1997 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILURE. ALLOWS ANTI-FREEZE INTO NUMBER ONE CYLINDER. *TR

ON OR ABOUT DEC 2006, I BEGAN NOTICING THE ENGINE IN MY TRUCK BEHAVING STRANGELY. IT HAD AROUND 85,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I WASN'T ABLE TO HAVE THE TRUCK REPAIRED DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS, AND I RARELY DRIVE IT ANYWAY, SO THE TRUCK SAT IN MY GARAGE UNTIL I WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO FACE THE PROBLEM. I KNEW BY THE WAY IT WAS ACTING THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ALOT. LAST FALL, AUG 2007, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE 4.2L ENGINE THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN MY TRUCK WAS FAULTY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO BUT PAY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 F150 FORD PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. AS OF MARCH 24, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. UPDATED 4/23/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRYING TO GET THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE HE IS INFORMED THERE AREN'T ANY PARTS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL EACH TIME THE CONSUMER CALLS TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIRS. UPDATED 04/23/08 *TR

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

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

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.

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

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

THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER (BRAKES). NO DAMAGE WAS DONE DUE TO QUICK REACTION BUT IT LEFT THE BRAKES WITHOUT POWER AND THE TRUCK WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO THE "SWITCH FIRE" PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A WIDE-SPREAD FORD RECALL. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 1997 FORD F-150 4X4. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM LEASE-HOLDER AND FULL WARRANTY WAS TRANSFERRED TO ME. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES BUT NOT THE ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

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.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #08V051000) IN JUNE 2007. THE DEALER DISCONNECTED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVDE A DATE WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. AS OF MAY 2, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131, 298 AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE.

RECALL OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IN THE 1997 FORD F-150 SONS TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE IN THEIR GARAGE FORD DECLINED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY**CC THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A COPY OF THE RECALL. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER NEVER SENT A RECALL NOTICE TO THE CURRENT ADDRESS AND FURTHER STATES THEY MOVED TO THE LOCATION IN 2006 SO FORD COULD NOT HAVE MAILED THE NOTICE IN 2005 AND THE CONSUMER DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE IN SEPT. 2005. THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICE DATE WAS LISTED AS DEC 2006, THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED NOTICE UNTIL SPRING 2007. THE CONSUMER STATED FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF PUTTING A CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER AND FABRICATING THE TRUTH AFTERWARD. *TR

ENGINE THREW ROD, JUST LIKE THE FEW THOUSAND OTHER COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET. TREATED THIS TRUCK LIKE A BABY, HEARD FROM A FORD MASTER MECHANIC THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALREADY ,AND HE ACTUALLY LAUGHED AS HE TOLD ME I WAS SCREWED. HAPPENED ONE MORNING WHEN TO START IT AND BAM BLEW ROD. WAS FULL OF OIL, FULL COOLANT, WET SPARK PLUG AMAZING I COME FROM A 4 GENERATION FORD FAMILY AND BECAUSE OF THIS I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *AK

FORD F150 FIRE CAUSED BY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. VEHICLE IN GARAGE, VEHICLE TOTALED AND GARAGE DAMAGED.

MY FORD F150 1997 WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE ALARMS SOUNDED. I CHECKED AND THOUGHT AT FIRST SOMEONE MIGHT BE TRYING TO STEAL THE TRUCK THEN. I THEN SAW IT WAS ON FIRE. I GOT THE WATER HOSE AND TOLD MY WIFE TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT. SHE ALSO CALLED A COUPLE OF OUR NEIGHBORS TO HELP. THE VFD CAME ALONG WITH THE SHERIFF AND DEPUTY SHERIFF. NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED.

CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT WORKED FOR A FEW MONTHS. JUST BACKED TRUCK INTO DRIVEWAY FROM PARKED ON STREET. WENT INTO THE HOUSE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES, MY NEIGHBORS ALERTED ME TO THE FIRE. I PUT IT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS AT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED AT THIS TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE'S HOOD. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ONCE HE SHUT IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT COOLANT WAS FOUND IN THE CYLINDERS DUE TO A CRACKED HEAD GASKET OR A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER. THE MECHANIC INSTALLED A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY MORE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,780.

