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS I NEED AND THE NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS TO DO THE REPAIRS, NOT MORE. PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP ME TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I LOVE THAT TRUCK AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP DRIVING AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. FOR THE MOMENT I DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE (AS RECOMMENDED ON A LOT OF FORD-FORUMS).*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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