1999 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

1999 FORD F-150 SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT. *NM

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 01/27/2007 THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET, WHEN A NEIGHBOR ALERTED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING ANY DIFFERENTLY PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 40 MINUTES, WHEN IT BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK MADE 3RD ATTEMPT 10/16/07 LEFT MESSAGE. *LJ

MY CONCERN IS THE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ON THE 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE PLASTIC ON THE DOOR CRACKING, CAUSING THE DOOR NOT TO OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY. LAST WINTER I COULD NOT GET MY HEAT ON TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD, AND WAS ALMOST IN A WRECK BECAUSE I HAD TO WIPE THE WINSHIELD MYSELF WITH A PAPER TOWEL. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF THIS DOOR WAS TO SEPARATE THE COLD FROM THE HOT AIR. FORD QUOTED ABOUT $1100.00 TO FIX THIS PART SINCE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE REMOVED TO GET ACCESS TO THE PART. I HAVE NOT HAD TIME OR THE MONEY TO GET THIS PART FIXED. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *NM

1999 FORD F-150 CAUGHT FIRE AND BURT TO THE GROUND IN A PARKING LOT. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMANT STATED BY A WITNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING ABOUT 2 HOURS BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. FOUND NUMEROUS RECALL ARTICLES ON THE WEB ABOUT A SWITCH CATCHING FIRE. *NM

I RECENTLY HAD A FLAT TIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MY 1999 FORD F150. WHEN I LOWERED THE SPARE TIRE FROM ITS STOWED POSITION, THERE WERE EIGHT BADLY WORN SPOTS ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. THE WEAR WAS APPARENTLY CAME FROM THE WAY THE STOWAGE POSITION IS DESIGNED. THE DEGRADATION OF THE TIRE MAY MAKE IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE SPARE TIRES OF F150'S. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F-150. AFTER IT RAINED, A LEAK IN THE WINDSHIELD CAUSED WATER TO DRIP DOWN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND INTO THE FUSE PANEL. THE FUSE PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN

I PURCHASED MY '99 FORD F-150 IN THE SPRING OF '04. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE TRUCK HAD JUST OVER 49,000 MILES ON IT. THIS PAST MONDAY (10/16/06) WHILE PULLING OUT OF A LOCAL PARKING LOT, THE #2 SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD, RIPPING OUT THE THREADS THAT THE SPARK PLUG SCREWS INTO & DESTROYING THE COIL PACK LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE. MY TRUCK ON THE DAY OF FAILURE HAD 81,790 MILES ON IT. THAT'S 18,210 MILES SHORT IF THE TRUCKS FIRST MANUFACTURES SUGGESTED 100,000 MILE TUNE-UP. FORD WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER THE THOUGHT OF MAKING THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT RIGHT. THEY SIMPLY TOLD ME THAT THE HEAD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AND AT THE COST OF $2,800.00 TO $3,000.00. IT'S A DESIGN FLAW!!! THE ALUMINUM HEADS FOR THE 5.4 L ENGINES WERE ENGINEERED WITH AN INADEQUATE NUMBER OF THREADS NEEDED TO RETAIN THE SPARK PLUGS. THERE ARE ONLY 4 TO 5 THREADS TAPPED INTO THESE HEADS (APPROX. 1/4" TO 5/16" IN LENGTH) TODAY IS OCTOBER 19TH AND I HAVE PURCHASED A REPAIR KIT MANUFACTURED BY DORMAN PRODUCTS TO FIX THIS STRIPPED OUT SPARK PLUG MYSELF. THIS KIT IS SPECIFICALLY MADE BY DORMAN NOT FORD, TO FIX THIS PROBLEM OF FORDS 5.4L ENGINES. IT'S REALLY SAD THAT FORD HAS TO USE THE CONSUMERS AS GUINEA PIGS AND THEN FAIL SO MISERABLY TO BACK THEIR PRODUCT. I'M HESITANT TO CHECK THE TORQUE OF THE OTHER SEVEN PLUGS IN FEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT WITHSTAND THE RECOMMENDED 25 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE REQUIRED TO TIGHTEN THEM UP BUT IF I DON'T THEN IT'S RUSSIA ROULETTE AS TO WHEN THE NEXT ONE WILL BLOW OUT AND WHERE I WILL BE STRANDED WHEN IT DOES. I EXPECT FORD TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT 110%, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT BY FORD AND THE CONSUMER THAT THERE IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW WITH THE DESIGN OF THE 5.4L ENGINES ALUMINUM HEADS PRODUCED BETWEEN YEARS OF 1997 THROUGH 2002. *NM

