1997 FORD F-350 Complaints

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH MOTOR VIBRATED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TWO PIECE FLYWHEEL CAME APART, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO CRACK WHERE THE TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS LOCATED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS YEAR TRUCKS, AND THE TWO PIECE FLY WHEELS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN LATER MODEL TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE BRAKING, WITH NO WARNING, BRAKES FAILED. BRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM DIVERTER TO REAR AXLE RUSTED THROUGH BEHIND FRONT FUEL TANK AT PLASTIC BRACKET. THERE WAS NO PEDAL RESISTANCE AND NO BRAKING AT ALL. ALL FLUID WAS LOST. THE HOLE IN THE LINE IS ABOUT 0.250 INCH LONG AND ABOUT 0.045 INCH WIDE. THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM OR A SOFT PEDAL PRIOR TO THIS. LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED IN A VALLEY IN A DRIVEWAY WHILE TURNING AROUND SO THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HAD IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD OR WHILE MANEUVERING ON A STEEP GRADE. THE TRUCK IS CLEAN WITH NO BODY RUST. I AM REPLACING THE BRAKE LINE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED ON A 7 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRE, THE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED.*AK *JB

THE WATER PUMP BEARINGS FAILED IN MY 1997 FORD, F-350, 7.3 LITER DIESEL. THIS VEHICLE HAD 90,053 MILES AND HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE FAILURE, NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BY APPROXIMATELY 50% REDUCTION OF STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITY. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. DRIVER WAS ABLE PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. THEN, DROVE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR STATION. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIAL, 23585/R16. *AK

WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING A BLOWOUT. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. SIZE#23585R16.*AK THE TREAD WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE, BREAKING THE HOUSING FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE RIM WAS DAMAGED IN ADDITION. *PH *JB

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED ONCE, SHUTTING THE TRUCK OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO OWN VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR AS MINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

BOTH FACTORY FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE FOUND TO HAVE A LARGE CRACK IN THEM, EXTENDING FROM THE CENTER TO THE OUTER EDGE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH. NOW ROTORS LAST FOR APPROX. 15,000 MILES BEFORE THEY BECOME SO WARPED THAT THE TRUCK SHUDDERS TERRIBLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ROTORS HAVE SINCE HAD TO BE TURNED TWICE. CALIPERS DO NOT SEEM TO BE DRAGGING.*AK

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS