1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

1998 4.2L V6 FORD ENGINE COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE CAUSING HYPERLOCK AND BLOW A ROD NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD POP SOUND WAS HEARD AND A PISTON OR ROD STARTED KNOCKING LOUDLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE RADIATOR BELT, INSPECTED THE WATER PUMP, CHECKED THE PLUGS, THEN NOTICED LIQUID COMING FROM THE EXHAUST INCLUDING ANTI-FREEZE. A LOCAL PARTS STORE INFORMED THE CONTACT OF HYDRO LOCK PROBLEMS WITH THAT ENGINE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA.

FIRE, TOTAL LOSS TO FORD F150 PICKUP. PICKUP SAT IN DRIVEWAY FOR 4 HOURS SINCE DRIVEN AND CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND SAID IT WAS EITHER ELECTRICAL OR ENGINE RELATED. *NM

ENGINE HARD TO START,SMOKED AFTER IT DID, GASKET FAILURE CYLINDER FILLED WITH COOLANT CAUSING CONNECTING ROD TO BEND OR BREAK. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

1998 FORD F-150 4.2L V6 ENGINE, ENGINE HAS BURNED COOLANT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, ENGINE RECENTLY STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, TWO MECHANICS HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD PISTON AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NOTHING TO WARN ME OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. THE SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED CAUSING THE SPARE TO DROP, FLIPPING UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER-IN-TOW, CAUSING THE TRAILER TO BUCK. FORTUNATELY, THE TRAILER RECOVERED AND NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WITH SOMEONE BEHIND ME AND WHILE CARRYING A LOAD, IT COULD HAVE TURNED FATAL. THE FAILING PART, THE SPARE TIRE WINCH, HAS BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE COUNTED A MINIMUM OF 10 OTHER REPORTS ON THIS SITE OF THIS FAILURE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THERE WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONTACT'S FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED. THE CONTACT WAS HOSPITALIZED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.

VEHICLE BLEW OUT THE #3 PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG. REPAIR OPTION IS TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD $3500 OR USE HELICOIL REPAIR TO THE INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER. BLOWN SPARK PLUGS ON TH 5.4 TRITION IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND I'M SHOCKED THAT FORD IS NOT COVERING THIS PROBLEM. I TOO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE COVERED UP THIS PROBLEM BY A RE-DESIGN THAT CORRECTED THE DESIGN FLAW IN LATER VEHICLES. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR BODY WORK, IT SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOLLOWING THE 2 WEEKS, THE ENGINE NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN NORMAL, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. ALSO, THE DOORS HAD CRACKED ONE HALF INCH FROM THE CORNER OF THE WINDOW SEAL. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CRACKS WERE DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARSHIFT INDICATOR DISPLAYED THE WRONG INDICATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER # 97V171000, PERTAINING TO THE GEAR POSITION INDICATION. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB