Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10166586August 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MANIFOLD STUDS RUSTED AWAY CAUSING EXHAUST PIPE TO SEPARATE FROM MANIFOLDS. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, EMISSIONS PORTION OF NYS INSPECTION WAS FAILED. REPAIR IS REQUIRED TO PASS INSPECTION, AND IS ESTIMATED BY NEW COUNTRY FORD TO BE APPROXIMATELY $2200.00. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN EXCESSIVE EXPENSE AS A RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURERS POOR DESIGN AND QUALITY OF PARTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165882August 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FORD F-150 V-6 4.2L MOTOR COOLANT CAUSED THE MOTOR TO THROW A ROD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10163860July 29, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS IS SHORT. MY 5.4 BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. FORD HEADS ONLY HAVE .250 IN. OF THREADED DEPTH IN HEAD NOT ENOUGH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162913July 19, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK FELL OUT DUE TO RUSTED STRAPS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT GARAGED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE THAT THE TANK SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT. UPDATED 08/01/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162794July 18, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I BOUGHT A 1997 FORD XL V-6 4X4 FROM NOLLER FORD IN TOPEKA, KS BRAND NEW . I WAS TOLD THIS V-6 ENGINE WAS THE GREATEST THING EVER INVENTED BY FORD. I NOTICED THAT ABOUT EVERY OIL CHANGE I HAD TO TOP OFF THE COOLANT. I CALLED TOPEKA FORD ABOUT THIS APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AFTER I DROVE THE TRUCK--I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS MOTOR. I TOOK THEIR WORD. MY SON IS IN THE MILITARY AT NELLIS AFB IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA. HE DROVE MY TRUCK THERE AND CALLED ME LAST NIGHT SAYING THE MOTOR LOCKED UP.(IT HAS ABOUT 112,000 MILES ON IT) I CALLED THE LAS VEGAS FORD DEALERSHIP AND TALKED WITH FERNANDO AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FORD V-6---PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS!!!! I THEN CALLED A FORMER FORD MECHANIC AND ASKED HIM WHAT MY SON COULD DO---HE STATED THAT FORD HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE V-6 AND MOST WAS DUE TO SOME HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT) AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES SEIZE UP DUE TO THIS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL WEBSITES WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME COMPLAINT AS I DO---WHY DOESN'T FORD STEP-UP? I HAVE BOUGHT QUITE A FEW FORDS BUT IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, THIS WILL BE THE LAST ONE. SOME FORD OWNERS HAVE HAD FORD SEND THEM A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE GASKET ISSUE---WHY HAVEN'T I???? MY SON IS DUE TO BE DEPLOYED TO IRAQ SOON AND HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS TRUCK. HE DOES NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT, NOR DO I---FERNANDO WAS QUICK TO POINT OUT THAT FOR $4000 IT COULD BE FIXED, I ASKED HOW HE CAME UP WITH A FIGURE THAT FAST AND HE REFUSED TO ANSWER MY QUESTION----WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU???--THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE ON A REGULAR BASIS!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162176July 11, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
I HAD THE 05S28 FORD RECALL PERFORMED ON MY F150 ON 9/12/05 - THEY DID NOT DISCONNECT MY CRUISE CONTROL TO WAIT FOR THE NEW HARNESS - THEY INSTALLED A BRAKE KIT - AT CHRISTMAS TIME - I WENT HOME TO MINNESOTA AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE WAY BACK - WHEN I GOT HOME I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING WITH THE CRUISE IN NORTHERN CLIMATES ICING UP AND IF IT DIDN'T STOP WHEN I WAS HOME IN OKLAHOMA TO CALL THEM BACK - IT DIDN'T DO IT ANYMORE SO I DIDN'T CALL BACK. ON JULY 8TH I WENT TO BROKEN ARROW AND AFTER I SHUT MY TRUCK OFF AND PARKED IT - IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. ONLY TOOK ABOUT 8 MINUTES TO BURN. EVERYTHING FROM THE CAB BACK WINDOW FORWARD IS BURNED TO A CRISP. THE FIREMAN SAID THEY WERE WRITING IT UP AS ENGINE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. EVERYTHING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS GONE - THE BATTERY IS COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY - THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS MELTED - THERE IS MORE MISSING AND MELTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE - SO THE FIREMAN SUSPECT IT STARTED THERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED SOME PALLETS OF PVC PIPE THAT WERE STACKED ABOUT 8 FEET FROM WHERE I PARKED THE TRUCK AND THEY FELL OVER ON TOP OF THE TRUCK AND ONE OF THE FIREMEN. THEY GOT HIM OUT AND HE WAS UNINJURED. I LOST MY TRUCK, THE FIREMAN GOT MY TRAILER UNHOOKED WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE, I LOST MOST OF MY TOOLS AND A LOT OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS. POLICE CAME BUT LEFT IT UP TO FIRE DEPARTMENT TO WRITE A REPORT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161922July 9, 2006
