1998 FORD F-150 Complaints

I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 WITH THE TRITON 5.4L ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES IT TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY BLOW SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN NONE OF FORD'S PUBLICATIONS THAT COME WITH THE VEHICLE DOES IT STATE THAT THESE SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE RETORGUED AT A CERTAIN MILEAGE. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURED AT 91,000 MILES. FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW FACED WIT A $3500 REPAIR TO KEEP MY TRUCK RUNNING. DOESN'T SOUND "FORD TOUGH" DOES IT? I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS POSTED ON MESSAGEBOARDS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING, INNOCENT PEOPLE CAN NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY FORD. WE BOUGHT FORD BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS A VEHICLE THAT WOULD LAST AND PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE. REPLACING A CYLINDER HEAD SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS ENGINE!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

DRIVING DOWN NAVY RD. DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN SPARE TIRE FELL OFF MY 1998 FORD F150. CABLE HOLDING TIRE SNAPPED. SPARE TIRE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BEHIND ME. WAS TOLD BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE VEHICLE OF SIMILAR SITUATIONS, OF SPARE TIRE JUST FALLING OFF VEHICLE BECAUSE RETRACTING CABLE BREAKING. COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE.*AK

THE PAINT ON THE TAIL GATE IS COMING OFF IN SHEETS. LEAVING JUST THE PRIMER COAT. NOT CAUSED BY RUST OR DAMAGE. *JB

REAR WINDOW STARTED LEAKING FROM THE TOP - IT NOW POURS IN WHEN RAINING, DAMAGING THE BACK SEAT IN THE EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. THERE IS NO CRACK AND THE LEAKING IS NOT FROM THE SLIDING GLASS, INSTEAD FROM THE TOP ON BOTH SIDES OF THE SLIDING GLASS. *LA

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1998 F-150 FORD 4X4 PICK-UP TRUCK WHICH IS EXIBITING A CRACKING CONDITION AT THE LOWER WELTING EDGE OF THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. UNDERSTAND THIS IS OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER F150'S AND APPEARS TO BE AN ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUFACTURING FLAW.*AK

ON DECEMBER 30, 2003, I SENT THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND AS OF YET HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY. HOPEFULLY YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME POINTERS ON HOW I SHOULD PROCEED. THANK YOU, [XXX]. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] ENCLOSED ARE PICTURES OF THE TORSION BAR FROM MY 1998 FORD F-150 PICKUP. VIN# [XXX]. IT HAS 56,000 MILES. THE PORTION THAT IS PICTURED IS THE FRONT. THE BAR BROKE WHILE SITTING IDLE IN MY GARAGE. I HAD BEEN OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND SO THE PICKUP HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR TWO DAYS. I FOUND THE CENTER PIECE ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. FROM RUST SPOTS IN THE BROKEN AREA, IT APPEARS THAT IT HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR SOME TIME. I HAVE OWNED THE PICKUP FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS. ALMOST ALL OF MY DRIVING HAS BEEN HIGHWAY DRIVING. DURING THAT TIME IT HAS VERY LITTLE OFF ROAD DRIVING. I AM NOT A HUNTER OR LAND OWNER. IT HAS BEEN USED FOR HAULING CARGO, BUT NOT EXTENDED USE. IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE ALSO ENCLOSED THE REPAIR RECORDS FROM THAT. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. THERE WAS NO SUSPENSION DAMAGED NOTED. I HAVE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON IT, AND HAVE FOUND NONE. THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED IT FOR ME SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A TORSION BAR BREAK LIKE THIS. THIS IS A REPAIR THAT I DONT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. I HAVE ENCLOSED MY STATEMENT. I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT BROKE. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT CAN BE DONE? IS THIS A FLAW IN THE PICKUP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED? I AM ALSO WRITING TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TO ASK FOR THEIR HELP IN WHAT PROCESS I SHOULD FOLLOW. I CAN BE REACHED DURING WORKING HOURS AT[XXX], AT MY ADDRESS AT [XXX] OR BY E-MAIL AT [XXX]. I WILL BE WAITING YOUR REPLY. [XXX] *CB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. A GENTLEMAN FOLLOWED HER AND TOLD HER THAT THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE DROVE PERFECTLY, WITH NO SIGN OF TROUBLE. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS TAKING HER HUSBAND, WHO IS CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR, ON AN ERRAND. SHE BELIEVES IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE KIND GENTLEMAN WHO HELPED HER, THAT HER HUSBAND COULD HAVE BURNED TO DEATH. *NM

I HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE ON FORD F SERIES TRUCKS THAT THEY HAVE A CRACK ON THE WINDOW EDGE APPROX 7 IN AFT OF THE DOOR LOCK BUTTON 15 INCHES ABOVE THE KEY HOLE DUE TO POOR METAL USED OR WEAKENED AREA OF DOOR CUTOUT. I DON'T SEE THIS PROBLEM ON PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AT ALL. ARE YOU ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE???????

METAL ON DRIVERS DOOR IS CRACKED AT REAR OF WINDOW , ABOUT THREE TO FOUR INCHES UP FROM BOTTOM OF WINDOW. MINE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE ARE MANY 98 F-150'S OUT THERE WITH THE SAME STRUCTURAL FLAW. *AK

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, UNDER WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SYSTEM LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN A ROLL OVER. I HAD NOTICED THIS IN THE PAST AND TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE NATURAL FOR A FORD. *AK