1997 Ford F-150 Suspension Problems

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH WITH NO LOAD AND NOTHING IN TOW THE SUB-FRAME CRACKED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. ON THE DRIVER SIDE IT CRACKED BEHIND THE REAR TIRE. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT CRACKED IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. THE VEHICLE BOWED AND SMASHED THE TOP OF THE BED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAB. MECHANIC ADVISED THE FRAME DETERIORATED AND COST OF FRAME REPLACEMENT WOULD EXCEED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVEING AT 60 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD CRASH FROM THE LEFT REAR THEN A GRINDING POP FROM THE LEFT REAR ALL WHILE THE REAR END OF MY TRUCK FELT LIKE IT WAS FISH TAILING ON ICE OR LIKE SOME ONE HUGE WAS SHAKEING IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE I ALMOST LOST IT INTO A FIELD I WAS SO SUPRISED I GOT STOPPED TO LOOK THE LEFT REAR SHACKLE CUT LOOSE BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST ALL DOTTED AWAY THE LOWER SPRINGS ON BOTH SIDES ARE MISS ALIGNED BY 2 INCHES EACH AND THE SPRING END IS NOW PEEKING THRU THE BED THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW BY MY BEST FRIENDS DAD AND WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND NOT USED TO TOW OR HAUL BUT IT IS RUSTING AWAY SO BADLY THAT THE EXHAUST BOLTS HAVE ROTTED AWAY ON BOTH SIDES AND WILL COST 1500 TO FIX ALOT OF THAT IS THE COST TO GET THE BOLTS OUT OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THEY SAY BUILT FORD TOUGH BUT THEY REALY MEEN FORD BUILT IT AND IF U GET IT WET TOUGH ITS GONA ROT AWAY !

REAR SHOCK MOUNT CONNECTED TO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. *TR

I NOTICED EXTREME RUST THAT HAS EATEN AWAY PARTS OF FRAME AND SUSPENSION. *TR

REAR SPRINGS, REAR BUCKLE REAR SPRINGS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. GARAGE THAT REPAIRED THE ITEMS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE FIXED A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF FORD TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT WARRANTS SOME INVESTIGATION. NOTE THAT THE TRUCK GASOLINE TANKS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH, FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE TANK FALLING OUT OF THE TRUCK WHILE UNDERWAY. THIS WAS FIXED, ALBIET AFTER 3 YEARS, BY A FORD RECALL THAT WAS INITIATED THIS YEAR. *TR

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 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

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OWNER WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE TORSION BAR. CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS HAVING A VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A HEAVIER SUSPENSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DURING A SELF INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE 'SAND PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *AK *TS

FORD F150 1997 DEFECT GASKETS AND COOLING SYSTEM LEAKED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE MIDDLE LEAF SPRING BROKE IN THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE, IT PUNCTURED A TIRE. THE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SITTING. THE LEAF SPRING WAS REPAIRED AT THIS TIME BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE SECOND TIME WAS THE RIGHT SIDE LEAF SPRING; WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND, STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE NOISE, AND NOTICED THE LEAF SPRING H BROKE. IT WAS REPAIRED BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. CONTACTED FORD , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LEAF SPRINGS, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK

DURING AN OIL CHANGE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT: THE REAR END IS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE STARTING TO SEPARATE. THE TIRES ARE BRAND NEW PUT ON MARCH 21, 2003. THE TIRES ARE AMERITRAC GENERAL, P255/70R16. THE CONSUMER CAN NOT LOCATE THE NUMBER FOR THE TIRE COMPANY. THEREFORE, HE CANNOT CONTACT THEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT HE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE REAR END. THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC STATES THAT THE BEARINGS ON THE REAR END ARE BAD DUE TO BAD CASING; IT WILL NOT ALIGN ITSELF UP WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE WHINING STARTED. THE MECHANIC STATES IT WILL NOT GROUND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ACTIVATE THE SWITCH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FORD, AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN. WHEN HE CALLED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN HE WAS TOLD HE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A SERVICE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN DRIVEWAY FOR SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES THERE IS A MUSHY FEELING, AND THE FRONT END SHAKES AND SHIMMIES.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING REAR END SHIFTED, CAUSING THE SHIFTER TO LOOK TOWARD THE DRIVER SEAT. ALSO THE PIN THAT HELD THE REAR END WAS ROUNDED OFF.*AK

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 F150 4X4 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. THE MIDDLE, RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AND WAS EJECTED WITH GREAT FORCE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND I REMEMBER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD IN AUGUST 1998 DETAILING THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, EARNHARDT FORD, ON OCTOBER 10, 1998, AND THE DEALER INSTALLED CLIPS ON THE FRONT PORTION OF BOTH SPRINGS. I RETRIEVED THE EJECTED PIECE OF THE BROKEN SPRING FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND I NOTICED THAT THE BREAK WAS RUSTY. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN ARIZONA OR NEVADA SINCE NEW, SO TO ME THIS INDICATES THAT THE SPRING PROBABLY HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR SOME TIME. ALSO JUST PRIOR TO THE SPRING EJECTING, I HAD BEEN INVOLVED A VERY MINOR REAR END COLLISION (THE CAR THAT HIT ME ONLY BROKE MY HITCH COVER). I THEORIZE THAT SOMEHOW THE FORCE OF THE CAR HITTING THE BACK OF MY TRUCK MUST HAVE REPOSITIONED THE BROKEN SPRING IN SUCH A WAY THAT PLACED STRESS ON THE FRONT RETAINING CLIP SHEARING IT AND ALLOWING THE SPRING TO BE EJECTED. I USE MY TRUCK FOR COMMUTING WHICH IS HARDLY SEVERE DUTY USE. LEAF SPRINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER ONLY 87K MILES, AND IF THEY DO BREAK, THEY SHOULDNT EJECT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE RIGHT-HAND LANE AND THE SPRING EJECTED INTO A VACANT DIRT LOT SO NO ONE WAS HURT AND NO PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED. I HAD BOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS REPLACED AT GAUDIN FORD, IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25, 2003. I ASKED THE DEALER IF FORD WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THEIR ANSWER WAS NO. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP AND COVER THE COST OF MY REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE FIX. WHAT HAPPEN TO ME IS EXACTLY WHAT FORD WARNED AGAINST THEIR AUGUST 1998 RECALL LETTER. REAR LEAF SPRINGS SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER ONLY 87K MILES OF NORMAL USE, AND FACT THAT THE MIDDLE SPRING WAS EJECTED SHOWS THERE IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE. I STILL HAVE THE PART OF BROKEN SPRING THAT I RETRIEVED FROM THE LOT.