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
BROKEN BOLTS TO THE STEERING BOX. NO INCIDENT INVOLVED. STEERING CONTROL BECAME LOOSE. DIAGNOSIS OF PROBLEM WAS A LOOSE STEERING BOX FROM BOLT FAILURE. ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF REMAINING BOLTS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161937July 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 FORD F150 4.2 MOTOR FAILURE. I HAVE HAD TO ADD COOLANT A FEW TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAK, KEPT THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES. THE MOTOR THREW A ROD AND ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT OF THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. I FOUND OUT ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD, AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161617July 6, 2006
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON 15-501 HIGHWAY ON ROUTE TO UNC HOSPITAL. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY TRUCK WENT TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL FOR NO REASON AND MY THEN 4 YR OLD AND I HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. WE WERE BOTH IN SEAT BELTS. SHE WAS BELTED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK AND I IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE UPSIDE DOWN THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! WE WERE THOUGHT TO BE DEAD AT FIRST UNTIL MY DAUGHTER STARTED CRYING. WE WERE RUSHED TO UNC HOSPITAL IN CHAPEL HILL FOR CUTS AND CONTUSIONS. AT THAT TIME, I HAD NO MAJOR PAIN, BUT NOW, I CAN HARDLY WALK SOMETIMES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE TRUCK LANDED IN THE EMBANKMENT UPSIDE DOWN HANGING TWISTED IN MY SEAT BELT .WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE DIED BUT NOW AFTER 3 YEARS I AM IN CONSTANT LEG, HIP AND BACK PAIN THAT I KNOW WAS DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT. NOW WHAT? MY LEGS GO NUMB ALL THE TIME AND I CANNOT EVEN BEND MY BACK HALF THE TIME DUE TO THIS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10161382July 4, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1997 F-150 . I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK FROM A PRIVATE PARTY WHEN IT HAD 52,000 MILES. THE TRUCK NOW HAS ABOUT 90K MILES. ON MAY 16 I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A RAUCOUS NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ON MAY 17TH I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO AUTO SPECIALTIES, AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY IDENTIFIED THE NOISE AS A BENT CONNECTING ROD. THEY DISCOVERED STEAM COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND BELIEVE COOLANT SEEPED INTO THE CYLINDER THROUGH A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I ASKED HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THEY SAID PROBABLY OVERHEATING. YET, IN THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED IT, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS NEVER REGISTERED HIGH, NO STEAM AROSE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I HAVE ALWAYS CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3K MILES. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED CORRECT FLUID LEVELS. I HAVE NEVER TOWED ANYTHING WITH THIS TRUCK AND NEVER CARRIED ANYTHING MORE THAN A HALF-TON LOAD. I ALWAYS LET IT WARM UP AND DRIVE IT GENTLY WHILE IT IS WARMING UP. IN ADDITION, THE TRUCK SPEED CONTROL DEVICE WAS REPLACED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON SEPT. 14, 2005. IN THEIR INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE THEY UNCOVERED NO PROBLEMS WITH COOLING OR OVERHEATING. THIS IS THE FIRST FORD I HAVE OWNED, THE FIRST AMERICAN CAR. I HAVE OWNED 1 MITSUBISHI AND 2 TOYOTA PICKUPS WHICH I BOUGHT SECOND HAND. I OWNED THEM UNTIL THEY HAD OVER 125K MILES AND THEY NEEDED NO REPAIRS OTHER THAN NORMAL MAINTENANCE. I HAVE DRIVEN A PRE-OWNED INTEGRA TO OVER 140K MILES WITHOUT PROBLEMS AND A HONDA CIVIC WHICH I DROVE FROM 60K-120K WITHOUT THE SLIGHTEST PROBLEM. A TRUCK WITH 90K MILES SHOULD NOT NEED A NEW ENGINE. BY JUST ABOUT ANY MAKER STANDARDS THE ENGINE SHOULD LAST OVER 200K MILES. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH CHARLES WHO SAID FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM, SINCE THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL. SHOULDN'T FORD BE CONCERNED ABOUT A LEMON, EVEN IF IT IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM? I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE, SINCE ITS FAILURE IS PREMATURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160215June 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 4.2 LITER (V6) ENGINE. IT LEAKED INTO CRANKCASE AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. IT IS A TOTAL LOSS OF THE ENGINE AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER ENGINE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158434May 27, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NORMAL USE OF 4.2 V6 FORD ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO 0 PSIG AT ENGINE IDLE AFTER TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEM MY SELF (25 YEARS AUTO MECHANIC 17 YEARS AVIATION TECH) AND SEARCHING THE WEB FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS I HAVE FOUND THE FIX IS REBUILD OR REPLACE THE ENGINE $2000.00 - $6000.00 FOMOCO SHOULD SHARE IN THIS EXPENSE BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANYONE WITH HELP FROM FORD I WILL STATE THAT MANY HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE INJURED MOMENTARILY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158183May 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158124May 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A FORD F150 V6 4.2 WITH A BLOWN ENGINE. I STARTED IT ONE MORNING TO A LOUD KNOCKING AND SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT PROBLEM THAT FORD REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. MY TRUCK HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158131May 23, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STARTED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY, LOUD BANG, WHITE SMOKE OUT OF TAILPIPE, AND KNOCKING IN ENGINE. MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS RUINED - BEND RODS. ONE OWNER VEHICLE WITH 55,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157542May 15, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157479May 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE A 1997 F150 V-6 4.2L PICK UP TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN LOOSING ENGINE COOLANT AND MY ENGINE OIL LEAKS OUT. I HAVE FOUND THAT THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS ENGINE TYPE AND TRUCK. I FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS GASKET BUT THEY DID NOT SEND ME ANY INFORMATION ABOUT IT. THE RECALL ON THE GASKET EXPIRED IN 2005 ( I WAS TOLD BY FORD). I ONLY HAVE 66,000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK. CAN YOU GUYS HELP ME? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157485May 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I NOTICED MY FORD 4.2L V-6 WAS LOSING COOLANT. BUT, THERE WAS NO LEAKS EXTERNALLY. I WENT OUT TO START IT THE OTHER MORNING, AND IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUND INFO ON HYDROLOCKING AND BAD GASKETS. I REMOVED ALL THE SPARK PLUGS, AND CRANKED THE ENGINE. LOTS OF COOLANT CAME OUT OF CYLINDER 1. NOW, I'M LOOKING AT BEST ALL NEW GASKETS, OR POSSIBLY A NEW ENGINE IF THE TIMING COVER GASKETS WEREN'T REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157262May 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK, 4.2L V-6. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING VERY BADLY, SHE WAS FRIGHTENED AND DROVE THE TRUCK HOME VERY SLOWLY, WHICH ALMOST GOT HER INTO AN ACCIDENT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH WITH FORD MECHANICS AND PRIVATE MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THE ENGINE IS A DEFECTIVE ENGINE THE YEARS WERE 1997 AND 1998. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IN DETROIT WAS NO HELP AT ALL. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK WITH 36,000 MILES ON IT, TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT, AND IT NOW HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT AND CANNOT BE DRIVEN. I RECENTLY RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SAYING IT COULD CATCH ON FIRE. UNFORTUNATELY THE TRUCK CAN'T BE MOVED UNTIL I REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND IT IS IN MY GARAGE. IF THIS TRUCK CATCHES ON FIRE AND BURNS MY HOUSE DOWN FORD WILL BE SUED. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN THE ENGINE WENT, FAILURE WAS TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE, AGAIN FORD HAS DONE NOTHING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157030May 8, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 1997 4.2L V6 F150 WOULD NOT START, REPLACED STARTER MOTOR, PULLED PLUGS FOUND COOLANT IN #1 CYLINDER. I'M CURRENTLY DIGGING INTO THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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