1998 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AT 15 MPH OR LESS, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT TIE ROD WAS BROKEN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM

WHILE DRIVING,THE DRIVE SIDE TIRE ROD SHEARED OFF. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT THE NEAREST MECHANIC. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THE INNER TIE ROD WAS SEPARATED AND FELL APART. THE WHEELS TURNED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. *TC

THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS DISINTEGRATED INSIDE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY A BEARING WHICH CAME APART AND CAUSED EVERYTHING INSIDE TO SHIFT ABOUT AN INCH TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE. HOW DANGEROUS IS THAT? ULTIMATELY, THE HOUSING, RING GEARS AND OTHER GEARS INSIDE WERE DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. IT STARTED WITH A SLIGHT HUM AT 45 MPH AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS COMPLETELY BROKE SO THAT THE DRIVELINE TURNS WITHIN THE HOUSING WHILE THE WHEELS STAY PUT. I USE MY TRUCK ONLY FOR STREET TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE TAKEN IMPECCABLE CARE OF IT. THE TRUCK HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. ONLY TWO MONTHS AGO, I HAD THE FLUID CHANGED EVERYWHERE INCLUDING THE REAR END. I HAVE PUT A REBUILT REAR END RESULTING IN $2600 OUT OF MY POCKET. THANKS MR. FORD FOR THAT!*AK

WATER LEAKED INSIDE ENGINE MIX WITH OIL CAUSING LOCKUP

FORD F-150 1998. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT WARNING IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK THE MAJORITY OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS INCIDENT ALSO DAMAGED A NEIGHBORING VEHICLE DUE TO THE FIRE. *SC *JB

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL AND A SIDE COLLISION OF AN IMPACT OF 55 MPH . UPON IMPACT, NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TESTS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

I WAS DRIVING AN HEARD A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LOST POWER AND LIGHTS DIMMED FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. I PULLED OVER AND SMELLED ANTIFREEZE BEFORE I OPENED THE HOOD. I CHECKED THE COOLANT RECOVERY TANK LEVEL AND IT WAS SLIGHTLY LOW. LOOKED FOR A LEAK AND FOUND A 1/16TH" PINHOLE APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH BELOW THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING GASKET LINE PRODUCING A STEADY STREAM OF ANTIFREEZE DIRECTLY ONTO THE SERPENTINE BELT. THIS STRONG LEAK CONTINUES AS LONG AS THE PROPER FLUID LEVEL IS MAINTAINED, AND STOPS ONCE THE LEVEL FALLS BELOW THE HOLE. TO REFILL THE TANK TO IT'S PROPER LEVEL TAKES APPROXIMATELY ONE US GALLON OF COOLANT, WHICH IMMEDIATELY BEGINS TO SQUIRT OUT THE HOLE, WHETHER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR NOT; HOT OR COLD. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME ALL HE COULD DO IS REPLACE THE ENGINE, WHICH I HAVE NOT DONE. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER, AS SEVERAL OTHER PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND ALL AGREED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE CASTING, SINCE THERE WAS NO CRACKING- JUST A ROUND PIN HOLE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE NO MOVING PARTS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED SUCH DAMAGE.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. 4.2L ENGINE BECAME DISABLED AND BURNED A BEARING IN THE CRANK SHAFT. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED BY FORD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD AND THIS SIZE ENGINE.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150. I WAS JUST DRIVING AT 45MPH AND THE NUMBER 8 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD OF MY TRUCK. JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. PLUGS WERE REPLACED 15000 MILES AGO. IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE FORD TRITON MOTORS AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH BY TALKING TO PARTS STORES, THE INTERNET AND THE DEALER. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THAT NO RECALL WAS MADE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP?*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR ON A COUNTRY ROAD THE SPARE TIRE SUPPORT CABLE ON MY 1998 FORD F-150 FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL BENEATH THE TRUCK, BOUNCE, AND STRIKE THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE UNIT HAD NOT SHOWN PRIOR SIGNS OF WEAR WHEN THE SPARE TIRE WAS LAST SERVICED ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO. THE UNIT HAS BEEN CYCLED PROBABLY FIVE TIMES DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF "THUMPING" WHICH WOULD INDICATE A LOOSE FITTING OF TIRE IN THE SPARE WELL. WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED DUE TO THE LOW SPEED AND LOCATION, A RELEASE ON A HIGHWAY WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY. I PLAN TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT PART AND WILL RETAIN THE DAMAGED UNIT FOR INSPECTION.*AK

