Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10132292August 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY 97 FORD 4.2L, WHICH IS PAID FOR AND HAS 60,000 MILES HAS THROWN A ROD. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF AND HAS CHOSEN TO DO NOTHING ABOUT. I HAVE FAITHFULLY TAKEN THE TRUCK IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND ALL FACTORY RECALLS. I HAVE A TRUCK THAT IS GOING TO COST ME $4,000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE OF FORD'S NEGLIGENT. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THEIR FAITHFUL CUSTOMERS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131877August 10, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CALLER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ONE AND A HALF HOURS LATER IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CALLER THOUGHT A REPORT WAS FILED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CALLER HAD INSURANCE AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THE MANUFACTURER URGED THE CALLER TO CONTACT THE DEALER IF HE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEING DONE. THE FIRE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE DRIVEWAY, AND A TREE WAS DESTROYED. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131992August 8, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
NHTSA: THIS IS IN RELATION TO AN UNDER HOOD FIRE IN A 1997 FORD F150 PERTAINING TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. ON JULY 23, 2005 A NEIGHBOR CAME BANGING ON MY DOOR YELLING YOUR TRUCK IS ON FIRE. THERE WAS A FIRE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHERE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER IS LOCATED. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE UNDER MY CARPORT AND HAD BEEN IDLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2.5 HOURS. I RAN TO GET MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. MY NEIGHBOR CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEN CAME OUT WITH ANOTHER FIRE EXTINGUISHER. ANOTHER NEIGHBOR GRABBED HIS EXTINGUISHER AND GAVE IT TO ME AND THAT ALSO FAILED. I GRABBED MY HOSE TO TRY TO MINIMIZE THE FIRE UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. I ONLY HAD ON SHORTS (NO SHOES). I RECEIVED SEVERAL BURNS ON THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET THE HOLE THAT WAS MELTED IN THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK CLEARLY SHOWS WHERE THE FIRE WAS LOCATED. THE DAY BEFORE THAT I HAD WENT TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE MY A/C LOOKED AT. THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING ONTO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. ON A FORD RECALL WEB SITE IT SAYS THE FOLLOWING SIGNS COULD INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR CRUISE-CONTROL SWITCH: CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY (MINE RECENTLY STOPPED WORKING); BRAKE FLUID LEAKING AROUND THE SWITCH (EXACTLY WHAT THE MECHANIC POINTED OUT); FUSES ARE BLOWN NEAR THE SWITCH, (THAT MORNING THE TRUCK WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AND A MOBILE MECHANIC CAME OUT AND HE REPLACED THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH FUSE). EVERYTHING POINTS TO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL PROBLEM FORD IS HAVING. I CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WANTED TO INVESTIGATE THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID NO AND SHOWED LITTLE TO NO CONCERN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10131739August 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OUR '97 FORD F150 SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AFTER MY HUSBAND RETURNED HOME FROM WORK. HE HAD BEEN HOME APPROXIMATELY 30 - 45 MINUTES WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCK ON OUR APARTMENT DOOR. WHEN I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW, I SAW A HUGE FIRE AT THE BASE OF THE STAIRS. I TOLD MY HUSBAND AND HE GRABBED OUR DAUGHTER AND LEFT THE APARTMENT. I CALLED 911 TO REPORT THE FIRE AND I LEFT THE APARTMENT AS WELL. WHILE WAITING FOR THE FIRE DEPT., THERE WERE OTHER BURSTS OF FIRE WHILE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS IN CONTINUOUS BLAZE. THE FIRE DEPT. DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131355August 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS TO OSHORT ON 1997 FORD F-150. THE WIRES WERE PULLING AND STRETCHING WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR CONSUMER FOR ABOUT YEAR AND A HALF. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TURN SIGNALS AND THE HAZARDS LIGHTS DID NOT WORK IN A CERTAIN POSITIONS ON THE STEERING COLUMN. BECAUSE OF THE WIRES ARE GETTING STRETCHED OUT OF THE MULTIFUNCTIONING SWITCH. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD, BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130892August 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 1997 F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE. I HAD A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED A YEAR AGO WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR ON. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS AS TO WHEN I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK. SINCE THE GASKET WAS REPLACED, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I STARTED HAVING OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. NOW I AM STARTING TO HEAR A KNOCK. TALKING TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID IT WAS A ROD AND BEARINGS. I PULLED UP THE RECALL # 99-20-7 WHICH EXPLAINS THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THIS HAS CAUSED. BY THE WAY THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 46,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT!! HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN FORUMS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAY NO LUCK OUT OF FORD. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED? HAD A MECHANIC AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND SAID SAME THING. HOW COULD WE GO ABOUT GETTING A LAWYER TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT? YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. BY THE WAY, I DID GET A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO CATCH FIRE. WHY DIDN'T I GET THE OTHER ONES? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127146August 1, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS BURNING. THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL SMOKE WHILE WALKING PAST THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SMOKE BEFORE THE SWITCH ACTUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE BY DISCONNECTED THE WIRE LEADING TO THE SWITCH.*AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116944August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOUR A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131258July 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
PARKED THE VEHICLE ABOUT 1:15 AT ABOUT 1:43 THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTED ON FIRE. PRIOR TO THE FIRE A FUSE HAD BLOWN MULTIPLE TIMES THAT PREVENTED GETTING OUT OF PARK. AFTER FIRST FUSE CHANGE IT LASTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS THEN IT BLEW AGAIN. THE FUSES THAT WERE USED WERE THE PROPER SIZE. THE OWNER CALLED FORD TO FIGURE OUT WHY COULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT USED OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY STATE FARM AND WAS INVESTIGATED. OWNER HAS POST FIRE PICTURES AND WILL SEND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130294July 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: CONSUMER OWNED A 1997 FORD F150. IT HAD A BLOWN GASKET. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS TURNED ON THERE WAS AN EXTREME KNOCKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP; THEY STATED THAT THE ROD WAS BENT. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 87,000 MILES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130375July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. ON JULY 27, 2005 THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE STARTED ON DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE CHIEF HAD NOT COME UP WITH A REPORT, BUT HE ASSUMED IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR A TOTAL OF THREE HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT. . THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMAL BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129889July 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: ON JULY 2 2005 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. THE OWNER WAS COMING DOWN A TWO LANE HIGHWAY. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ACCELERATOR WASN'T BEING PUSHED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T ON, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPEEDING ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE, WHILE GOING 50-55 MPH. AFTER ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE TRUCK TOOK ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE TO COME A STOP. THE VEHICLE FINALLY HIT AN OAK TREE AND STOPPED AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE OWNER'S WIFE WAS INJURED WITH UPPER NECK AND BACK. INJURIES. THE OWNER''S DAUGHTER WAS BRUISED ON THE FACE. THE VEHICLE DIDN'T COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WAS NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STICKING BEFORE. FORD REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS ABOUT THIS. THE OWNER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE OWNER HAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND THROTTLE CABLE. INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR REPAIRS TO THE BODY. ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE CRASH, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THAT WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE REPAIR. AT THIS TIME OWNER IS WAITING FOR THE REPAIR WORK TO BE COMPLETED. OWNER STATED THAT DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10129787July 23, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4.2 L ENGINE BUSTING RODS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129704July 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT: A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO CONSUMER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE HAD AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH ALLOWED WATER I TO LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE RODS, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FAIL AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST TO FIX IT BEFORE THE PROBLEM BEGAN WA S $800. CONSUMER'S BOSS HAD PROBLEMS WITH HIS FLEET OF VEHICLES, AND NOTIFIED CONSUMER OF THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS NOT CERTAIN WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS A FABRICATED DEFECT OR A DESIGN FLAW. AT THIS TIME THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT OWNER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WON'T RECALL VEHICLE SINCE THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129714July 22, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH (BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH) ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 OVER HEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER SITTING FOR 3 HOURS IN THE PARKING LOT AT MY WORK. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE TO TRUCK. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIR. I WAS AWARE OF A RECALL FOR THE 2000-2001 F-150'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL, HOWEVER FORD ALSO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 MODELS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED . IF THIS FIRE HAD NOT BEEN NOTICED BY ONE OF MY CO-WORKERS I MIGHT HAVE LOSTED THE TRUCK. THIS COSTED ME AROUND $170 WITH TOWING AND I FEEL FORD IS AWARE THEY HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING FOR SAFETY AND AT FORDS EXPENSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130251July 22, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
1997 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD NEAR THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM.*MR WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES, HE WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129303July 19, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
VEHICLE FIRE INVOLVING THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECT SWITCH ((CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT)) ON THIS 1997 FORD F150. LIMITTED BURN IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, AND THIS FIRE PATTERN/EVIDENCE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE FAILURE OF THIS VEHICLE COMPONENT. SALVAGE IS PRESENTLY PRESERVED FOR INSPECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128965July 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WITH APPROXIMATELY 122,000 MILES, HAD A FUSE FAILURE THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. FUSE WAS REPLACED AND 4 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A NEARLY TOTAL DESTRICTION OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CAR PORT IT WAS SITTING IN. FIRE OCCURRED ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS LAST DRIVEN. THIS FIRE MAY BE RELATED TO THE RECALL OF THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) ON THE 2000 F-150 TRUCKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128969July 16, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I HAD BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRUCK, CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING, HAD SOME FUSES BLOWN UNDER HOOD THAT WERE REPAIRED, THEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. THEN MY 1997 F-150 XLT SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTS IN DRIVEWAY. HAD BEEN PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR. PERSONS DRIVING BY ALERTED ME TO THE FIRE, WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON AND FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF HOOD NEARLY 10' IN AIR. THEN THE CAR ALARM WENT OFF AND AT SOME POINT THE DOORS UNLOCKED THEMSELVES. POLICE AND I EXTINGUISHED FIRE, BUT THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126320July 15, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. DEALER SAID THAT ONE SECTION OF THE BRAKE LINE HAD ROTTED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS WET. CONSUMER STATES THAT IT'S ALWAYS WET AND HE LIVES IN A SALT AIR ENVIRONMENT. *JB THE CONSUMER'S MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS NOT REPLACED WITH AN IMPROVED FUEL LINE. INSTEAD IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME LINE THAT FAILED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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