PULLING A 10 FOOT BOX TRAILER WELL WITHIN GVW LIMIT...MAIN BRAKE LINE FAILURE, LINE ALONG THE FRAME RAIL APPEARS TO BE RUSTED WAY BEYOND WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED FOR THE VEHICLE YEAR, BRAKE LINE BURST WHEN BRAKES APPLIED...THROUGH INSPECTION REVEALED ALL METAL PARTS NOT ALUMINUM ARE RUSTED, APPEARS METAL IS INFERIOR QUALITY BUT FACTORY...LINES TO BE REPLACED. *JB

TRUCK STARTED MISSING, SPUTTERING, PINGING, RUNNING ON 3 CYLINDERS. VALVE SPRING BROKE IN ENGINE. *NM

1999 FORD F150 PICKUP. STEEL BRAKE TUBING RUSTED. WHILE STOPPED BRAKE PETAL WENT TO FLOOR. LOST MOST OF THE BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND FROM A RUST BREAK NEAR THE JUNCTION OF TWO TUBES ON THE FRAME RAIL. BOTH BRAKE TUBES AND THE CONNECTOR ARE BADLY RUSTED. *NM

IN A 45 MILE AN HOUR ROLL OVER IN A FORD F150 MY SON AS A PASSENGER WEARING HIS SEAT BELT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING GREAT BODILY HARM. THE SEAT ASSEMBLY BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FLOOR FRAME, SEAT BELT BROKE AND HE WAS ALONG WITH THE DRIVER EJECTED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR WHICH OPENED DURING THE ROLL OVER. AFTER EJECTION OF THE PASSENGERS THE TRUCK TRAVELED OVER A SMALL BANK INTO A STREAM BED AND EXPLODED INTO FIRE. *TR

WHILE SEAT BELTED INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT OF A FORD F150 MY SON WAS EJECTED IN A FRONT IMPACT AND ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THE SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TRUCK FLOOR DURING THE IMPACT ALLOWING HIM TO COME OUT OF THE SEAT BELT AND BE EJECTED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES. *TR

EJECTION OF PASSENGER DURING ROLL OVER ACCIDENT AT 40 MPH WHILE SEAT BELTED INTO A 1999 MODEL FORD F150 FOR WHICH THE PASSENGER SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. *TR

I HAVE A 99 F150 WITH LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. REPAIR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DONE ON THE HEAD. HEAD REPLACEMENT WAS $3600 ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS $5000. I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF FAULTY ENGINE... HOW LONG UNTIL IT HAPPENS AGAIN?? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A RESIDENCE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. A LOCAL MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE AND REPAIRED THE BRAKE LINES GOING TO THE LEFT REAR BRAKES. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE FUEL LINES WERE RUSTED.

1999 F150'S LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. *TS THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BENT AS A RESULT OF THE TIRE SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S UNDERCARRIAGE WAS DAMAGED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT NEW TIRES HAD BEEN RECENTLY INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. *NM

I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD F150 FROM KINGS AUTO MALL NEAR CINCINNATI. THE TRUCKS AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT UNTIL AFTER I PURCHASED THE TRUCK. I HAD IT IN THE DEALERS SHOP TO FIX THE A/C AND HAVE OTHER ITEMS LOOKED AT. THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY AIR BAG SWITCH. THIS IS THE SWITCH THAT TURNS OFF THE AIR BAG WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP HAD PLACED A STICKER ON THE PASSENGER WINDOW STATING THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SAFETY CHECKED. BUT YET I PURCHASED A TRUCK THAT COULD HAVE KILLED MY 4 YEAR OLD IF THE AIR BAG HAD WENT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR HALF OF THE REPAIR FOR FIXING THE SWITCH. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD HAVE SOLD ME A TRUCK THAT HAD THIS MAJOR ISSUE. *JB

99 FORD F-150 197K MILES. CYLINDER #3 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. ALMOST BROKE FUEL RAIL. NO FIRE HEADS REPLACED. SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD 3150.00. *JB

