1997 FORD F-350 Complaints

VEHICLES ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN COASTING DOWN GRADES LOOSING STEERING AND BRAKES. PROBLEM WAS IN MY 1996 POWER STROKE DIESEL FORD TRUCK THAT WAS BOUGHT BACK. CONSUMER WAS GIVEN NEWER 1997 TRUCK WITH SAME PROBLEMS AND NOW 4 YEARS LATER, DEALER IS STILL WORKING ON PROBLEM. TRUCK IS DANGEROUS AND I RECENTLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE 4 TIMES RUNNING OFF ROAD TWICE. WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS OFF I NEED TO PUT IN NEUTRAL SHUT-OFF KEY THEN RESTART AND PUT IN GEAR. THIS IS NORMALLY WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN GRADE AND REACHING SPEEDS OF 80-90MPH. CONSUMER RECENTLY BROKE OFF END OF SHIFT LEVER IN A PANIC SITUATION DOWN SHIFTING TO LOW ALONG WITH INDENTING STEERING WHEEL FROM WHITE KNUCKLES TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN CONSUMER WAS UNABLE RETURN TO NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAVE FOUND OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTIFIED NHTSA IN 96 AND 97, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND MUST BE CORRECTED. *AK *JG

WHEN TURNING STEERING WOULD LOCK UP, AND VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE ITS DIRECTION OF TURNING. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP DOZEN OF TIMES. MECHANIC WOULD TRY TO REPAIR STEERING.*AK

TREAD SEPARATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CLEAR HIGHWAY. NO ROAD HAZARD INVOLVED. SEPARATION WAS IMMEDIATE AND INVOLVED CENTER TREAD/ENTIRE TIRE. ADDITIONAL DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE TREAD CATCHING/FOLDING FACTORY INSTALLED MUD FLAP OVER THE TOP OF BOTH REAR DUAL TIRES. DAMAGE INCURRED TO WHEEL WELL/FENDER FRAME. IMMEDIATE LOSS OF CONTROL/SWAY INTO LEFT LANE OF TRAFFIC. *AK (TIRESIZE: P23585R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23585R16 )

THE ENGINE TOTALLY CUTS OFF LEAVING THE TRUCK INOPERABLE. AT FIRST IT WOULD CRANK BACK INSTANTLY. NOW, WE HOPE TO MAKE IT OFF THE ROAD WHERE WE HAVE TO REPEATEDLY TRY TO GET IT CRANKED. NUMEROUS MECHANICS HAVE TRIED AND FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. *AK

BEARINGS CAME LOOSE IN FLYWHEEL, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AS IF ENGINE WAS LOOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN PUMP FAILS THERE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL BRAKING AND THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING. *AK

REAR AXLE WHEELS CAME OFF AND COULD HAVE ROLLED IN SOMEONES PATH AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

THE TREAD ON THE TIRES SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRES, THE TIRES WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT WOULD HAVE COST MORE TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE DEALER WAS SELLING THE TIRES CHEAPER THAN THE CONSUMER COULD BUY THEM IF HE MADE A WARRANTY CLAIM, CONSUMER PURCHASED DIFFERENT BRAND AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT (FIRESTONE STEELTEX LT2358516). NLM

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING IT. *AK BEARINGS FAILURE CAUSED STEERING WHEEL HARD TO TURN AND ON OCCASSION LOCKS IT. *YH

CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VALVE STEMS ARE UNACCEPTABLE ON THE ALUMINUM WHEEL RIMS ON THE VEHICLE, THE REAR TIRES HAVE VALVE STEMS FACING IN, THE INSIDE REAR TIRE VALVE STEMS ARE COMPLETELY UNACCESSIBLE TO CHECK AND ADD AIR WHEN NECESSARY, CONSUMER FEELS IF HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING PROPER AIR PRESSURE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD COME EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSIBLE VALVE STEMS. *SLC