1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

(1) NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. (2) STARTED HARD, HEAVY WHITE SMOKE OUT THE EXHAUST AND KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. ONSEQUENCES - #4 & #5 RODS IN CYLINDERS STRESSED. (3) CORRECTION OF FAILURE - 4.2L ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT BACK UP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OBTAINED TSB-99-20-7 AND THIS TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED 12/97. RECALL WAS THRU 5.1.97 AND ENGINE WAS PUT IN TRUCKS UNTIL 1.15.98.*AK

DURING NORMAL STREET DRIVING, THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD END POPPED OFF. IT CAUSED THE TIRE TO VEER LEFT AND SHATTERED THE LEFT RIM. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING TO THE VEHICLE,AS IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK I REPLACED BOTH INNER AND OUTER ENDS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT, OUT OF FEAR OF FAILURE AT A LATER TIME OR WORSE, A FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH FORD, THEY WOULDN'T ADMIT THIS WAS A PROBLEM ( ABNORMALLY RAPID WEAR!) AND REFUSED TO COMPENSATE ME FOR THE PARTS AND TIME.

WHILE DRIVING TIE ROD SNAPPED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN DRIVER'S SIDE INNER TIE ROD DETACHED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE PICK UP WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AND THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE PICK UP. THE TIE ROD COULD NOT BE LUBRICATED. THE INNER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED.*AK

SHEET METAL FATIGUES AND CRACKS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR PANEL TO THE OUTSIDE FROM STRESS FROM THE OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS. *AK

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I HEARD A BIG EXPLOSION FROM UNDER MY HOOD. I POPED THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT MY #2 COIL WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER. AFTER GETTING MY 98 F150 HOME I FOUND THAT THE PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE PROBLEM FIXED AS OF YET BUT FORD SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IS A NEW HEAD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY, SECONDS LATER A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT LEFT TIRE LOST ITS TREAD. THE TREAD WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE OF THE WHEEL. *AK *JB

98 F-150 4.2 V-6, ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO MOTOR FROM FAULTY GASKET. FORD PUT A RECALL WHEN IT WAS NEW, BUT I BOUGHT MINE FROM DEALER USED, NOW THE MOTOR IS BAD, AND I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON IT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND HE REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 98 F-150 FAILED AT 36400 MI AND 36 MONTHS. FORD, THE DEALER AND I SPLIT THE COST OF REPAIR. NOW, APPROXIMATELY 36000 MI AND THREE YEARS MORE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AGAIN. DEALER RECOMMENDS THAT I PURCHASE A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANS FOR $2200. ODD COINCIDENCE THAT THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILED AT THE SAME MILEAGE AND TIME. VEHICLE IS USED FOR TRANSPORTATION AND IS RARELY USED TO TOW OR CARRY LOADS. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD AT A VERY MODERATE RATE IN A PARKING LOT. *JB