1997 FORD F-150 Complaints

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY, HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF TRUCK AND WHAT APPEARED TO BE A BLOWOUT. AS I CHANGED LANE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER I SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE PIECES OF TIRE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ONCE PULLED OVER, I GOT OUT TO INVESTIGATE, AT FIRST EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL I LOOKED AT THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, SAW THAT THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED, BUT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, THE SIDEWALLS WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION, BUT THE TREAD HAD JUST PEALED AWAY FROM THE CENTER. *MM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA RECALL # 05V388000, PERTAINING TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER 2 WEEKS, THERE WAS A SMELL INSIDE THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE OF SOMETHING BURNING. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEALER THAT ORIGINALLY PERFORMED THE WORK, WHO THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR PART OF THE RECALL HAD BEEN FULFILLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE VIN IN THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED THE NOTICE.

HYDRO-LOCK ON 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 4.2L V6 CAUSED BENT ROD. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FORD ON-99B29 WAS EXERCISED IN 2000 WHICH WAS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT 3 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND EXPLODED. UPDATED 10/4/2006 - *NM

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V6. ENGINE FAILURE. BROKEN ROD FOLLOWING HYDRO LOCK. PROBLEM PRECEDED WITH COOLANT LEAK AND REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP. IT HAS THE 4.2L V6. I HAD 84,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR DUE TO A BENT ROD. THE ROD DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A LEAKING GASKET THAT ALLOWED COOLANT INTO THE CYCLINDER. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED THE FLUID (DOES NOT COMPRESS) PREVENTED THE PISTON FROM FULL TRAVEL AND BENT THE ROD. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS AND DENIES EVERYTHING. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I BECAME AWARE OF MANY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

MANIFOLD STUDS RUSTED AWAY CAUSING EXHAUST PIPE TO SEPARATE FROM MANIFOLDS. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, EMISSIONS PORTION OF NYS INSPECTION WAS FAILED. REPAIR IS REQUIRED TO PASS INSPECTION, AND IS ESTIMATED BY NEW COUNTRY FORD TO BE APPROXIMATELY $2200.00. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE AN EXCESSIVE EXPENSE AS A RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURERS POOR DESIGN AND QUALITY OF PARTS. *JB

I DRIVE AN IMPORTED F150 FROM 1997 (4X4, 5.4 ENGINE). LAST WEEK MY CRUISE STOPPED WORKING. AFTER INSPECTION AND SURFING THE NET, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME A LOT OF F150 HAD (HAVE), OIL LEAK TO THE CRUISE-CONNECTOR. A FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A GARAGE, INSPECTED CAREFULLY AND CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION. I WROTE TO FORD.COM TO ASK FOR HELP TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. NO REACTION. I ONLY ASK FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS I NEED AND THE NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS TO DO THE REPAIRS, NOT MORE. PERHAPS YOU CAN HELP ME TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. I LOVE THAT TRUCK AND I JUST WANT TO KEEP DRIVING AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE. FOR THE MOMENT I DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE (AS RECOMMENDED ON A LOT OF FORD-FORUMS).*JB

THIS IS SHORT. MY 5.4 BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. FORD HEADS ONLY HAVE .250 IN. OF THREADED DEPTH IN HEAD NOT ENOUGH. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK FELL OUT DUE TO RUSTED STRAPS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT GARAGED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE THAT THE TANK SHOULD NOT HAVE RUSTED OUT. UPDATED 08/01/06. *JB