Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10205462October 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN MECHANIC SERVICE VEHICLE HE INFORMED ME THAT COOLANT HAS LEAKED INTO THE NUMBER FOUR CYLINDER AND THAT THIS ENGINE HAS A HISTORY OF HEAD GASKET FAILURES. HE CAN REPLACE GASKET BUT BELIEVES THAT THIS WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY FIX. HE WOULD BE WILLING TO REPLACE GASKET FOR $1600 BUT HE CAN NOT GUARANTEE RESULTS, A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WOULD COST APPROX. $4800. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE WEB IT HAS BECOME APPARENT TO ME THAT FORD HAS LONG KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204520October 1, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FORD STATED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. HE BEGAN RECEIVING RECALL LETTERS REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS IN 2004. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FORD CONCERNING REPAIRS AND/OR REIMBURSEMENT. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,660. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204098September 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MY F150 XLT 4.2L ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY PRIOR TO 9/21/07. THE TRUCK WAS SITTING AT HOME AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE IT. AS I CRANKED IT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD CLATTERING NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS HITTING THE FAN BLADE OR SOME SIMILAR EVENT. AFTER INSPECTING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DISCOVERING NOTHING UNUSUAL VISUALLY, I AGAIN STARTED THE ENGINE AND AGAIN THE SAME HORRIBLY LOUD NOISE CONTINUED. I WAS TOLD BY AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO LIVES NEARBY THAT THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE A ROD "KNOCK" CAUSED BY CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. AFTER LEARNING OF THE 99B29 RECALL ON THIS 4.2 ENGINE FOR FRONT GASKET DEFECTS THAT CAUSE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT STOOPED IN TIME, I CONTACTED THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND LEARNED THAT HE HAD NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY SUCH RECALL, AND HE SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT ANYTIME HE WAS NOTIFIED OF A PROBLEM HE ALWAYS TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AS INSTRUCTED. IN FACT, HIS FATHER WORKED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HIS FATHER SOLD HIM THE TRUCK AND HE STILL HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY SUCH RECALL. I HAD RECENTLY ADDED ENGINE COOLANT TO THE RESERVOIR BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS VERY LOW, BUT I DISCOVERED NO LEAKS ANYWHERE NOR ANYTHING ELSE UNUSUAL SO THERE WAS NOTHING APPEARING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE ENGINE IS NOW RUINED DUE TO THE FAULTY GASKET BECAUSE THE VEHICLE OWNER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECTIVE CONDITION. IN FACT, THE ORIGINAL OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP MORE THAT ONE YEAR AGO ON MAY 18, 2006 FOR AN ELECTRICAL RECALL (05S28, CRUISE CONTROL) AND THEY SHOULD HAVE AND COULD HAVE ALSO FIXED THE DEFECTIVE GASKET AT THAT TIME, WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED MY TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE FROM EVER HAPPENING... BUT THEY DIDN'T. FORD'S FAILURE TO FIX ALL RECALLED DEFECTS ON 5/18/06 WAS INEXCUSABLE. FORD OWES ME A NEW ENGINE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202404September 10, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1997 F150 4.2L ENGINE FAILURE. *JB. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE ENGINE MAIN BEARINGS, LOWER ENGINE GASKET AND TIMING BELT GASKET COVER WERE REPLACED. UPDATED *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10200955August 28, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1997 FORD F150 4.2L ENGINE - THROWN ROD/ CRUISE CONTROL FIRE POSSIBILITES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199725August 15, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
'97 F150 4.2 V8 COOLANT LEAK, ENGINE BLOWN @ 140,000 AFTER SEVERAL HEAD GASKET REPAIRS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198967August 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAD MY SPARK PLUGS REPLACED TWICE AT $541 DOLLARS AT A FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY WERE "CORRODED". UPON TAKING IT SOME PLACE ELSE GOODYEAR TO BE SPECIFIC THEY PULLED UP A FACTORY RECALL ON FORD F150 FROM 97 BECAUSE A GASKET LEAKS COOLANT ONTO THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSING CORROSION. EMPIRE FORD NEVER EVEN GAVE ME A REASON FOR THIS, JUST KEPT CASHING THE CHECKS, NOW THEY ARE SAYING MY VIN NUMBER WAS NEVER INCLUDED, BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE RECALLED, COINCIDENCE, IMPOSSIBLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198817August 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT 1:50A.M. ON 8/1/2007 OUR 1997 FORD F150, WHICH WAS UNDER RECALL, BURNED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. DAMAGE WAS ALSO DONE TO 2 OTHER VEHICLES, OUR HOME, DRIVEWAY, AND BASKETBALL GOAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198827August 8, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A ROD PUNCTURED THE OIL PAN AND RUINED THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. HE HAS DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN, SPEED, AND MILEAGE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198682August 6, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH DOORS LOCKED AND IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION. NO ONE WAS NEAR OR IN THE VEHICLE. LOOKED OUT WINDOW AND NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE MIST FROM A WATER SPRINKLER FROM THE FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK. LOOKING CLOSER, I REALIZED IT WAS SMOKE AND THEN SAW FLAMES FROM THE TIRE WELL AND UNDER THE HOOD BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED VERY QUICKLY, PUTTING THE FIRE OUT. THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH HAD CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED THE HOOD HYDRAULIC LIFT TO EXPLODE LIKE A ROCKET, HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT AND THEN SHOOTING OFF INTO THE YARD. THE FRAMES INSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSING BY THE DRIVERS TIRE BURNT THE HOUSING COMPLETELY AWAY. THE WIRING HAS BEEN COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED AWAY INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE PLASTIC FLUID CONTAINERS MELTED, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HOUSING, ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD WERE BURNED UP OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY BY THIS FIRE. THE TRUCK WILL NOT START OR RUN. NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK, RADIO, HEAT, AIR OR POWER FUNCTIONS WORK. THE TRUCK IS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO THIS SITE TO LOOK FOR FIRE RELATED DEFECTS AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT IS BEYOND REPAIR SINCE ALL THE WIRING AND MOST OF THE INSIDES UNDER THE HOOD HAVE BURNED UP OR MELTED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197973July 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150 IN EARLY SPRING OF 2006. VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN OR CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES. DROVE THE VEHICLE BETWEEN 1,000 AND 2,000 MILES OVER THE NEXT YEAR. IN LATE MARCH OR EARLY APRIL OF THIS YEAR THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE, A 4.2 L 6 CYLINDER MOTOR SELF DESTRUCTS. ON THE MORNING IN QUESTION, I WENT OUT AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE MOTOR TURNED OVER VERY SLUGGISHLY AS IF THE BATTERY WAS LOW. WHEN THE MOTOR STARTED, IT MADE A TERRIBLE RACKET AND BLEW A CHUNK OF THE ENGINE BLOCK OUT APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF MY THUMB. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT 1997 4.2 L FORD MOTORS HAVE A DEFECTIVE GASKET WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO FLOW INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE GASKET HAD FAILED AND ALLOWED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER(S) OVERNIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HYDROLOCK AND "BLOW UP". FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS, AND EVEN SENT OUT NUMEROUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE EVEN FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THEY MAY SENT OUT A FEW RECALL NOTICES, BUT NOT TO EVERY OWNER. HUNDREDS OF '97 F-150 OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, AND THEY, LIKE ME, CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE APPROXIMATELY $5,000 TO REPAIR THEIR MISTAKE. I CURRENTLY OWE ABOUT $5,000 ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH AT THIS TIME IS ONLY AN EXPENSIVE LAWN ORNAMENT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT FIRE OR INJURIES WHEN THIS OCCURRED, BUT THEY COULD HAVE. I'M CERTAIN THAT FORD NEVER REPLACED THE GASKET ON THIS VEHICLE, AS THE ONLY RECALL "STICKER" IS ONE FOR THE ENGINE COMPUTER. AS FOR BEING TOO OLD TO BE RECALLED, SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR A WIRING PROBLEM ON IT. CERTAINLY FORD SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL, OR AT LEAST PAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ONLY APPROXIMATE, AS I CANNOT RECALL THE EXACT DAY THAT IT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197874July 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AXLE TUBE WAS FRACTURED. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CV AXLE AND THE AXLE TUBE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197246July 23, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
AFTER STOPPING IN DRIVEWAY MY 1997 F150, 4.6 L WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT SEEMED TO BE LOOSER THAN NORMAL. AS I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO SHIFT INTO PARK A 1 INCH, BRASS, STAR HEAD MACHINED SCREW FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR CAME TO REST BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IN THIS POSITION, BUT DID START IN NEUTRAL. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING REVERSE AND DRIVE, BUT ONCE IN GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SOUNDS AND RUNS NORMALLY. THE SAFETY IMPLICATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF THE TRUCK IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT SET OR DEFECTIVE. MY RESEARCH OF THE PROBLEM DISCLOSED TWO RELATED RECALLS OF 1997 FORD VEHICLES; CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V147000, SEPTEMBER 9, 1997 AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V171000, OCTOBER 7, 1997. BOTH THESE RECALLS INVOLVED SOME FACET OF THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE TRASMISSION HOUSING, JUST AS MINE DID. ON MY TRUCK THERE ARE TWO BOLTS SECURING THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER ARM AND SUPPORT TO THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE SHIFT CABLE IS ATTACHED TO THIS ARM. THE TOP BOLT CAME LOOSE AND FELL OUT, WHILE THE SECOND BOLT WAS VERY LOOSE, IN FACT, THE WHOLE ARM WAS READY TO FALL OUT. THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REALIGN THE SELECTOR LEVER ARM AND SUPPORT TO THE SHIFT TUBE AND REINSERT THE TWO SCREWS, AFTER USING A "LOCTITE" COMPOUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197161July 22, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN FRONT OF HOME. ALL WIRING IS DESTROYED AND DASHBOARD MELTED. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN RUNNING FOR AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. HAD NO FIRE INSURANCE ON VEHICLE SO TOOK A COMPLETE LOSS. LATER LEARNED THAT FORD HAD RECALLED THIS MODEL FOR CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. CONTACTED FORD AND THEY CLAIM NO LIABILITY FOR THE FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196453July 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10195594July 9, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1997 F-150 FORD PICKUP WITH THE TRITON V8 4.6L ENGINE. AFTER HAVING 10,5000 MILE SCHEDULE SERVICE TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND TUNE UP THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER PLUG BEGAN TO POP-OUT" OF THE BLOCK. SO FAR NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS NOT FIXED YET. I KNEW THIS WAS A"COMMON PROBLEM THAT WAS INVESTIGATED BEFORE, BUT I WANTED TO DOCUMENT THAT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, AND FORD NEEDED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT. I WAS TOLD BY MY FORD DEALERSHIP THAT IF I DROVE WITH NUMBER 4 CYLINDER MISFIRING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD IT MAY CAUSE HYDRO LOCK OR FIRE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THAT WAS PRETTY SERIOUS AND SOUNDED LIKE AN ADMISSION FROM FORDS DEALERS THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, AND WAS WORKING TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO I HAVE NO COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DEALER. HOWEVER, JUST BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FATALITY WITH THIS DEFECT DID NOT MEAN THERE SHOULDN'T BE AN ADMISSION BY FORD OF THE DESIGN DEFECT, AND A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193635June 18, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY RIGHT HAND BRAKE AND THE ROTOR SHEARED OFF THE HUB. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. DURING THIS FAILURE, THE LEFT HAND BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE ROTOR FAILED. A MECHANIC HAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE AND FORD STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193536June 17, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY, EQUIPMENT
1997-F-150 SUPER CAB WITH FACTORY INSTALLED REAR SLIDING WINDOW. THE WINDOW HAS FLOWED WATER/RAIN EVERY TIME. IT SEEMS TO BE COMING IN AROUND THE SEAL WHERE IT MEETS THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER 97 F-150 OWNERS AND THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING TO THEIR TRUCKS. ISN'T THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192891June 11, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WENT OUTSIDE ONE EARLY MORNING TO START UP MY VEHICLE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE OF MY 1997 FORD F-150 XLT. I TOOK A LOOK AT THE ENGINE; HOWEVER I AM NO MECHANIC. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED BECAUSE OF THE COOLANT LEAKING FROM A GASKET INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING ONE OF THE RODS TO BEND. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE LIQUID WAS NOT ALLOWING THE ROD TO FULLY COMPRESS BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE CAUSED BY THE LIQUID. NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE TOLD ME THAT THE FORD PICK UPS' ENGINES HAVE THAT PROBLEM AND I WOULD JUST BE WASTING MY MONEY REPAIRING THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. HE ADVISED ME TO SEARCH FOR A REBUILT ENGINE THAT HAD A WARRANTY ON IT. DUE TO THE EXPENSE, MY PICK UP IS SITTING THERE WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND FORD I HAD PURCHASED BECAUSE I WAS SO PLEASED WITH THE FIRST FORD VEHICLE. HOWEVER AFTER THIS DISAPPOINTMENT, I PURCHASED A NISSAN INSTEAD. I MAKE SURE THAT I TELL ALL MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES OF THIS EXPERIENCE WITH FORD AND THE UNSATISFACTORY PRODUCT THEY HAVE PUT OUT. NO WONDER THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AND NISSAN TITAN ARE LEAVING FORD BEHIND! "BUILT FORD TOUGH, RIGHT.... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10192860June 10, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
A 1997 FORD F150 PICK UP TRUCK OWNED BY STEVEN QUAGLIATO CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AND DAMAGED MY VEHICLE CAUSING APPROX $650 WORTH OF DAMAGED TO THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND BUMPER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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