ON APRIL 12, 2003 WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 FORD F 150 SUPER CAB PICKUP VIN [XXX] I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE I DISCOVERED THE MIDDLE LEAF OF THE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN IN HALF AND THE FORWARD HALF WAS DANGLING IN THE AIR HELD THERE BY THE CLAMP THAT WAS INSTALLED AT THE DEALER (BONNELL MOTORS) WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 98V16000. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I NOTICED THE MIDDLE LEAF ON THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING APPEARS TO HAVE SHIFTED AS IT IS NO LONGER EVEN WITH THE OTHER TWO LEAFS. I ALSO TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BROKEN MIDDLE LEAF FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND IT APPEARS THAT A MAJOR FRACTURE EXISTED FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THIS FINALLY DECIDED TO FAIL. MY FIRST ACTION WAS TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INFORM THEM AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT OF WHAT HAPPENED AND TO SEE IF THIS TYPE PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED AND IF SO WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE. I ADVISED THEM OF THE RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA (98V16000). HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT RECALL WAS ISSUED BY A THIRD PARTY NOT FORD AND THERE HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLAINTS RECEIVED OR RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BY FORD. NEXT I WAS ADVISED BY FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BONNELL MOTORS AND TALK THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THEY WOULDN'T MAKE ANY ASSURANCES FORD WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THEY WORK ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BETWEEN FORD AND DEALERS TO DETERMINE IF THE SITUATION WARRANTS IT. UPON MEETING WITH A SERVICE WRITER AT BONNELL MOTORS I WAS ADVISED THEY NEVER SAW THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE, IN FACT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD TO ORDER LEAF SPRINGS BEFORE. THE SERVICE WRITER ADVISED ME THAT FORD'S STATEMENT ON SPRINGS WAS IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED OR UNDER LOADED CAN RESULT IN LEAF SPRINGS BREAKING. THE SERVICE WRITER LOOKED UP HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LEAF SPRINGS. THAT COST WOULD BE $615.00, AND IF HAD 2,000 FEWER MILES FORD WOULD HAVE PAID ALL BUT A $250.00 DEDUCTIBLE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 FORD F150, 98V161000, RELATING TO FRACTURED LEAF SPRING. ACCORDING TO FORD, THIS SAFETY RECALL WAS APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE IN 2001. I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE BACK OF MY TRUCK WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND BEGAN LOOKING AROUND. I SEE THAT THE CENTER LEAF SPRING ON THE REAR OF MY TRUCK IS BROKEN, EXACTLY THE PROBLEM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 98V161000 (98S18 PER FORD). I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY SHOW NO OUTSTANDING CAMPAIGNS AGAINST MY VIN. AFTER ABOUT 5 ATTEMPTS TO GET SOMEONE AT FORD TO EXPLAIN THIS RECALL TO ME, I FINALLY GOT IN TOUCH WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED TISHA. SHE INFORMED ME THAT THIS RECALL HAD BEEN APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE BY LEIGH FORD, AND THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS REPAIR. I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS. 1. SAFETY CONCERN. THE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN, AND MAY CONTACT THE FUEL TANK AND CAUSE A LEAK AS DESCRIBED. FORD DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS. WAS THIS RECALL APPLIED CORRECTLY? WAS THE FRACTURE THERE TO BEGIN WITH, AND JUST OVERLOOKED? I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO EVEN DRIVE THIS UNTIL THIS IS REPAIRED. 2. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD PAY TO HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE REPAIRED CORRECTLY AND IMMEDIATELY. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY - HAVE TO REMOVE FUSES - BACK UP LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT WON'T GO OUT. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS HAVE FALLEN OFF (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) ENGINE IS GONE. INFERIOR GASKETS LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED MAIN BEARINGS. JUNE 2001 FRONT EENGINE SEAL LEAKED ANTIFREEZE ONTO GROUND. TWO LETTERS TO FORD MOTOR CO (ADDRESSED TO WILLIAM CLAY FORD) HAVE BEEN ANSWERED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES: DUNCAN ALDERSON AND D KULLA. BOTH HAVE ADVISED THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS EVEN THOUGH I ADVISED THEM I KNEW OF THEIR TSB'S TO THEIR DEALERS ADVISING THAT THESE TRUCKS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH DEFECTIVE GASKETS IN THE ENGINES. I NOW HAVE A TRUCK THAT I CANNOT DRIVE AND NO ASSIST IN GETTING IT FIXED,

BROKEN FRONT TORSION BAR (RS) ON A 1997 FORD F150 4WD. NO CRASH, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE . SAW PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION WHILE SEARCHING FOR RECALLS. ALSO SPOKE TO FORD DEALER WHO STATED THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON.I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED SO QUICKLY.