1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

1998 F-150 FORD TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS A TREE FELL ON IT**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB

TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT1998 FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 6 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IN A WRITTEN REPORT THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL #05V388000 CONCERNING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER REGARDING THE RECALL IN DECEMBERB 2005 ,AND THEY STATED TO COME BACK IN FEBRUARY 2006 WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT NEVER WENT BACK BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME.*AK

I HAD JUST TURNED OFF INTERSTATE 287 ONTO INTERVALE ROAD (A LOCAL ROAD). I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A VERY SHARP LEFT HAND CURVE. AS I PROCEEDED TO ENTER THE CURVE I HAD NO STEERING. THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR NOISE. I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THERE WAS LOOSE SAND AND GRAVEL AND I ENDED UP SLIDING INTO A UTILITY POLE STRAIGHT AHEAD, WITHOUT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS SECURED BY THE SEAT BELT, BUT MY HEAD STRUCK THE SUN VISOR. POLICE AT THE SCENE EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED LOSS OF STEERING. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY THE SHOP TO WHICH MY TRUCK WAS TOWED REVEALED THAT THE SECTOR SHAFT WAS BROKEN WHERE THE PITMAN ARM IS ATTACHED. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART SHOULD NEVER FAIL IN A VEHICLE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I WAS FURTHER TOLD THAT IF THE PART WAS POUNDED ALL DAY WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER THAT IT SHOULD NOT FAIL. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAD ONLY HEARD OF ONE FAILURE EVER OF THIS PART IN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. FURTHERMORE, THIS PART IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DID NOT SUFFER ANY IMPACT FROM THE ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED FORD WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY ARE TOTALLY INDIFFERENT TO IT. THEY WANT ME TO PAY UP TO $60,000 TO HIRE AN EXPERT WITNESS TO PROVE THAT THE PART FAILED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2004 AND HAVE NO RESOLUTION OR COMMITMENT FROM FORD TO DO ANYTHING. THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN DEATH HAD THIS PART FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WONDER HOW MANY FATAL ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE THAT WAS NEVER PROPERLY INVESTIGATED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OVER TO STATE FARM INSURANCE TO REPAIR . THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE A LIST OF REPAIR SHOPS. UPDATED 08/23/07 *TR

NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE;SUDDEN FAILURE OF SPARE TIRE RETAINING CABLE ON PERSONAL TRUCK. CABLE SNAPPED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM ITS STOWED POSITION BENEATH THE TRUCK. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO BECOME AIRBORNE BRIEFLY AS THE SPARE TIRE CAUGHT THE REAR BUMPER AND LIFTED IT. HAD THE SPARE TIRE NOT BEEN ADDITIONALLY SECURED BY AN ANTI-THEFT CABLE THE TIRE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN SENT INTO OTHER TRAFFIC BEHIND ME OR IN THE ONCOMING LANE. NEW TIRE WAS PURCHASED BY ME BUT NO OTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION;DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED. *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

AS I SLEPT THIS PAST SATURDAY MORNING (11/18/2006), MY 1998 F-150 PICK-UP BURNED TO THE GROUND ABOUT 4:00AM. THIS WAS MY SECOND FORD PICK-UP OWNED, AND I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH FORD UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. MY TRUCK WAS PAID FOR AND I WAS COMPLETELY HAPPY WITH IT. I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE UNTIL I HEAR FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHOM SAYS I DIDN'T HAVE ANY RENTAL CAR COVERAGE ON MY POLICY. I HAVE HAD TO MISS THIS WEEK IN WORK WAGES DUE TO NO WAY TO GET TO MY JOB 30 MINUTES AWAY, AND WILL BE FORCED TO MISS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WITH MY FAMILY IN ARKANSAS. CAN FORD REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF MY LOST WORK WAGES OR A REBATE OFF A NEW PURCHASE? I REALLY FEEL THAT DUE TO A MAJOR FAULT BY FORD, THAT THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME WITH A VEHICLE TO DRIVE SO THAT I CAN GET TO WORK. I AM CURRENTLY STUCK AND MISERABLE, AND DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS FAIR FOR ME TO HAVE TO SUFFER ONE MORE DAY BECAUSE I PUT MY TRUST IN FORD MOTOR CO. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD AT LEAST DO SOMETHING ON THEIR PART, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT! REGARDS, SCOTT HOWARD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE RETURNING TO THE PARKED VEHICLE, A FIRE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AT THE SERVICE STATION WHERE THE VEHICLE'S GAS WAS FILLED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER # 05V388000 BUT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHO REFUSED TO COVER THE REQUIRED REPAIRS. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HONOR THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FIRE. UPDATED 11/20/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDOW LEAKED WHEN IT RAINED CAUSING THE REAR SEAT TO BECOME WET. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO TURN OFF WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. ALSO, THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END AS THE VEHICLE TRAVELED 10 MPH. THE REAR END WAS REPLACED 1 YEARS AGO INCLUDING THE SUSPENSION, REAR AXLE, CHASSIS, RINGS, PINS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

I HAVE A 98 FORD F150 4X4 WITH 51000 MILES ON IT. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES WERE SWOLLEN WITH RUST WHERE AN OUTER RUBBER SLEEVE COVERS THE STEEL TO RUBBER CONNECTION. UPON INSPECTION THE LINE CAME APART. RUST WAS ALL THAT WAS KEEPING IT TOGETHER. I REPLACED THE LINES MYSELF AND I STILL HAVE THE OLD ONES. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THE DESIGN IS FAULTY; THE OUTER SLEEVE RETAINS MOISTURE ALLOWING THE CONNECTION TO RUST AWAY PREMATURELY. MY BIG CONCERN IS THAT I SHOWED THE PROBLEM TO TWO DIFFERENT SERVICE ADVISORS AT TWO AREA FORD DEALERS AND THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT FORD BY EMAIL TWICE AND I DON'T GET A RESPONSE. *NM

FORD 150 HAD BEEN SITTING IDLE ALL DAY, LAST DRIVEN AT 9 A.M. TO GO TO GROCERY STORE. AT APPROX. 5:15 P.M. ON 10/14/06, A NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON DOOR AND ASKED IF THAT WAS MY TRUCK ON FIRE. PERSON WALKING DOWN STREET SAID HE LOOKED OVER AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. BY TIME I GOT OUTSIDE TO TRUCK, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED. ENTIRE ENGINE, TIRES, WINDSHIELD COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CAR TOWED TO SALVAGE YARD. FIRE DEPT. INFORMED ME THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR SOME F150'S AND SUGGESTED I LOOK TO SEE IF THE MODEL HAD BEEN RECALLED. FORD WEBSITE INDICATES THAT MY VIN# IS A RECALL. FORD CLOSED AT TIME OF INCIDENT. ALSO, FORD CLOSED ON SUNDAY. FORD WILL BE CONTACTED MONDAY MORNING 10/16/06.