Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10219760February 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 97 F-150, V-6 4.2L ENGINE PICKUP. I HAVE ALWAYS A COOLANT LEAK COMING FROM SOMEWHERE, BUT LATELY IT HAS GOT WORSE. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS SUBJECT AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF FORD OWNERS WITH THIS SAME VEHICLE AND ENGINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. LOSS OF COOLANT. INTAKE GASKETS, HEADGASKETS AND TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKETS. THIS IS NOT ONLY A CONSUMER ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SEEMS FORD DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD AND IT WAS STATED THERE WAS NO RECALLS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT WITH A LARGE POPULATION OF FORD OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. INSTEAD ITS LEFT TO THE OWNER TO CONDUCT THE REPAIRS WITH A HEAVY FINANCIAL COSTS. IT CAN ONLY BE ASSUMED FORD IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THAT CONSUMERS ARE HAVING. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE? NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE TIMING CASE LEAK, BUT NOW I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN MY ENGINE WILL SEIZE DUE TO INTAKE OR HEADGASKET LEAKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219342February 27, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER (BRAKES). NO DAMAGE WAS DONE DUE TO QUICK REACTION BUT IT LEFT THE BRAKES WITHOUT POWER AND THE TRUCK WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO THE "SWITCH FIRE" PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A WIDE-SPREAD FORD RECALL. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 1997 FORD F-150 4X4. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM LEASE-HOLDER AND FULL WARRANTY WAS TRANSFERRED TO ME. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES BUT NOT THE ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218985February 24, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILURE. ALLOWS ANTI-FREEZE INTO NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218179February 16, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HYDROLOCK ON 1997 FORD F-150 V6 4.2 ENGINE. WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE UNTIL THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WAS QUOTED $4500 FOR A NEW REBUILD ENGINE. I WAS CURIOUS OF WHY THE ENGINE WOULD SEIZE AND DID SOME INTERNET SEARCHES ONLY TO FIND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ENGINE YEAR AND BUILD. WHY WAS I NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS PROBLEM IF SO MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED IT, AND WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR IF SYMPTOMS OF THIS CONDITION ARE EVIDENT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218169February 15, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
HVAC BLEND DOOR FAILURE, CAN NOT HEAT/AIR CONDITION OR DEFROST CAB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217879February 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE THAT JUST TURNED 100,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT SECOND HAND FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP JUNE 1999 WITH ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR OVER THE YEARS. AFTER NOTICING THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS DOWN AFTER A A RECENT REFILL I REFILLED IT AGAIN. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS BUT WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE ENGINE MADE A CLUNK AND WOULDN'T CRANK. I SUSPECTED THE BATTERY AFTER A CHARGE YIELDED THE SAME RESULTS. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT STILL THE SAME RESULT AND ALSO AFTER REFINISHING LEAD TERMINALS AND STARTER REPLACEMENT. I CHECKED THE OIL FILLER CAP AND THERE WAS A THICK LIGHT BROWN SUBSTANCE I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE ON IT AND ALL THE WAY DOWN AROUND THE INSIDE WALL OF THE FILLER TUBE. I SUSPECTED A LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET OR ELSEWHERE AND WENT TO THE INTERNET SITES FOR CLARIFICATION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I REALIZED I WAS FAR FROM BEING THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. AS I SUSPECTED THE COOLANT LEAKS VIA THE LOOSE SEAL OF THE HEAD GASKET INTO ONE OR MORE OF THE CYLINDERS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND RECALL THAT FORD NEVER CONVEYED TO ALL THE OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217356February 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216908February 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WATER DISCOVERED IN THE OIL OF 4.2L F-150 MOTOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214637January 13, 2008
INTERIOR LIGHTING, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOORS HAVE STRESS CRACKS ON UPPER FRAME,I'VE PAID TO HAVE REPAIRED ONCE,WHEN I APPROACHED DEALER THEY SAID O RECALL ON THAT PROBLEM, WOULD NOT HELP,NOW DOOR SWITCHES KEEP INTERIOR LIGHTS ON TILL IT GOES OFF ON POWER SAVER,DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN MOISTURE CONDITION/RAIN,SNOW SLEET AND SO ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
9
Deaths:
0
#10214602January 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
97 F150 4.2 V6. STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AT START UP BUT STOPPED AFTER WARM UP. COUPLE DAYS LATER , I STARTED TRUCK AND ROD BLEW. TOWED IN AND WAS TOLD I NEED ANOTHER MOTOR. HAD REMANUFACTURED MOTOR PUT IN $3500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214030January 7, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. IN 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL NUMBER 05S28. THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL HAS NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211516December 12, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
97 F-150 4.2 INTAKE GASKET LEAKING RESULTING IN DAMAGED ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211246December 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON OR ABOUT DEC 2006, I BEGAN NOTICING THE ENGINE IN MY TRUCK BEHAVING STRANGELY. IT HAD AROUND 85,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE THE TRUCK REPAIRED DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS, AND I RARELY DRIVE IT ANYWAY, SO THE TRUCK SAT IN MY GARAGE UNTIL I WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO FACE THE PROBLEM. I KNEW BY THE WAY IT WAS ACTING THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ALOT. LAST FALL, AUG 2007, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 4.2L ENGINE THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN MY TRUCK WAS FAULTY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT PAY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210462December 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 1997 FORD F-150 4.2 L 6 CYLINDER ENGINE HAS BEEN CONSUMING ANTIFREEZE AT A LOW BUT STEADY RATE FOR A COUPLE YEARS....I DID NOT KNOW WHY. NOW I DO THE GASKET HAS A LEAK INTO A CYLINDER AND THE TRUCK HAS A MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEM, THAT WILL REQUIRE OVERHAUL OR REPLACEMENT. FOR SOME TIME I HAVE HAD VERY HARD STARTS WHERE THE ENGINE WILL NOT ROLL OVER WITHOUT DIFFICULTY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AMONG OTHERS WITH THIS ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210352November 30, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 F-150 XL SB (TRUCK) TWO DAYS AGO, I STARTED THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THERE WAS A BANGING ON THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS..ALL WERE WITHIN THE CORRECT LEVELS..TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE MECHANICS..TOLD ME THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL OF THESE TRUCKS...HE SAID THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET HAD BEEN COMPROMISED AND THAT THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE..I FOUND A WEBSITE WHERE THERE WERE 100'S OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS V-6 ENGINE (4.2 L). I AM APPALLED THAT FORD WOULD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN...OH, YES.... I NEVER RECEIVED A TSB REGARDING THIS MATTER..I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 1997 AND I HAVE ONLY 38,891 MILES ON THIS ENGINE....I AM LIVID THAT I HAVE BEEN ROYALLY SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210245November 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAKING INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP AT STARTUP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209308November 19, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS OF NOVEMBER 19, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 262,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 262,264. UPDATED 12/12/07
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209055November 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TRUCK RUNNING GREAT,TURNED ON NEXT DAY LOUD RATTLING WATER OUT THE EXHAUST OIL PRESSURE GONE, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK, POSSIBLE BENT ROD AND MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. 4.2L MOTOR HAS A KNOW DEFECT THAT FORD DID NOT LET THE PUBLIC KNOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208872November 13, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FORD F150 WINDSHIELD LEAKS, LEADING TO GEM AND FUSE MODULE FAILURE. RANDOM ELECTRONICS CLICKING AND TURNING THEMSELVES ON DUE TO LEAKING WINDSHIELDS DAMAGING THESE ELECTRONIC MODULES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207058October 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I AM NOW HAVING THE WATER LEAK ISSUE INTO THE GEM DUE TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD SEAL. IT IS STARTING TO CAUSE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THE FOLLOWING IS A TSB RELEASED BY FORD: FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 VARIOUS ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM WATER INTRUSION INTO THE GEM/CJB SOME 1997-2002 EXPEDITION AND 1998-2002 NAVIGATOR VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS UNUSUAL ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: FRONT OR REAR BLOWER OR EATC STAYING ON WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, RADIO STAYING ON AFTER DOORS OPENED AND KEY OUT OF IGNITION, WIPER CIRCUIT FAILURE CODES, AND MULTIPLE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS WITH 'SHORT TO POWER' OR 'LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE' DTCS. THESE SYMPTOMS MOST OFTEN OCCUR AFTER A RAIN OR SNOW. THIS MAY BE DUE TO GEM/CJB WATER INTRUSION RESULTING FROM A WINDSHIELD WATER LEAK. TO SERVICE, REMOVE THE GEM AND CJB FROM THE VEHICLE, SEPARATE THEM AND INSPECT FOR WATER CONTAMINATION OR CORROSION. IF FOUND IN EITHER COMPONENT, REPLACE BOTH COMPONENTS AND COMPLETELY RESEAL THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY SOUL EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES. APPARENTLY FORD IS NOT FIXING THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AT THEIR EXPENSE BUT PASSING IT TO THE CUSTOMERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FORD ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. PLEASE HELP WITH RESOLVING THIS ISSUE AS SOME PEOPLE HAVE SPENT IN THE THOUSANDS FIXING ISSUES THAT THIS WATER INTRUSION ISSUE HAS CAUSED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Ford F-150