Ford F-150 Complaints (1997)

2,758 consumer complaints on file.

#10010771March 19, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 EXTENDED CAB PICK UP TRUCK. THE STEERING ROD HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. I QUESTIONED THE FORD DEALER WHO MADE THE REPAIRS AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE. SINCE THEN I WITNESSED ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE ENCOUNTER THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO LARGE AMOUNT OF EXPLORERS, EXPEDITIONS AND F150'S ON THE ROAD TODAY, THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING TO ME. FORTUNATELY IN BOTH CASES WE WERE TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND NEVER HAD WORK DONE ON THE STEERING PREVIOUS TO THIS PROBLEM. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011954March 18, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009603March 17, 2003
TIRES, WHEELS:HUB, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
GOODYEAR TIRE HAD LOW PRESSURE, CAUSING THEM TO BLOWOUT. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER REPLACED WHEELS:CAP/COVER/HUB, AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011905March 17, 2003
STEERING
A BOLT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010564March 16, 2003
STRUCTURE
REAR SLIDING WINDOW LEAK, RESEALED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NO AVAIL.... LEAKS BOTH FROM WHERE FRAME ATTACHES TO BODY AND FROM CRACKS IN WINDOW FRAME ITSELF, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES AT TOP. WINDOW FRAME REQUIRES REPLACEMENT WITH NEWER MANUFACTURED UNIT (DIFFERENT DESIGN FROM NEWER MODEL YEAR). *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011369March 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010323March 11, 2003
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE FAILURE. ALL INDICATIONS THAT THIS IS COMMON TO FORD, BUT THE DEALER DENIES IT. THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011171March 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THE CLUTCH SEAL SHRUNK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO RUN OUT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009818March 4, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE VEHICLE HAS STRESS FRACTURES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 2-3 INCHES ABOVE THE WINDOW BASE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10009220February 24, 2003
INTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DOME LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYED ON.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008054February 24, 2003
INTERIOR LIGHTING
AFTER CLOSING DOOR, INTERIOR LIGHT, CARGO LIGHT ALONG WITH DOOR AJAR LIGHT SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHUT OFF AFTER GETTING INSIDE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF FORD PICKUPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005795February 13, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
REFER TO TSB 99207 LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT WILL GET INTO EITHER THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST PORTS, WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. MOST FAILURES ARE OCCURING BETWEEN 60 AND 80K MILES. JUST PAST MOST FORD WARRANTIES. THEY INSTALLED A HIGH FAILURE GASKET IN THE 1997 F150 WITH THE 4.2L V6 FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS OF THE REPAIR COST TO CORRECT. IF YOU REFER TO WWW.F150ONLINE.COM AND SEE THE MESSAGE BOARDS, THE PROBLEMS ARE BEGINNING TO POUR IN AS THESE TRUCKS REACH THIS MILEAGE. FORD DID NOT NOTIFY ANY OWNERS AND SHOULD HAVE DONE SO, SO THAT THE OWNER MAY HAVE TAKEN THE APPROPRIATE AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WITH THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006313February 12, 2003
SUSPENSION
THE LEFT REAR SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE LEFT REAR SPRING WAS REPAIRED. *AK *JB AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, IN DECEMBER 2002, THE RIGHT SPRING HAD BROKEN. THE CONSUMER RESEARCHED TO SEE IF OTHER VEHICLE'S HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, NINE WERE FOUND. THE DEALER ACTED AS THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF THE RECALL # 098V16000. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK FOR THE REPAIR OF THE LEFT SPRING. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005699February 11, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WATER WAS FOUND IN THE OIL DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE IN AUG 2002. THE VIN WAS TRACED BACK TO BE PART OF THE TIMING CHAIN COVER RECALL. WHEN THE VEHCILE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL. WHEN FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED, THEY DID ACKNOWLEGE THE RECALL, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL. WE NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER, AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. WE MADE THE DECISION TO PAY $800 FOR THE RECALL REPAIR (WHICH THE DEALER HAPPENED TO HAVE A KIT IN STOCK). SIX MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE HAS APPARENTLY BLOWN ANOTHER GASEKET (SOUNDS LIKE THE MANIFOLD GASKET FROM OTHERS EXPERIENCE) AND FILLED THE #1 CYLINDER WITH WATER. OTHER INTERNAL DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN, THE ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED RATHER THAN REPAIRED AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005557February 9, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
WITH NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG, UPON STARTING ENGINE HEARD LOUD CLACKING SOUND, SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO MECHANIC. WHO SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM THAT COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY FORD DEALERSHIP OR A MACHINE SHOP. IT WAS A HOLIDAY SO WE TOOK IT TO A MACHINE SHOP WHO VERIFIED HIS PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH THE SAME MODEL ENGINE BEFORE THAT A ROD WAS BENT WHICH CRACKED THE PISTON, CAUSED FROM A "DEFECT IN FORD'S INTAKE HEAD GASKET", WHICH LEAKED WATER INTO THE ENGINE. HE ALSO STATED ONE MORE CRANK OR RUN A LITTLE LONGER THE PISTON WOULD HAVE SHATTERED AND GONE THROUGH THE CRANK SHAFT WHICH COULD HAVE ENDANGERED ANYONE IN IT'S RANGE (HWY, ETC.). THE ENGINE IS NOW BEING REPAIRED AND WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET AND ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE MACHINE SHOP HAS A "SERVICE NOTIFICATION" THAT THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL NOT LEAK. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF FORD HAD SENT NOTICE TO OWNER'S. I FEEL FORD SHOULD OWN UP TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PART AND PAY FOR COSTS OWNER'S LIKE MYSELF HAVE ENCOUNTERED. I HAVE A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT GASKET LEAKING COOLANT WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP, #99B29.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005448February 7, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE BLEW (THE TIRE TYPE IS GENERAL AMERI*550AS). PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006046February 6, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL STUCK AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL ON PAVEMENT. *DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004413February 3, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT WAS OXIDIZING IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOTHING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005031January 31, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CRACK IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SHEET METAL AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE BELT MOLDING.SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 996754 BULLETIN SEQUENCE NUMBER: 845 DATE OF BULLETIN: 9908 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: SB608461
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003340January 24, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOOR CRACKS ON RIGHT AND LEFT DOORS 2" UP FROM BOTTOM OF WINDOW. RUST ON BOTTOM OF RIGHT AND LEFT DOORS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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