1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

BACK WINDOW LEAKS, PLASTIC FRAME THAT HOLDS GLASS ONTO CAB BRAKES WITH TIME. VARIOUS GLASS COMPANIES HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COMMON THING WITH THE 97-2000 FORD F-150'S IT'S NOT THE RUBBER NOR A WEATHER STRIP IT'S THE PLASTIC FRAME THAT BRAKES WITH TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS MICHELIN LTXM/S TIRES, SIZE P235/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT ON THE VALVE STEMS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES DEFLATED. THE CONTACT REDUCED THE SPEED AND PROCEEDED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO BOTH VALVE STEMS. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE VALVE STEMS ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE VALVE STEM DEFECT. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

MY 1997 FORD F150 4X4 ON THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD THE REAR SPARK PLUG CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING LOSS OF POWER NOW I CAN NOT DRIVE IT MAKES WEIRD NOISES IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS SPARK PLUG NO LONGER FITS IN THE HEAD WAS THIS A BAD FLAW TO THE 4.6 DUEL OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE .DO I HAVE A CLAIM WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY THANK YOU! *TR

THE 97 F-150 HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE NOT STARTED FOR 2 DAYS. SUNDAY MORNING WE WENT TO GO TO THE LAKE AND THE TRUCK STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK,AN ISSUE I HAVE HAD BEFORE,BUT THIS TIME THE ABS LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 15 YEARS, SO I HAD A GOOD IDEA WERE TO START LOOKING. THE FIRST PLACE I LOOKED WAS THE BRAKE SAFETY SWITCH LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSEL. EVERY THING CHECKED OUT FINE. THAT IS WERE I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE SO I THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER BROKEN WIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK BRAKE FLUID LEVEL,AND NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PLUG LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE PLASTIC PLUG AND WIRES. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT I FEEL VERY LUCKY IT WENT OUT BY ITSELF!I LIVE IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND COULD NOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE IT COULD OF CAUSED IF IT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL, AS IT WAS PARKED BY TREES ,SHED, JET SKIS,ETC. AT THIS TIME I AM GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE PLUG AND OR WIRING HARNESS AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON FRONT OF MASTER CYLINDER THAT I BELIEVE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SMALL FIRE. I WILL CALL FORD DEALER SHIP IN MORNING TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY INFO ON PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL OLD PARTS AND HAVE DOCUMENTED THE ISSUE WITH PICTURES. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BOX IS LOCATED ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SWITCH THAT CAUGHT FIRE. I DO KNOW ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL AND IT MAKES ME WONDER IF ALL OF THESE TRAGIC FORD FIRES REPORTED REALLY DID START FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH? *TR

1. REGULAR BRAKING WAS DISABLED BY MALFUNCTIONING ABS FIRING. FOR NO APPARENT REASON, IN DRY AND SLOW CONDITIONS ON CITY STREETS, BRAKES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ENGAGE PROPERLY, RESULTING IN THE TRUCK ROLLING FORWARD AS THE ABS SYSTEM FIRED. 2. IN TRYING TO STOP THE TRUCK, WITH THE BRAKES FULLY ENGAGED TO THE FLOOR, THE PEDAL VIBRATED FROM ABS ACTIVITY AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD INTO INTERSECTION. AT FIRST THIS ONLY HAPPENED ON THE FIRST STOP OF THE DAY, EVERY FEW MONTHS OR SO. LATER IT HAPPENED FREQUENTLY. I FOUND THAT IF I QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE IGNITION THE (ELECTRONIC) ABS WOULD BE DEACTIVATED AND THE TRUCK WOULD STOP NORMALLY. 3. CHANGING FRONT BEARINGS AND ASSOCIATED SPEED SENSORS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. DEALER PART AND INSTALLATION WAS AROUND $1200, BUT GENERIC PARTS WERE AVAILABLE THAT SHAVED SEVERAL HUNDRED OFF THIS TOTAL REPAIR COST. *TR

VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH AND SMOKING AT START UP. MECHANIC SAID #4 CYCLE GETTING COOLANT ON SPARK PLUGS FOWLING OUT PLUGS. MECHANIC REPAIRED HEADS AND REPLACED BLOWN HEAD GASKET/TUNED UP ENGINE/ REPLACED FUEL AND AIR FILTER/ SERVICED FUEL SYSTEM / RESURFACED HEADS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD START KNOCKING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE MOTOR AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

AS I WAS LEAVING THE ON RAMP TO ENTER HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-25 IN DENVER THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DISCONNECTED WHERE THE STEERING SHAFT MEETS THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THERE WAS NO STEERING CAPABILITIES OF THE PICK-UP. I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS BUT WAS WITHIN FEET OF BEING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

WENT TO START TRUCK. HYDRO LOCKED. WOULD NOT START. *TR

FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILURE. CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1,400 DOLLARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKE AND FELL TO THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE FUEL TANK AND THE STRAPS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ

MY F150 TRUCK WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT WHEN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AS OUR FAMILY WAS SLEEPING. MY DAUGHTER'S CAR, PARKED BESIDE THE TRUCK, BEGAN TO BURN AS WELL AND THE CAR ALARM SYSTEM SOUNDED. MY FAMILY AWOKE AS THE WINDOWS OF THE HOUSE UNDER THE CARPORT WERE BREAKING OUT AND THE HOUSE FIRE ALARM BEGAN TO SOUND. EVERYONE GOT OUT OK, THANK GOODNESS, AND THE HOUSE WAS SAVED, ALTHOUGH DAMAGED. WE LOST THE TRUCK, CARPORT, RIDING LAWN MOWER, 4 WHEELER AND SEVERAL OTHER SMALL ITEMS. THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE SUFFERED MAJOR SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE. THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE STARTED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PART WHICH FORD HAS A RECALL ON. *TR

I PURCHASED A FORD FACTORY MOTOR 4.2V6 CRATE MOTOR FOR MY F150, BACK IN 2004. THE MOTOR HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN FOR THE 2ND TIME DURING THIS TRUCKS LIFETIME. I HAD IT SERVICED BECAUSE THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. FORD REPLACED THE SENSOR AND TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN CAME BACK WITH BLOWN MOTOR, AND WILL NOT FIX IT. THEIR ARE CURRENTLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS MOTOR AND NO ONE HAS HAD ANY LUCK WITH IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THEIR IS ANYONE THAT COULD HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HIS PARKING LOT. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE SATURN VUE NEXT TO HIS VEHICLE WAS BURNED AND DAMAGED. THE EXTERIOR OF THE APARTMENT BUILDING RECEIVED SMOKE AND FIRE DAMAGE. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND A VIDEO. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 197,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER MESA A/P TIRES, SIZE P225/70/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE SAFELY MANEUVERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR SIDEWALL WAS SHREDDED. THE INTERIOR AND TREAD ON THE TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. PRIOR TO OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. THE DEALER FROM WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED STATED THAT THEY WERE SAFE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

IN RESPONSE TO FORD'S CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH RECALL. YES, I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF MY VEHICLE AFFECT BY THIS RECALL. BUT HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH THEM TELLING ME THEY HAVE NO PARTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ALSO, HAVE NOT ALLOWED THEN TO JUST DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE OF THE LOW POSSIBILITY OF HAVING AN ISSUE. I SPENT MONEY FOR THIS SO I HAVE IT TO USE WHEN NEEDED NOT TO BE DEACTIVATE BECAUSE FORD CANNOT PROVIDE PARTS TO FIX IT. SO AT THIS POINT I HAVE DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO TAKE MATTER IN MY OWN HANDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I KNOW FORD IS MAKING EFFORT TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BUT FEEL IT IS WEAK BY THE FACT THEY SEND YOU A NOTICE AND THEY HAVE NO PARTS. NOT JUST ONCE BUT TWICE. SO I HAVE FOUND AN AFTER MARKET OEM REPLACEMENT PART TO REPLACE THE AFFECTED PART. BUT NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHETHER THIS PART IS A NEWLY DESIGNED PART AND RESOLVES THE RECALL ISSUE. ONE WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE BUT ASSUMPTION CAN BE WRONG. THE PUBLISHED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION FOR THIS RECALL ISSUE IS WEAK AND THE FORD DEALERS ARE ALSO CLUELESS. SO WHAT DOES THE NHTSA HAVE TO OFFER BESIDED THE DOCUMENTED CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE FORD AND NHTSA. THEIR NEEDS TO BE A DOCUMENT FOR THE INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER USES TO DETERMINE WHAT PARTS ARE GOOD OR SUSPECT. BEING AN SAFETY ORGANIZATION, ONE WOULD THINK THE NHTSA WOULD BE ALL OVER THIS AND HAVE THIS WELL DOCUMENTED, PULISHED AND CONTROLLED AND HELP THE INDUSTRY AND CONSUMERS RESOLVE ISSUE LIKE THIS INSISTED OF RELYING ON CORPORATE AMERICA ALONE. CORPORATE AMERICA HAS ONLY ONE INTEREST WHICH IS PROFIT NOT PERSONAL WELL BEING ! REGARDS. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 97 FORD F150 XCAB FOR >7 YRS. I KEPT UP ON ALL MAINT & OIL/FLUID CHANGES. I HAVE CARED FOR MY TRUCK AS I HAVE MY OWN KIDS! IT RAN WELL ON FRIDAY NIGHT (4/4/08) THEN ON SATURDAY MORNING HUSB TURNED THE KEY AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO BANG LOUDLY AND SPIT OUT WHITE SMOKE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS LEADING UP TO THIS SO I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO LOOK INTO IT. I CAME TO FIND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND THAT FORD KNEW ALL ABOUT IT! MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 116,000 ORIGINAL MILES IN 10 YEARS! NOT ABUSED. APPARENTLY, FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON A FAULTY GASKET THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE PLUGS/OIL BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL I WAS OFFERED OR TOLD OF WHEN WE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS! TODAY I FOUND 2 MORE RECALLS 4 IT ON THEIR SITE (NOT THE GASKET 1) THAT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME OF ON 4/7/08 WHEN ASKED 4 A VIN WHEN CALLING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ASKED 4 THE PRICE OF A REBUILT ENGINE AS THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX A ROD & QUOTED $5,500. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS FOR EVERYTHING, HE REPLIED "NO - PARTS CAN REALLY ADD UP, HONEY"! I TOOK GREAT CARE OF THIS TRUCK! I OPTED TO TOW IT TO ANOTHER ACCREDITED SHOP SINCE THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME A TOTAL PRICE. NOT INCLUDING 2 TOWS & PAYING $150 TO DIAGNOSE I WAS QUOTED A MIN OF $7,300 TO FIX W/REBUILD +/- 12%. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 4 SOMETHING THAT IS FORDS FAULT? THEY MADE A FAULTY ENGINE & LEFT THOUSANDS OF US TO PAY 4 IT! I CAN EITHER BUY A NEW CAR OR WALK NOW! IM HANDICAPPED W 2 DISABLE ADOPT FOSTER KIDS & HUSB WHO'S A POLICE OFFICER! 1 INCOME/ WE RENT, SO WONT QUAL 4 CASH LOAN! PLEASE SEE THIS: HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-224.HTML WHERE OTHER FORD 4.2 OWNERS NOTED SAME ISSUE & THEIR RESPONSES FM FORD. WE NEED HELP OR DIRECTION ON HOW TO START/JOIN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM TO GET REPAIRS DONE OR $ TO PAY FOR IT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY ABNORMALITIES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR STRAP THAT PRIMARILY HOLDS THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WAS COVERED WITH RUST AND IT BROKE. THE HOLE IN THE TANK WAS PATCHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STRAP WHERE THE STRAP WAS LEAKING AND COVERED WITH RUST. THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO BEGAN TO DEVELOP RUST AND A POSSIBLE LEAK FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 150,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V336000). AS OF MARCH 25, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE DELAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE VIN APPEARED TO BE INVALID.

1) DRIVING LOW SPEED RESIDENTIAL 2) MIDDLE LEAF SPRING REAR DRIVER SIDE BROKE, MOVED FORWARD OVER TIME AND SWUNG INTO TIRE SIDE WALL DESTROYING TIRE. RECALL NHTSA # 98V161000 HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 1998 TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIAL FAILURE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THE OPPOSITE SIDE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN AND COULD DO THE SAME THING OR PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK. 3) BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING SETS NEED REPLACEMENT AND LEFT REAR TIRE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE EXHIBITING AN ABNORMALLY LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND NOTICED THE FUEL STRAPS HANGING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THE FUEL STRAPS WERE WELDED, WHICH LASTED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR BEFORE THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED STATING THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 187,000. UPDATED03/02/11 *BF UPDATED 03/07/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE TURNED OVER TWICE, BUT DID NOT START. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A PIECE OF METAL ON THE GROUND ALONG WITH AN OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,843. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A FUALTY HEAD GASKET. UPDATED

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING SOUND. HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND NOTICED FLAMES A FOOT HIGH ABOVE THE HOOD OF HIS VEHICLE. THE FIRE ULTIMATELY SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND PART OF THE BED OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DAMAGED THREE OTHER VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED IN THE VICINITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 215,000.

NOTICED LOW OIL PRESSURE NOTICE ANTI-FREEZE ALWAYS LOW WITH NO LEAK TO BE FOUND STARTED UP ONE MORNING LOUD CLICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A MAILBOX, BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

ENGINE LOCKED UP FROM COOLANT FROM INTAKE GASKET LEAK AT 78813 MILES FORDFLEET.COM THERE WAS A RECALL FOR INTAKE GASKET BUT NEVER RECEIVED RECALL 1997 FORD F150 4.2L ENGINE. *TR

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

HVAC BLEND DOOR FAILURE, CAN NOT HEAT/AIR CONDITION OR DEFROST CAB. *TR

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

WATER DISCOVERED IN THE OIL OF 4.2L F-150 MOTOR. *TR

ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

I RECENTLY NOTICED A LOSS OF COOLANT AND FOAMY ENGINE OIL. I FOUND AN ONLINE FORUM EXPLAINING THIS AS A PROBLEM CALLED HYDROLOCKED.FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 1999 AN HAS ISSUED A TSB 99-20-7 AND ONP 99B29.WHY HAS FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOT BEEN HELD FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ? *TR

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

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

1997 F150 ENGINE FAILURE 4.2L 6 CYL MOTOR BENT OR BLEW A ROD AFTER SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE AFTER STARTING IT. *TR

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

97 F-150 4.2 INTAKE GASKET LEAKING RESULTING IN DAMAGED ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED FORD RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 05S28 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN DECEMBER OF 2007. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO STATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND ARE UNSURE AS TO WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE IN JUNE OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

COOLANT LEAKING INTO CYLINDERS CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP AT STARTUP. *TR

FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSING OIL AND COOLANT TO MIX. EVENTUALLY HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO BENT RODS. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND WAS STRIKING AGAINST THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V161000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: SPRINGS: LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY). IF THE CONTACT REPAIRS THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL OFFER A TWO MONTH WARRANTY FOR THE REAR SPRING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF UPDATED 06/16/09

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

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

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