1999 F150 WIPERS COME ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, THE HEAD GASKET LEAKS OIL ONTO THE MOTOR AND CAUSES IT TO SMOKE. AS A RESULT, OIL GETS BENEATH THE MOTOR AND INTO THE EXHAUST, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO SMOKING. THE FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT KEEP THE VEHICLE PARKED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V194000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 100,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB

OIL LEAK IN HEAD GASKET DUE TO MANAFACTURING DEFECT. I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRENTY AND REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT HELPING OWNERS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES THERE WAS A METAL TO METAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER, CABLE GUIDE AND ADJUSTER LEVER WERE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE DRUM CABLE WAS TOO SHORT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO ADJUST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

I WAS BRAKING FOR LUNCH WHEN I OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR OF MY F-150 WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE WIRING IN THE DOOR CONTROLS WAS MELTED. IT WAS A GOOD THING I WAS NOT IN THE TRUCK WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED! *NM

WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE THEIR WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE #2 CYLINDER COIL WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN. WHEN I PULLED THE COIL OUT THE SPARK PLUG CAME WITH IT. THE ALUMINUM ENGINE HEAD HAD STRIPPED OUT THE THREADS THAT HOLD THE SPARK PLUG. FURTHER DEALING W/ FORD DEALERSHIP, AS TO HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IS TO REPLACE THE HEAD AT A COST OF 2500.00 PLUS. *NM

STARTED VEHICLE AND NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FUEL RETURN LINE ON TOP OF TANK WAS RUPTURED AND SHOOTING A LARGE STREAM OF GAS ALL UNDER TRUCK. *JB

F150 CRUISE CONTROL RECALL...MY F150 1999 CAUGHT ON FIRE 5/12/06 IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED DUE TO FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL DEVICE. *JB

COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *JB

MY FORD F 150 BLEW THE #3 SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD ON GOOD FRIDAY. THE TRUCK LOST POWER BUT WAS STILL DRIVABLE. THE EVENT OCCURRED ON I 39 NORTH OF MADISON WI. HAD I NOT KNOWN WHAT TO DO IT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. COST TO FIX THIS FAILURE WAS 4200 DOLLARS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE CYLINDER HEAD. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD F150. WITHIN THE LAST THIRTEEN MONTHS, TWO DIFFERENT SPARK PLUGS HAVE BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND IS DUE TO THE CASTING OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 99,979 AND FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,844. UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGH SPEED STATE HIGHWAY WHEN A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD OF THE 5.4 LITER ENGINE OF HER 99 FORD F-150 XLT 4WD PICKUP. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED HOME. AFTER NUMEROUS INQUIRIES WITH FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS I WAS RUDELY INSTRUCTED NOT TO CONTACT THEM FURTHER. HER TRUCK HAD 65,909 MILES ON IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND PAID THEM $3600 FOR THE REPAIRS AND A NEW HEAD ASSEMBLY. I'M A RETIRED AUTO TECHNICIAN WITH 50 YEARS IN THE BUSINESS, SO, I CONSIDER MYSELF KNOWLEDGEABLE. I KNOW OF 5 INCIDENTS WITH OUR CUSTOMERS SUFFERING THE SAME FATE. ONE CUSTOMER HAD A TRUCK STILL UNDER WARRANTY THAT BLEW ALL 8 PLUGS OUT. ALL CUSTOMERS AFFECTED WERE TOWED TO FORD DEALERS BY US. THIS CONDITION COULD PRESENT A NASTY ACCIDENT ON A SUPER HI-WAY WITH POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT 5:30 AM, A LOAD NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE TRUCK WOULD BARELY RUN AND REQUIRED A TOW, THE DEALER SHIP SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE DUE TO STRIPPED THREADS IN THE BLOCK. ALSO I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRUCK LOSING OIL AND THE SMELL OF BURNED OIL ON AN OFF SINCE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2000. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NEVER FIND A PROBLEM. THE LEAK IS NOW WORSE WITH OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR FOR THE PAST YEAR AND THE SMELL OF BURNED OIL MORE OFTEN. I SUSPECT THE HEAD GASKET FROM READING OTHER REPORTS ON THE INTERNET. *NM

