1997 FORD E-150 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP PROPERLY, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED AND THE CRASH CAUSED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE ABS CONTROLLER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 172,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX DETACHED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. WE PULLED OVER AND IMMEDIATELY GOT THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS BLAZING. *TR

I HAVE AN 1997 FORD F150 THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS TANK AND BOTH STRAPS THAT SECURED THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE. THE STRAPS WORE AWAY AT THE GAS TANK WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A FUEL LEAK IN THE TANK ITSELF. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH AND CAUSED HIM TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 1/19/2011 THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES BECAME CLOUDY OVER TIME WHICH CAUSED POOR LIGHTING WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 03/25/11

HI, THE PART FAILURE IS A FUEL TANK CRACK THAT OCCURS IN THE MID90'S TO EARLY 2000S FORD VANS. THIS DESIGN PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO BY FORD, AND IS ADDRESSED ON A VERY LIMITED LIST OF CERTAIN MODELS AND YEARS UNDER A RECALL NOTICE 01V114000. HOWEVER, THIS TANK CRACK OCCURS ON OTHER NON LISTED VIN NUMBERS AS WELL, SUCH AS MINE. THIS IS THE PROBLEM, THE DOCUMENTED AND COVERED RECALL GROUP VIN NUMBERS PRECEDE MINE AND OCCUR SUBSEQUENT TO MINE, BUT SKIP SEVERAL VINS INBETWEEN. MY CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL TANK, AND THE RESULTING GASOLINE LEAKAGE, OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THE TANK DESIGN, WHICH DESIGN FORD HAS REVISITED FIVE TIMES NOW. SO, THERE IS A GASOLINE LEAK THAT RESULTS FROM METAL FATIGUE, AS THE LONG "HOTDOG" SHAPED FUEL TANK FLEXES AND TWISTS, IN FORD'S WORDS, WITH THE FRAME, AND FAILS WHERE IT RUBS STRAPS OR CROSSMEMBERS. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET A REPLACEMENT TANK FROM FORD, BUT ALL ARE SPOKEN FOR AND BACKORDERED AS THEY ARE BEING SUPPLIED TO THE DEALERS FOR THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT LIST OF DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. SO, NO TANKS ARE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO HAVE THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD'S EXISTING RECALL LIST. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD FOR RESOLUTION, FORD CASE 599552380, FOR SOURCING A TANK AT LEAST FOR NOW. FORD WILL STILL NOT ADMIT TO OWNERSHIP OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PARTICULAR TANK--YET. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH DOT, CASE #290654, TO HAVE THE RECALL GROUP EXPANDED TO COVER ALL OF US WHO NEED THIS HELP. AS AN ASIDE, THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANYTHING I NEED OR SUPPLY ME ANY SUPPORT SINCE WE COME TO THIS IMPASS AND SITUATION. THEY DO ALSO ADMIT HOWEVER, TO BEING UNABLE TO ASSIST ME BECAUSE OF THE LENGTHY BACKLOG OF PEOPLE NEEDING REPLACEMENT TANKS AND THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THESE TANKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED AND RAPIDLY LEAKING GASOLINE FUEL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A POTENTIAL RECALL ON THE VEHICLE BY HIS INDEPENDENT MECHANIC (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V114000) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,289.

I HEARD A LOUD POP AND DROVE ANOTHER 100 YARDS TO MY SONS HOUSE AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT WITHIN ONE MINUTE. IT HAS STEEL BANDS STICKING OUT OF A SPLIT IN THE TIRE. IT HAS A DIP IN THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL WHERE THE STEEL BAND HAS BROKE. THE TIRE IS NOT CUT IT IS SPLIT. THIS WAS ONE OF TWO ON THE REAR , THE OTHER IS STILL ON. I HAVE THE TIRE./ I PUT ON THE SPARE, AND CAME HOME. *TR

THE BRAKE LINES HAVE FAILED IN THREE SEPARATE LOCATIONS OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. FORTUNATELY, IT HAS NOT RESULTED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. NO CONFIDENCE IN THE BRAKE LINES ON THIS VAN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. WHILE PLACING FUEL INTO THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A HUGE PUDDLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK ON THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.