1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK, THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE. THE INSURED STATED TO THE FIREMEN THAT IT LOOKED ELECTRICAL . THIS MODEL OF TRUCK HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BURN DUE TO A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THEY INCLUDED A COPY OF THE RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. THE INSURED WAS NOT SURE IF THE RECALL WAS EVER COMPLETED. THEY STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT WORKED IN SOME TIME. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER DETACHED FROM THE END OF THE SPARE TIRE RETAINER. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH ,AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANY BUMPS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 81,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RETAINER WAS AT THE END OF THE CABLE ASSEMBLY USED TO LOWER AND RAISE THE SPARE TIRE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE TIRE BOUNCED 6FT IN THE AIR AND ALMOST HIT THE CARD BEHIND HIM. UPDATE 05/04/07*TR

V6 4.2L ENGINE: GASKET FAILURE CAUSING WATER/FLUID FILL UP THE CYLINDER WHICH CAUSES THE ROD TO BLOW.*AK

4.2 ENGINE PROBLEM, THE 1997 FORD F150 HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT, AS OF THIS DATE THE ENGINE MAIN BEARING WORE OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALL WAYS BEEN SERVICED, AND WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE MONTHS OR 3000 MILES SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH 6 MILES ON IT. AND THIS WAS A ONE OWNER VEHICLE. I THINK THE BEARING WERE WORN BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE ENGINE PARTS FROM THE FACTOR DUE TO THE LEAKING OF LOWER INTAKE GASKET THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALLED THESE VEHICLES. THEY REPLACED THIS GASKET ,BUT STILL SOME OF THESE VEHICLE HAVE HAD COOLANT PROBLEMS . BEFORE THE ENGINES WENT BAD IT HAD TO BE REPLACED , AND THE COST OF THAT ENGINE I WAS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD DEALERSHIP ,AND THE ENGINE WAS CHECKED FOR COMPRESSION, AND THE COMPRESSION WAS LOW DUE TO THE BEARINGS FAILURE. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK

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.

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

MY NON-COMMERCIAL TWO WHEEL DRIVE, 1997 F-150 WITH 59747 MILES WITH 4.2 V-6 ENGINE BLEW ITS 4R70W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION . I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO FORWARD BUT COULD GO IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FAILURE AND THE TRANNY FILTER AND FLUID HAD BEEN SERVICED TWO TIMES. IT COST $ 2121.52 TO REBUILD THE TRANNY AT A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND DID NOT WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME OR THE TRANNY SHOP TO FIND OUT MORE. ALSO THE TIMING CASE COVER GASKET,BRAKE CALIPERS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALSO. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING WHILE CLIMBING A GRADE. SPEED CONTINUED TO INCREASE WELL PAST 70 MPH SET POINT. I TAPPED BRAKE TO DISENGAGE SPEED CONTROL WITH NO SUCCESS. I HAD TO BRAKE AGAINST ACCELERATING ENGINE WITH SPEED CONTROL STILL ENGAGED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL WAS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, TURN OFF ENGINE, AND COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. I DISCONNECTED RECENTLY INSTALLED , FORD RECALLED, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL WIRING HARNESS, AND ACTIVATED THE SPEED CONTROL ON/OFF STEERING WHEEL SWITCH. COMBINATION OF ACTIONS DISENGAGED SPEED CONTROL WITH NO FURTHER INCIDENT. ON 4/11/07 HAD VEHICLE LOOKED AT BY FORD SERVICE CENTER; NOTHING OUT OF ORDINARY WAS FOUND. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT MADE A CRACKING AND POPPING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BE LIFTED UP FROM THE ANCHORAGE AND TILTED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V196000 (STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR), ALTHOUGH HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 2008. HE WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER (FORD OF AMERICA) THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