SEE ODI 10091339 -IN EXAMINING THE FAILED PART THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION CAUSING A WEAKNESS OF THE CABLE. RATHER, THE RETAINING LUG AT THE END OF THE CABLE APPEARS TO HAVE SHEARED AS A RESULT OF ROUTINE DRIVING CONDITIONS OVER TIME. IN PURCHASING A REPLACEMENT PART FROM FORD, I FOUND THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE LIFT MECHANISM TO ADD A TENSION RELIEF SPRING TO PREVENT THE LIKELY HOOD OF A CABLE FAILURE SUCH AS I EXPERIENCED. OLD PART: F75Z*1A131*BC NEW PART 2L3Z*1A131*AA THIS INDICATES THEIR RECOGNITION THAT THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL PART. AS THESE VEHICLES AGE THERE WILL BE INCREASED CHANCE OF FUTURE FAILURE FROM CABLE STRAIN INCURRED DURING ROUTINE USE. *JB

I JUST READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT FORD TRUCK OWNERS HAVING TIE ROD PROBLEMS. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER. I HAD ONE TIE ROD BREAK TWO WEEKS AGO, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. I HAD NOT YET OPENED THE LETTER. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A WIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SWITCH, BUT THE CONTACT STILL HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START. THE DEALER FINALLY DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH, BUT IT CONTINUES TO TAKE FOUR OR MORE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS PAID $200 IN REPAIRS. THE FAILURE OCCURS IN BOTH COLD AND HOT WEATHER AND THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE DISCONNECTED WIRE WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 229,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL* THE CONTACT WAS THE PASSENGER IN A 1998 FORD F150 KING CAB THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION,THE VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SIX PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. *AK

THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD HAD SHEARED OFF FROM THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE TIE ROD AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

CONSUMER STATED THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V017000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE. *AK

(1) NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. (2) STARTED HARD, HEAVY WHITE SMOKE OUT THE EXHAUST AND KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. ONSEQUENCES - #4 & #5 RODS IN CYLINDERS STRESSED. (3) CORRECTION OF FAILURE - 4.2L ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT BACK UP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OBTAINED TSB-99-20-7 AND THIS TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED 12/97. RECALL WAS THRU 5.1.97 AND ENGINE WAS PUT IN TRUCKS UNTIL 1.15.98.*AK

RIGHT FRONT TIE ROD BROKE IN HALF AND SEPARATED FROM THE TIE ADJUSTOR. *AK CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING 25 MPH *TC

MY 1998 FORD F150 4X4 BLEW 3 COILS WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, CULMINATING WITH THE IGNITION COIL IN AUGUST 2004. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD I WAS BEING PUT ON A "RECALL LIST" IN CASE OTHERS HAD COMPLAINTS. WHEN THE COILS BLOW, THERE IS A HORRIBLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE SPARK PLUG NO LONGER IGNITING THAT CYLINDER FOR THE ENGINE TO RUN OFF OF. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A WRECKER WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALL THREE COILS WERE REPLACED AND I STILL HAVE RECEIPTS. I TRADED THE VEHICLE IN DUE TO THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IT BEGAN HAVING. *JB

CATATROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 52000 MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO 3.8L ENGINE TSB NOTICE. ON DISASSEMBLY BY PROFESSIONAL GARAGE THEY INDICATED HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS CAUSING THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING TO FAIL, (SIMILAR TO 3.8L FAILURES).*AK

WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE INNER TIE ROD DETACHED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE PICK UP WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE PICK UP. THE TIE ROD COULD NOT BE LUBRICATED. THE INNER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED.*AK

SPARK PLUGS</A> BLEW OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE PLUGS WERE THE ORIGINALS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. *TC *JB