I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR FORD RECALL#99B29. MY ADDRESS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. MY F150 HAS BEEN USING COOLANT AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF LEAKS. NOW THERE IS A LOUD ENGINE TICK AT STARTUP. ALL MY MILES ARE INTERSTATE MILES, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND BABIED SINCE PURCHASE. WHAT IS FORD GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS FACTORY DEFECT?? *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 FORD TRITON V-10 POWERED C-CLASS MOTORHOME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD BANG. AFTER THE BANG IT CONTINUED TO RATTLE BADLY AND MIS-FIRE. WORKED MY WAY ACROSS TRAFFIC AND STOPPED IN A NO PARKING ZONE FOR 2 HRS AWAITING A TOW TRUCK. WE WERE IN A FAIRLY UN-SAFE POSITION, AS THE SHOULDER WAS LIMITED AND IT WAS ON THE EXIT ROUTE FOR THE CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY JUST AFTER A NASCAR RACE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS TOLD ME THAT A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. I'M LEARNING THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS MODEL ENGINE. *NM

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE CAUSING ENGINE HEAD DAMAGE. THIS COST OVER $3000 TO REPAIR AND I UNDERSTAND MAY HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME WITH ANY OF THE 8 SPARK PLUGS. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S ABS AND AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT.

WATER ENTERING THROUGH COWLING (THE SLOTTED METAL PIECE BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE WIND SCREEN) LEAKS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND ONTO THE IGNITION COMPONENTS CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THESE PARTS. THESE PARTS ARE THE FUSE BOX(CJB), GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE(GEM) POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX(PDB) AND OTHER ELECTROIC PARTS AND WIRE CONNECTORS. THE PARTS THET DO NOT FAIL WILL CORRODE AND CAUSE INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, AC/HEATER FAN AND TURN SIGNALS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT KEY IN THE IGNITION. DOME LIGHT AND WIND SCREEN WIPERS WILL START AND STOP WITHOUT BEING PHYSICALLY TURNED ON. THE ENGINE WILL NOT START OR IT CAN STOP WITHOUT TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE REPAIR IS ALL AFFECTED PARTS MUST BE CLEARED OF CORRISION OR REPLACED AT CONSUMER COST AND THE LEAK MUST BE FOUND AND SEALED. FORD HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #16928 DATED 6/27/03 ON THIS COVERING F-150'S FROM 1997 TO 2003. THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THIS. *NM

ELECTRICAL FAILURE, MALFUNCTION, FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK EXPLOSION DESTROYED TWO OF MY VEHICLES. *NM

SEAT BELT RELEASED DURING ROLLOVER CRASH. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 THE REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.*AK

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THE TIE ROD ENDS BEING DEFECTIVE. HE WAS TOLD THE TIE RODS ENDS WERE CORRODED AND WORN OUT. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 FORD F-150 EXTENDED CAB THERE IS A CRACK IN THE METAL AREA NEXT TO THE WINDOW AREA ON BOTH BIG DOORS. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT CERTAIN MODEL YEARS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. THESE CRACKS ARE GETTING WORSE. SINCE I FOUND THIS I LOOK AT OTHER FORD TRUCKS AND ON CERTAIN YEARS I BELIEVE 1999-2003 OR 2004 ON THE EXT .CABS THAT THESE CRACKS APPEAR ON EITHER ONE SIDE AND CERTAIN YEARS ON BOTH SIDES. I HAVE CALLED FORD BUT THEY WILL NOT RESPOND. I CAN FAX YOU A PICTURE OF THESE CRACKS IF YOU LIKE. I BELIEVE THESE CRACKS HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE MANUFACTURE DATE. *JB