MY 1997 FORD F-150 HAS HAD 3 UNCOMMANDED THROTTLE SURGES THAT I COULD NOT STOP UNTIL I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I RODE THE BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN TO AROUND 55 MPH BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL I TURNED THE IGNITION ON AND OFF 3 TIMES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT JUST FINE. THEY SEEM TO THINK I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL...THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON DURING ANY OF THESE EPISODES. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE ON THE INTER NET WHERE A POLICE CROWN VICTORIA DID THE SAME THING AND THE END RESULT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

MY FORD TRUCK ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY JUST LIKE THE TOYOTAS. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH YOU GUYS, TWICE, AND NEVER HEARD BACK. I CAN MAKE MY TRUCK DO THIS!!! IF SOMEONE WANTS TO LOOK AT MY TRUCK, WHILE IT'S DOING THIS, PLEASE DO!!!MY NEXT STEP IS TO CALL MY CONGRESSMAN. THANK YOU. UPDATED 03/09/10 UPDATED 03/26/10.*JB

1997 FORD F150 4.2 V6 OIL PRESSURE FALLS TO ZERO AFTER WARM UP... WITH WARNING. I WAS DECEPTIVELY SOLD THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT WARRANTEE JUST LAST MONTH. MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 66K MILES AND NOW I DISCOVER A BIG ONGOING PROBLEM... JUST BY PLACING THIS TOP LINE IN ANY SEACH ENGINE YOU'LL REACH... HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224 THAT IS 400 HITS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE. EVEN IF ITS REPAIRED PRIOR TO FAILURE.

THROTTLE HUNG THREE TIMES: ONE UNDER CRUISE, TWICE WITHOUT. ALL INSTANCES STARTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN TEMPS WHERE EXTREMELY COLD. PUMPING PEDDLE TO BREAK ACCELERATION ONLY ALLOWED FOR PARTIAL DECELERATION. REPEATED ATTEMPTS REQUIRED TO REDUCE SPEED. COULD HAVE CAUSED FATALITY IN SECOND OCCURRENCE AS ICY CONDITIONS AND STOPPED VEHICLES COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR COLLISION. SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND PUMPING BREAKS ALLOWED FOR A CONTROLLED STOP. EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE REMAINED UNTIL MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BREAK ACCELERATION PREVAILED. NOTE: FLOOR MATS ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE. RESEARCH HAS UNCOVERED MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, SIMILAR TO THE EXPLORER OF THE SAME YEAR. WHEN IS A RECALL TO GET THIS CORRECTED GOING TO BE ISSUED... HOW MANY NEED TO BE INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE SOMEBODY DOES THE RIGHT THING!!! *NM

I JUST GOT MY 1997 FORD F150 XLT WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE BACK YESTERDAY, AFTER PAYING $1430 FOR ENGINE REPAIRS. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 47,700 MILES ON IT. I WENT OUT TO THE TRUCK ONE DAY AND TURNED THE KEY, AND - NOTHING. TURNS OUT TO BE HYDRO LOCK BUT I DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME. I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED, & GOT IT INTO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIAN THOUGHT IT NEEDED TO BE TUNED UP, PLUS I WAS HAVING THE HEAT FADE AT STOPS SO HE FLUSHED & REFILLED THE COOLANT. I MENTIONED THAT I WAS HAVING TO TOP OFF THE COOLANT ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE COOLANT WAS GOING, AND IT WASN'T SHOWING UP IN THE OIL. I GOT IT BACK, AND IT WAS STILL RUNNING REALLY BAD, SO I DROPPED IT OFF AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. THIS TIME HE THOUGHT IT WAS THE COIL PACK. THEY HAD IT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER DAY, REPLACED THE COIL PACK AND A SENSOR. I GO OUT TO THE LOT AND START IT, AND IT WAS STILL RUNNING REALLY BAD. SO, I GO BACK IN & GET THE TECHNICIAN, AND HE CAME OUT TO CHECK IT HIMSELF, AND HE WAS AMAZED AT HOW BAD IT WAS RUNNING. WE TOOK IT FOR A RIDE, AND IT SMOOTHED OUT A LITTLE, BUT IT WAS STILL NOT RIGHT. I TOLD HIM I WOULD LET HIM CONSULT HIS BOSS, AND CALL THEM BACK ON MONDAY. MONDAY COMES, AND I GO TO START IT TO GO TO WORK, AND - HYDRO LOCK AGAIN. SO, I TAKE MY WIFE'S CAR TO WORK, AND CALLED THEM FROM THERE, AND TOLD THEM WHAT IT WAS DOING. THEY WERE THERE WITHIN A HALF HOUR TO GET IT. THIS TIME I GET A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE PUT HIS BEST TECHNICIAN ON IT, AND WOULD CALL. WHEN HE CALLED, HE TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING, AND LETTING COOLANT INTO THE CYLINDERS. I SAID TO GO AHEAD & FIX IT. THEN THEY CALLED ME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME THAT THEY FOUND THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED, AND LETTING COOLANT POUR INTO THE CYLINDERS. I ASKED ABOUT GETTING A USED INTAKE MANIFOLD, AND HE SAID THEY WOULD LOOK FOR ONE, AND THEY DID FIND ONE. PLUS, THEY PUT IN A NEW THERMOSTAT. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 1997 FORD F-150 XLT HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON COLD DAYS WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STAYED DOWN AND BECAME STUCK WHEN TRYING TO COME TO A STOP. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT THIS SPEED AND TRYING TO COME TO A STOP OR SLOWING DOWN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONTINUED TO GO AT A HIGH SPEED. THERE WAS RECALL 96V251000 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE VEHICLE ,AND SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE FAULTY THROTTLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 11500.*AK UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB

HYDRO LOCK 1997 FORD 4.2 V6 44,000 MILES. *NM

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

1. FAILURE OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, FAMILY FORD SALES INC., FLORENCE, AL TO NOTIFY CUSTOMER OF DEFECT WITH 1997 4.2 L V6 ENGINE AS PUBLISHED IN FORD SERVICE PROGRAM, NUMBER 99B29 WHICH COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE THROUGH ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILING AND POLLUTING THE OIL WITH COOLANT, RESULTING IN DESTROYED ENGINE. FURTHER FAMILY FORD SALES INC. DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE 11/20/02 AND REPAIRED IT FOR $432.08 COST TO OWNER. NO MENTION OF THE FORD NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM OR POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE WAS GIVEN AT THIS TIME. 2. FAILURE OF 1997 FORD F150 ENGINE WITH 87,522 MILES DUE TO A KNOWN FAILURE TO FORD MOTOR OF FAULTY GASKETS (LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD (FORD TSB 99-20-7) AND ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILING AND POLLUTING THE OIL WITH COOLANT (FORD SERVICE PROGRAM, NUMBER 99B29) NEITHER OF WHICH WERE COMMUNICATED TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION CAUSED $3,061.20 OF DAMAGE DUE TO REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE LONG BLOCK 1/26/2007 THE BABBITT WAS REMOVED FROM ENGINE BEARINGS, RESULTING IN LOW OIL PRESSURE AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMING ON WHICH WAS DIAGNOSED BY FAMILY FORD ON 1/5/2007 (COST $73.50). AGAIN FORD SERVICING DEALER/OEM SELLING DEALER DID NOT INFORM CUSTOMER OF ANY ISSUES WITH THIS ENGINE OR EARLIER NO-CHARGE SERVICE PROGRAM. FAILURE TO NOTIFY OR FRAUDULENT ACTIONS BY THE DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAVE COST ME OVER $3,500 AND THE LOST TIME ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAULTY PRODUCT. VEHICLE VIN IS [XXX]. DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE ALL CLAIMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUBMITTAL. *NM UPDATED 07/11/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1997 FORD PICKUP F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 01/22/2007 HE WAS MAKING A TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND HE RAN OFF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A PLATE IN THE COLUMN THAT IS LOOSE AND COULD PUSH UP AND DOWN AN INCH. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR, AND HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE LAST FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 02/22/07*JB

'97 F150 4.2 V8 COOLANT LEAK, ENGINE BLOWN @ 140,000 AFTER SEVERAL HEAD GASKET REPAIRS. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN COMBINATION WITH A WHEEL BLOCK BEING PLACED IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY A SPECIALIZED TRANSMISSION CENTER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. ON JANUARY 21, 2012, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE RECALL CAMPAIGN EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF

