1997 FORD F-350 Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE BACKING UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING HOSE CAME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID AND LOSE ALL POWER STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THE DIESEL ENGINE VIBRATION CAUSED THE RUBBER SEAL THAT HELD THE POWER STEERING HOSE ON TO COME LOOSE. UPDATED 9/18/2006 - *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS ACCIDENT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS. UPDATED 01/23/06. *JB

WHY HAS FORD RECALLED ONLY LATER MODEL TRUCKS FOR THE CRIUSE CONTROL FIRE ISSUE. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM LIMITED TO THOSE YEARS. I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 F-350. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSIDE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR THE HANDLE WOULD BREAK. THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED TWICE BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. *AK

(1) VEHICLE RANDOMLY DYING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (2) CAM POSTION SENSOR, ENGINE DIES , LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF POWER BRAKES (BOTH A NESSESITY WITH A DIESEL PICK UP TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DUE TO THIER WEIGHT) (3) REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AT APPOXIMATELY $140.00. *JB

DT: THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER'S CARPORT (PORT-A COUCHE) CAUGHT ON FIRE ALONG WITH THEIR HOME. THE HOUSE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR DRIVEN FOR 8 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER'S 1997 FORD F350 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS THE RECALLED VEHICLE'S. *NM

DT: CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF ABOUT REAR LEAF SPRINGS SPRING HANGER AND SHACKLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE SPRING HANGER CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO HAUL ANY AMOUNT OF WEIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CONSUMER PURCHASED THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE TODAY. FORD DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY SELL A LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE PARTS, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR STRUCTURAL ITEM, IT WAS RIVETED ON, NOT BOLTED. CONSUMER LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES LIKE HIS OWN, AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED FORD TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. CONSUMER ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS TO COST $500 TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

FIRESTONE STEELTEX FAILURE ON A 1997 FORD F350. ON JUNE 20, 2005, THE LEFT FRONT OEM FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE FAILED AT SPPED ON I-95S BETWEEN AVBERDEEN AND CHURCHVILLE MARYLAND. SINCE THE TRUCK IS DRIVEN VERY LITTLE, ALL TIRES HAVE 40,000 MILES ON THEM AND HAVE SUBSTANTIAL TREAD REMAINING. ALSO, I METICOULSLY MAINTAIN PRESURES. WITHOUT WARNING AND AT ABOUT 65MPH, THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE CARCASS CAUSING VEHCILE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. NONETHELESS, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF-ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. TIRE CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE CAUSING INSTANT PRESSURE LOSS AND SIDEWALL FAILURE. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES ARE NOT LIMITED TO SUVS OR THE LIMITED BATCHES THAT WERE RECALLED.

IN 2003, MY 1997 FORD F-350 CREW CAB LOST THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ON 05 SEP 2003 MY TRUCK, WITH THE ENGINE COLD, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, CATCHING MY HOUSE ON FIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A CLAIMS TO BOTH MY HOMEOWNERS AND MY VEHICLE INSURANCE. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS IN THE FIRE. THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY TRUCK WAS: [XXX]. *JB

1997 FORD F350 STEERING PROBLEMS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR A BEARING INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN CRACKED AND RESULTED IN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP MOMENTARILY WHILE DRIVING. *NM