WE BOUGHT A USED F-150 AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR A YEAR. AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, THE ALARM WENT OFF AND ON, LIGHTS FLASHED, DOOR CHIME WENT OFF WHEN THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION, ETC. HAYWARD FORD IN CA LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SINCE OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY "JUST RAN OUT," THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US $150 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I SAID FORGET THAT AND TOOK IT TO A REPUTABLE AUTO ELECTRICAL PLACE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND TOLD US THAT IT WAS INDEED A LEAKY WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN GAVE US THE PAPER THAT FORD PUTS OUT TELLING MECHANICS WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF THE LEAKY WINDSHIELD (BASICALLY TO SEAL THE WINDSHIELD WITH BUTYL SEALANT). I CALLED FORD BACK AND THEY SUDDENLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THAT ISN'T A RECALL PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT MAKES/MODELS OF FORDS HAVING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET AND IF THE GEM WAS HARMED, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED TOO (AT A TUNE OF $1600). I CALLED FORD DIRECTLY AND AFTER GETTING THE RUN AROUND, A SUPERVISOR FINALLY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY ARE WILLING OR WILL DO TO HELP US OUT. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME FORWARD TO COMPLAIN (YET) AND THERE ISN'T A RECALL (YET). SO, THEY AREN'T WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. I AM SO MAD I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT. I HAVE WRITTEN A COMPLAINT LETTER. MY TRUCK IS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY (TARPED UP TO PREVENT RAIN FROM GETTING ON THE GEM) WITH THE BATTERY PULLED (OTHERWISE IT GETS DRAINED). SO, WE EITHER PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED OR CONTINUE TO WATCH THE TRUCK ROT IN THE DRIVEWAY. I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING A CLASS ACTION SUIT. ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM? *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HE SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 05V388000 ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.*AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18,2005, WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH THE ROANOKE, VA AREA, I DESCENDED DOWN A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY. AS I NEARED THE BOTTOM OF THE STEEP INCLINE, I NOTICED A BACKUP OF TRAFFIC IN BOTH LANES. SLOWING UP AS I NEARED THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED ALMOST TO A STOP TO ALLOW TWO VEHICLES FROM THE LEFT LANE TO MERGE IN FRONT OF IT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP UNEXPECTEDLY THEREBY ALERTING ME TO INSTANTLY STOP MY VEHICLE TO AVOID AN IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AS I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY (INSTANTLY), THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SLOW UP AND "SHUTTER" OR A "PULSATING" MOTION OF SLOWING DOWN. THE TRUCK CAME CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT DID NOT STOP!!!! THIS SHUTTERING OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS THE ABS SYSTEM BECOMING ACTIVATED. BECAUSE OF THIS ACTIVATION, MY VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP IN TIME AND THUS IMPACTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WITH MINOR DAMAGE. AFTER I EVENTUALLY STOPPED, I NOTICED I DID LEAVE SKID MARKS ON THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND NO PRECIPITATION, PAVEMENT WAS DRY. I FEEL THAT UNDER NORMAL HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM, I WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID THIS MISHAP. I DID HAVE ENOUGH TIME AND DISTANCE TO STOP TO AVOID THE MISHAP. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS ABS SYSTEM HAS ENGAGED ITSELF PRIOR TO MY STOPPING DUE TO STOPPED VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE YET TO HAVE AN EVALUATION DONE ON THE TRUCK TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A DEFECT SINCE THE ABS SYSTEM, WITHOUT QUESTION, DOES ENGAGE AS IT SHOULD. MY CONCERN IS THAT ABS DOES NOT LOCK UP THE BRAKES AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO, HOWEVER, THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE FROM FULLY STOPPING WHEN NECESSARY. I DON'T THINK THIS WAS PART OF IT'S INTENDED DESIGN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR DEATHS IN EITHER OF MY MISHAPS, HOWEVER, THESE WERE SLOW SPEEDS. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HE SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. THE TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR AT 20000 MILES. THE SEAT BELT ROLLER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAG CONTROL WAS REPLACED. BOTH DOORS HAD STRESS FRACTURES. THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE NOT SECURED PROPERLY WHICH RESULTED IN WEAR . THE WHEEL HUBS CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR WAS DEFECTIVE. *NM

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HEARD LOUD BANG IN ENGINE. FOUND OUT SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN. NO ACCIDENT CAUSED. I HAVE TWO FORD VEHICLES AND THE BOTH HAD SPARK PLUGS BLOW WITHIN THE LAST MONTH. BOTH ENIGNES ARE 5.4 L. *NM

LEAKING HEAD GASKET @ 101K MILES. ANTIFREEZE IN #6 CYLINDER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON YEARLY STATE INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THE ROTORS HAD TOO MUCH POROSITY DURING THE CASTING PROCESS. AS A RESULT, THE ROTORS MUST BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO PASS THIS YEAR'S INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.