AT AROUND 5:45 PM EST 1/13/2007 MY HUSBAND WAS WORKING ON OUR COMPUTER WHILE MY SON AND I WATCHED A MOVIE. THE DOORBELL RANG AND I WENT OUTSIDE TO FIND MY HUSBAND'S 1997 FORD F150 WITH FLAMES SHOOTING HIGH OUT OF THE HOOD. I GRABBED MY SON AND CAME BACK INSIDE AND SCREAMED FOR MY HUSBAND. HE GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT IT WAS FAR TOO INVOLVED. A NEIGHBORHOOD KID HAD BEEN WALKING BY AND SAW THE FIRE AND RANG THE DOORBELL - HE WAITED WITH US DOWN THE STREET FOR THE FIRE TRUCKS. I CALLED 911 AND EVACUATED THE HOUSE AND RAN DOWN THE STREET. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 5 MINUTES OR SO - WHILE WE WAITED THERE WERE SEVERAL MINOR EXPLOSIONS BUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE IT GOT TO THE HOUSE (ONLY A FEW FEET FROM THE TRUCK) OR THE OTHER CAR PARKED RIGHT NEXT TO THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED - THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD ARE GONE - THE INTERIOR IS BLACK AND DEVASTATED AND THE TIRES ARE MELTED - THE PAINT IS GONE - IT LOOKS NOTHING IT DID A FEW HOURS AGO. *JB

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

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE 1997 FORD F-150 WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE ENGINE, ELECTRICAL WIRING, PIPING ,AND ANYTHING THAT WAS MADE OF PLASTIC MELTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE PICTURES OF DAMAGED VEHICLE, AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT.*AK UPDATED 02/28/07. *JB

MY TRUCK FORD F150 1997 WAS PARKED ON FRONT DRIVEWAY AND GET ON FIRE BY ITSELF. ENGINE WAS COLD AND TRUCK WAS IDLE FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS. DAMAGE WAS TOTAL. FIRE MARSHAL WAS AT THE SCENE AND GET TO THE CONCLUSION THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *NM

THIS WEEK THE ENGINE IN MY 1997 F-150 BLEW. THE PLUGS WERE WET. COOLANT LEAKED. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE ABOUT PURCHASING AN ENGINE AND I FOUND A WEBSITE CALLED FIGHT BACK WITH DAVID HORIWITZ. THERE ARE 27 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE. HTTP:WWW.FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHPT=224 YOU NEED TO SEE FOR YOURSELF. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE. *JB

1997 FORD 150, 144,000 MILES. ENGINE KNOCKS AND IS LOOSING COOLANT. AFTER DOING RESEARCH JUST FOUND OUT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 4.2L V6 ENGINE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD STATING A PROBLEM WITH THE MANIFOLD GASKET. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD, F150 PICKUP. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE ACTIVATED HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AND THEN PRESSED RESET, BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT SINCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS, HE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,901.

TL* - WHILE DRIVING THE TIRE STARTED WOBBLING. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY. THE TIRE DISENGAGED, AND THE CONTACT CAME TO A STOP. THE TIRE WAS NEW, AND ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 15 MILES. THE TIRE ALWAYS TEARS BETWEEN THE BEAD AND SIDEWALL. *AK UPDATED 04/05/07

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. IN 2006, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL NUMBER 05S28. THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL HAS NOT BEEN DISCONNECTED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

LOW ON COOLANT- OIL PRESSURE STARTED TO DROP, COOLANT IN OIL. AFTER READING CONSIDERABLY ABOUT THIS ON INTERNET FOUND OUT ABOUT TSP #99B29 AND THE RESULTING ONP DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS EVER FIXED I AM SECOND OWNER AND THE ONP EXPIRED IN 2001. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM LEAKING GASKET. MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES REGARDING THIS. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD A $4000 MOTOR BECAUSE FORD DID NOT GET IT RIGHT AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ERRORS. *NM

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.