I HAVE A 19'98 FORD F150 THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE 235/70R16 WILDERNESS HT TIRES. ONE OF THOSE TIRES STARTED TO SEPARATE ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES SO THE SAFETY ISSUE HAS BEEN DEALT WITH. HOWEVER, I'VE TRIED TALKING TO FIRESTONE ABOUT THE TIRE SEPARATION & THEY AREN'T THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED. THEIR DISTRICT MGR ( BOB ) SAID THE TIRES ARE SIX YEARS OLD AND I SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT I'VE GOTTEN THAT MUCH SERVICE OUT OF THE TIRES. THEIR STORE MGR ( MIKE HEMEL ) IN CHARLOTTE NC SAID TIRES SEPARATE WHEN THEN GET OLD. AFTER A 30 SECOND ANALYSIS OF THE TIRE HE SAID MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH CONFORMS TO THE FIRST RULE OF BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE => BLAME SOMEONE ELSE. I OFFERED TO KATHY SMITH ( FIRESTONE CORPORATE) TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO MY NORMAL MECHANIC AND HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED UNDER THE SCENARIO THAT IF IT IS MISALIGNED, I WOULD PAY THE BILL & IF IT IS IN ALIGNMENT, FIRESTONE WOULD PAY THE BILL. SHE DECLINED MY OFFER, AGAIN SUGGESTING FIRESTONE REALLY IS NOT INTERESTING IN GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RELIABILITY RECORD OF THIS TYPE OF TIRE OR THE PROCESS TO GET ONE OF YOUR SPECIALIST TO ANALYIZE THE FAILURE MODE OF THIS PARTICULAR TIRE. I HAVE ALL FIVE OF THE OEM TIRES, ONE OF WHICH IS THE SPARE ( NEW CONDITION ) I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO MAKE THESE TIRES AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR ANALYSIS; BUT, I'D RATHER NOT KEEP THESE TIRES AROUND FOR VERY LONG IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU BELIEVE DOES NOT WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION PLEASE ADVISE ME HOW TO PROCEED AS SOON AS PRACTICAL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THERE WAS A ROLL OVER.*AK WHEEL AND TIRE BROOK OFF. BOTH CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WHERE INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. CONSUMER AND PASSENGER FILED A CLAIM DUE TO THE INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING THE ACCIDENT. CLAIM NUMBER 00181339133. *TC

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD A BIG EXPLOSION FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I POPED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT MY #2 COIL WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER. AFTER GETTING MY 98 F150 HOME I FOUND THAT THE PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE PROBLEM FIXED AS OF YET BUT FORD SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IS A NEW HEAD.*AK

POSSIBLE MIRROR DEFECT ON 1998 F150. *MR THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR STRUCK A MAILBOX. THE MIRROR COLLAPSED AND THE MIRROR INSIDE HAD BECOME DETACHED, FLEW THROUGH THE PASSENGER WINDOW, STRUCK THE CONSUMER IN THE CHIN AND FLEW OUT OF THE DRIVER WINDOW. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE MIRROR COLLAPSED AS DESIGNED TO, HOWEVER, THE MIRROR DETACHED FORCEFULLY LANDING IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. *SC *JB

EARLY LAST YEAR (2004) MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING ON MY 1998 FORD F-150 4X4 P/U. I CHECKED ALL THE FUSES AND THEY WERE FINE. I USED THE TRUCK WITHOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE NEXT 6-8 MONTHS. THEN ONE DAY WHILE AT WORK I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF MY TRUCK HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED IT WAS ON FIRE AT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH (AT THE TIME I THOUGHT THE SWITCH WAS A PRESSURE SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE BRAKE) SO I CUT THE WIRING TO STOP THE CURRENT FLOW AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. I CAUGHT IT EARLY ENOUGH SO NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE TRUCK. JUST SOME MELTED WIRING THAT I REPLACED. (BEING AN ELECTRICIAN HELPED) I COULD NOT USE THE TRUCK FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND TOOK A DAY OFF WORK UNTIL I FOUND A SWITCH AND I REPLACED IT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE. WHEN I WENT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (ANTELOP VALLEY FORD IN LANCASTER, CA) TO GET A REPLACEMENT SWITCH AND EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT TO THEM THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT SWITCH I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND SAID THEY HAD NO REPLACEMENT FOR IT, THEN SAID THEY COULD ORDER IT FOR ME AFTER I SHOWED THEM WHERE IT WAS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. THEY NEVER TOLD ME IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS SWITCH, THAT UPSETS ME MORE THEN ANYTHING! I WENT TO POWER FORD IN VALENCIA, CA AND THEY HAD A SWITCH IN STOCK THAT I PURCHASED. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THE SWITCH THAT I GOT FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE BURNT UP ONE WAS A NON-FAULTY SWITCH? LOW AND BEHOLD, MY CRUISE CONTROL STARTED WORKING AFTER I REPLACED THE BURNT UP SWITCH! THE JULY 15, 2004 INCIDENT DATE IS AN APPROXIMATE DATE.

I LOST THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE AND WAS TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM WHEN THE BRAKE SWITCH (CRUISE CONTROL) CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1998 F150 TRUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKE SWITCH (CRUISE CONTROL) LOCATED ON THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE THE SWITCH LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SWITCH AND THE WIRING HARNESS. I PURCHASED THE BRAKE SWITCH FROM THE LOCAL DEALER AND A WIRING HARNESS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I USED THE FORD BRAKE SWITCH AND HARNESS AND OBVOUSLY MAY NEED TO REPLACE IT IN THE FUTURE. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER (TEAM FORD IN HUMBLE, TX) AND ADVISED THEM OF THE FIRE. THEY SAID THEY NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT THE FORD LOCAL REP AND NEVER RECEIVED A RETURN CALL. I EVENTUALLY DISCARDED THE PARTS BUT HAVE EVIDENCE OF THE FIRE. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN BURNT AND THIS MAY POSE A BIGGER PROBLEM WITH LEAKS IN THE FUTURE. CAN YOU MAKE SURE THAT FORD RECOGNIZES THIS FAILURE AND THE 1998 F150 TRUCKS ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ON THE NEWS. MANY THANKS! *AK

98 F-150 4.2 V-6, ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO MOTOR FROM FAULTY GASKET. FORD PUT A RECALL WHEN IT WAS NEW, BUT I BOUGHT MINE FROM DEALER USED, NOW THE MOTOR IS BAD, AND I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON IT. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 98 F-150 FAILED AT 36400 MI AND 36 MONTHS. FORD, THE DEALER AND I SPLIT THE COST OF REPAIR. NOW, APPROXIMATELY 36000 MI AND THREE YEARS MORE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AGAIN. DEALER RECOMMENDS THAT I PURCHASE A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANS FOR $2200. ODD COINCIDENCE THAT THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILED AT THE SAME MILEAGE AND TIME. VEHICLE IS USED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND IS RARELY USED TO TOW OR CARRY LOADS. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD AT A VERY MODERATE RATE IN A PARKING LOT. *JB

STRUCTURAL-STRESS FRACTURES IN SHEET METAL ON DOOR.*AK

DURING NORMAL STREET DRIVING, THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END POPPED OFF. IT CAUSED THE TIRE TO VEER LEFT AND SHATTERED THE LEFT RIM. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE,AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK I REPLACED BOTH INNER AND OUTER ENDS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT, OUT OF FEAR OF FAILURE AT A LATER TIME OR WORSE, A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH FORD, THEY WOULDN'T ADMIT THIS WAS A PROBLEM ( ABNORMALLY RAPID WEAR!) AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE PARTS AND TIME.

FIRE IN LEFT REAR QUADRANT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ONLY ITEM DAMAGED WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. STILL IN PLACE BUT SWITCH HEAD WAS CHARRED AND DEFORMED. CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FUSE FOR THE CCDS WAS BLOWN . IT WAS A 25 AMP DEVICE WHERE A 15 AMP DEVICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. XRAYS OF THE SWITCH HEAD SHOW THE INTERNAL BRASS CONTACTS DESTROYED BY ELECTRICAL ARCING.

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH PPLIED THE BRAKES.AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THIS RESULTED IN IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED.*AK

I OWN A 1998 F150 APPROX. TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO I PURCHASED A SET OF 4 GENERAL AMERITRAC SUV TIRES FROM SEARS, SIZE P225/70 R16 109S. WITHIN A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND A RANGE OF 18 TO 28 THOUSAND MILES, THREE OF THE TIRES HAVE HAD THE TIRE SEPARATE FROM THE STEEL BELTS, THE LAST WHICH HAPPENED TODAY, ALMOST KILLED ME. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF THESE TIRES. I DO CHECK THE PRESSURE ON A REGULAR BASIS,EVERY 2 TO 3 WEEKS. I STILL HAVE THE LAST TWO TIRES THAT HAVE FAILED. *NM

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A BARN. *MR THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WHEN HE HAD GONE INTO THE HOUSE, THE CRASH WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMERS HORSES THAT WAS IN THE STALL AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. RECALL# 97V171000. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD SNAPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE AND WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER UNTIL THE STORM PASSED. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND HE REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED TWICE TO DATE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY, SECONDS LATER A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE LOST ITS TREAD. THE TREAD WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE OF THE WHEEL. *AK *JB

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER I START TRUCK. *JB

VEHICLE: 1998 FORD F-150 4X4 WITH 68,000 MILES. ORIGINAL AND SOLE DRIVER OF VEHICLE WHICH IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE WITH NO DRIVEABILITY ISSUES PRIOR TO INCIDENT. EVENTS: TRAVELING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD AT 35 MPH FAILURE: CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CORRECTION OF FAILURE: FORD DEALER, SUNNYSIDE MOTOR COMPANY, HOLDEN,MA 01520, 1-800 649-4333 , INVOICE # 103830 DATED 6/3/04 REPLACED FAILED PART ALONG WITH ALL OTHER TIE RODS AND IDLER ARM. I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION ALL REPLACED PARTS. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE COST MY LIFE PLUS OTHER'S WHILE IN MY VEHICLE. FORD IS AMBIVALENT ABOUT THE SITUATION. I NEED YOUR HELP. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED OR USED FOR OFF ROADING. OPERATION OF STEERING AND VEHICLE TRACKING DOWN HIGHWAY WAS EXCELLENT PRIOR TO INCIDENT. I AM ALSO HAVING THE DEFECTIVE PART ALONG WITH QUESTIONABLE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE. *JB

THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH. THE SPARE TIRE ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FELL OFF. THE CABLE SECURING THE TIRE DISCONNECTED. *AK *SC *JB

1) AROUND MAY 2004, I NOTICED I WAS NEEDING TO ADD WATER TO MY 1998, FORD F150, 4.2L V6 QUITE FREQUENTLY. 2) WATER ENTERED THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE, LONG STORY SHORT, MY MOTOR SLUNG A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN, IN TURN, COSTING AROUND $4,000.00 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX. 3) FORD KNOWS OF THE MANY, MANY FAILURES OF THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE YEARS OF 1997, 1998, AND PART OF 1999. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF NOTICE CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. I WOUND UP REBUILDING THE ENTIRE MOTOR DUE TO AN INTAKE GASKET MALFUNCTION THAT FORD COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED BY WAY OF A RECALL NOTICE. *NM

CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES FIVE TIMES BEFORE IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE WERE TWO PIECES MISSING FROM THE SWAY BAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER FOR VEHICLE COULD NOT FIND THE DEFECTS. HOWEVER , THE DODGE DEALER FOUND THE DEFECT.*AK *TC

CRACK FORMING ON DRIVERS DOOR AT BOTTOM OF WINDOW. ALSO RUST DEVELOPING AT BOTTOM OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS. CRACK IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR YEARS. WHEN WILL FORD FIX THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL. NHTSA NEEDS TO GET INVOLVED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED THA THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT LESS THEN A MONTH AGO. *AK

DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS APPOXIMATELY 40 MPH, RIGHT OUTER TIE ROD END SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING . I HAVE REPLACED INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD ENDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. OLD PART WAS THROWN AWAY.*AK

WHILE AT HOME AFTER PARKING MY F-150 IN THE DRIVEWAY. AN HOUR LATER I WENT TO GET MY KIDS FROM SCHOOL. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. I WENT TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND SAW THAT IT WAS CUT. TOOK THE TIRE OFF AND SAW THAT THE RUBBER AND CAME OFF FROM THE METAL THAT GOES AROUND THE RIM. TOOK THE TIRE TO THE NEAREST GOODYEAR DEALER. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A BEAD SEPARATION AND THAY HAVE NEVER SAW A TIRE DO THAT BEFORE. THE BAD THING IS THAT I HAVE ANOTHER TIRE ABOUT TO DO THE SAMETHING. IT IS THE SPARE, AND I AM USING IT.*AK

TIE ROD ON PASSENGER SIDE OF 1998 F150 XLT FELL OFF TRUCK WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY, I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. GLAD THAT I HAD NOT REACHED THE INTERSTATE AND TRAVELING 65 MPH. HATE TO SEE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY CHILDREN, WHO ARE 6 AND 8, THAT WERE IN THE TRUCK. OR ANY INNOCENT WEEKEND TRAVELERS. *AK