1996 FORD F-350 Complaints

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED/FROZE UP AND CONTAMINATED SYSTEM, CAUSING OVER $1000 IN REPLACEMENT COST. ASKED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHY THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED. HE SAID BECAUSE FORD IS USING ALUMINUM COMPRESSOR, AND WHEN BEARING DRIES OUT INSTEAD OF BEARING IT WEARING OUT THE CASING, CAUSING ALUMINUM POWDER TO CONTAMINATE THE SYSTEM. I FEEL THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT OIL IN THE SYSTEM. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS AS THE WARRANTY WAS JUST OUT. I FEEL THIS WAS THEIR FAULT FOR NOT HAVING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF OIL. THE A/C WAS BLOWING COLD UNTIL IT FROZE UP, WHICH TELLS ME THAT IT HAD ENOUGH FREON. *AK

BRAKES WILL EITHER GRAB HARD OR WILL NOT STOP, AND CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT.DEALER HAS REPLACED CALIPERS/ROTORS AND DRUMS ,AND STILL CANNOT DETERMINE DEFECT. *AK

THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FORD HAS PUT OUT A TSB FOR THE TENSIONER. THE FAILING PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF THE TENSIONER, AND THE PULLEYS UP FRONT, THE TRUCK LOSES POWER STEERING CAPABILITY AS WELL AS POWER BRAKE CAPABILITY. IF FOR EXAMPLE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK, SHE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN OR PRESS THE BRAKES WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO OPERATE THE TRUCK TO A SAFE STOP. SO FAR I HAVE GONE THROUGH FIVE BELTS SINCE OCT 1995. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TSB THROUGH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A POWERSTROKE ENGINE. THE TSB IS NUMBERED 96-17-19.

WHEN OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, WE HAD IT FIXED, BUT HAD TO KEEP RETURNING IT TO THE SHOP BECAUSE A VALVE WOULD STICK AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF DAYS. I CALLED MANY FORD DEALERS, AND THEY ALL SAID THE TRANSMISSION ON THAT TRUCK SHOULD NEVER GO OUT. I CONTA

THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SNAPPED OFF ,CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

ROTORS ARE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE AND BECOME UNSAFE. HAS SPENT OVER $100.00 BECAUSE OF BAD MATERIAL ON BRAKES. *AK

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN A FORD RANGER REARENDED THEM. AT TIME OF IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS BROKE AND COLLAPSED, CONSUMERS' BACK LAID DOWN AND BOTH WERE INJURED. CONSUMER'S TOOK VEHICLE TO A ALL-STATE INSURANCE. PRO-SHOP CALLED TOP OF THE WORLD 518-792-2473, MECHANIC WILL REPLACE L/R SEATBACKS/ RACHET MECHANISM AND EVERYTHING ON THE BOTTOMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THEN A FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS CRACKED IN HALF TO THE HUB IN WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE HAS ABS BRAKES. ON WET TYPE PAVEMENT VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP WHEN ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALERS HAVE NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK