1997 FORD E-150 Complaints

CONSUMER STATED THE AFTER MARKET STEERING COLUMN EXTENSION DEVICE THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE THAT ASSISTS THE DRIVER IN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT SAFE, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TAKEN OFF OF THE SPLINED SHAFT AND THE NEW PART IS PUT ON, IT DOES NOT HAVE A SPLINED CENTER TO FIT TIGHT ON THE SHAFT AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS HOLDING IT TOGETHER IS 2 SETS OF SCREWS, IF ONE OF THE SETS OF SCREWS WERE TO BECOME LOOSE, OR IF THE STEERING WHEEL WERE TURNED TOO HARD, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN BUT THE WHEELS WOULD NOT OR VICE VERSA, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALUMINUM PART IS NO LONGER BEING USED BECAUSE IT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE KIND OF STRESS THAT A STEERING WHEEL GOES THROUGH.*JB

TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT. UPON TRYING TO REPLACE THE LIGHT FOUND OUT THAT HOUSING STRUCTURE FOR BULB HAD BEEN RECONSTRUCTED. CALLED DEALER. PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NO HEAT: DUE TO PLASTIC DOOR BROKEN IN AIR PLENUM; POOR DESIGN BY THE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REPORTED. *AK

I WAS INFORMED BY A CERTIFIED FORD MECHANIC, THE PROBLEM THAT I HAD EXPERIENCED WITH MY VEHICHLE IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH THE FORD 4.2L V-6 ENGINES. THE SEAL FOR THE INTAKE OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CRACKS AND CAUSES COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS. A CYLINDER WILL EVANTUALLY CONTAIN SO MUCH COOLANT THAT ON START UP OF THE ENGINE THE PUSH ROD OR MAIN BEARING FOR THE PISTON WILL BREAK. THE REASON BEING, COOLANT CAN NOT COMBUST , CAUSING SO MUCH PRESSURE IN THE CYLINDER IT BREAKS EITHER THE PUSH ROD OR MAIN BEARING. I HAD ALSO TALKED TO OTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT MANY OF THE 4.2L V-6 ENGINES IN THESE VANS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR REPLACED FOR THE SAME REASON.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND INTO REVERSE, ALSO WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WITH T EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED IT ROLLS BACKWARDS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE BACKING UP INTO PARKING SPACE,WHEN I STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT GRAB. IT SEEMED LIKE THE VAN STARTED TO ACCELERATE. I SQUEEZED BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD AND I HEARD ABS CLICKING. I STILL DIDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO SHIFT CAR INTO PARK. THIS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER.*AK

CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED GOODYEAR. CONSUMER RECEIVED A PARTIAL REBATE ON FOUR TIRES, P23575R15. CONSUMER FEELS THAT GOODYEAR SHOULD REIMBURSE ENTIRE AMOUNT. *AK TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA, GOODYEAR KEPT TIRES SO DOT NUMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE, GOODYEAR AGREED TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, SEPARATION OF SIDEWALLS ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *SLC

THIS IS TO REPORT A CONTINUAL PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH THIS VAN. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON. I HAVE TALKED TO OVER 30 FORD VAN OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. FRONT BRAKES DEVELOP AN INCURABLE "SHIMMY" AND PREMATURE WEAR CAUSING MINOR DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS AND ALSO EXCESSIVE REAR BRAKE WEAR. IN MY CASE, REAR BRAKES WERE PREMATURELY WORN TO THE POINT THAT ABS ENGAGED AND CREATED FURTHER "PULSING". THIS HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AS FORD PROBLEM WITH CALIPERS TO FORD PROBLEM WITH ABS ON LATE MODEL VANS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE POSSIBILITY OF A PROBLEM. FIVE BRAKE REPAIRS IN 30,000 MILES WOULD INDICATE THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS AND IS ALSO DANGEROUS. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE? *AK

COOLANT LEVEL DROPPED, CONSUMER FOUND TIMING COVER LEAKING, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK IN OIL.*AK *JB

DUE TO FREQUENT FAILURES(DEALER INFO) PART IS INCORPORATED INTO NEW DESIGN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK