48 of the 3,285 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 are about the other systems — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 134,500 miles.
48
Complaints
1
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY TRUCK WAS TURNED OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A NEIGHBOR CAME TO TELL US AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME PUT OUT THE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10904737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MOTOR RUNS ROUGH AT TIMES WITH ACCELERATION, CRUISE DONT WORK, AND AFTER CHANGING EVERYTHING 3 TIMES...IT'S A SPARK PLUG BRAND, AND AN UNFINISHED RECALL A PREVIOUS OWNER DIDN'T HAVE FINISHED? ITS A BEAUTIFUL BODY DESIGN...BUT NOW I CANT HAVE RECALLS DONE THAT WERENT COMPLETED BECAUSE OF A CARELESS FIRST OWNER. WHY SHOULD I SUFFER FOR HIS AND FORDS WRECKLESNESS? NOT FAIR. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD. RECALLS SHOULD NEVER EXPIRE. LETS THINK ABOUT HUMAN SAFETY INSTEAD OF PROFIT N GIVE EVERY OWNER THE OPTION TO SAFELY TRANSPORT THEIR CHILDREN WHEN A MANUFACTURING ERROR OCCURS EVEN IF PREVIOUS OWNERS DONT CARE TO HAVE SHODDY PARTS REPLACED FOR FREE. HOW COULD ONE VEHICLE HAVE THAT MANY MISTAKES? TOTAL DISREGAURD FOR HUMAN LIFE WHEN A TIME LIMIT IS SET ON A POSSIBLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. MISTAKES ARE MADE..BUT SERVICE THEM (CAR OWNERS) WHEN YOUR NOTIFIED. IT COST YOU NOTHING BUT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10618410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND LEFT AND WHEN I RETURNED IT WAS ON FIRE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD RIPPED THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN AND DRAGGED IT OUT THE GARAGE.. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE SWITCH. I FIND THAT INTERESTING SEEING HOW O HAD CALL FORD LAST SUMMER AROUND JULY2010 FOR I HAD JUST MOVED TO THIS ADDRESS I AM AT NOW. AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO OPEN RECALLS... HMMM... SO, I DO STILL HAVE THE TRUCK AT THIS POINT BUT DO PLAN TO HAVE IT TOWED OUT AT END OF THIS WEEK.. WOULD BE GREAT IF THERE IS ANY RECOURSE TO THIS. I AM OUT A VEHICLE AND NO MONEY TO REPLACE IT...
NHTSA complaint #10376992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 97 F-150 HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE NOT STARTED FOR 2 DAYS. SUNDAY MORNING WE WENT TO GO TO THE LAKE AND THE TRUCK STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK,AN ISSUE I HAVE HAD BEFORE,BUT THIS TIME THE ABS LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I HAVE BEEN IN THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR BUSINESS FOR 15 YEARS, SO I HAD A GOOD IDEA WERE TO START LOOKING. THE FIRST PLACE I LOOKED WAS THE BRAKE SAFETY SWITCH LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ITSEL. EVERY THING CHECKED OUT FINE. THAT IS WERE I HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE SO I THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER BROKEN WIRE BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK BRAKE FLUID LEVEL,AND NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRICAL PLUG LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE ENTIRE PLASTIC PLUG AND WIRES. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED BUT I FEEL VERY LUCKY IT WENT OUT BY ITSELF!I LIVE IN THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS AND COULD NOT IMAGINE THE DAMAGE IT COULD OF CAUSED IF IT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL, AS IT WAS PARKED BY TREES ,SHED, JET SKIS,ETC. AT THIS TIME I AM GOING TO TRY TO REPLACE THE PLUG AND OR WIRING HARNESS AND THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON FRONT OF MASTER CYLINDER THAT I BELIEVE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SMALL FIRE. I WILL CALL FORD DEALER SHIP IN MORNING TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY INFO ON PROBLEM. I HAVE ALL OLD PARTS AND HAVE DOCUMENTED THE ISSUE WITH PICTURES. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BOX IS LOCATED ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE SWITCH THAT CAUGHT FIRE. I DO KNOW ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL AND IT MAKES ME WONDER IF ALL OF THESE TRAGIC FORD FIRES REPORTED REALLY DID START FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH?
NHTSA complaint #10232630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EL CAJON FORD REPLACED PLUGS. NEVER WARNED ME ABOUT PLUG BLOWOUT. HEARD TICKING FOR 2 WEEKS BUT THOUGHT IT WAS MINOR EXHAUST LEAK. PLUG BLEW OUT DRIVING HOME AT 30 MPH. TOWED TRUCK TO EL CAJON FORD AND SERVICE WRITER SAID FORD WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE HEAD AT $3500 WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE HEAD. I ASKED ABOUT THE DEPENDABILITY OF THE OTHER HEAD AND HE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS VERY RARE AND USUALLY ONLY HAPPENED WITH THE LIGHTNING AND ONLY 1 PLUG WAS EVER BAD IN EACH MOTOR. I REFUSED REPAIR AT FORD AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10132552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORD F150 4.2 V6 W/110K MILES FAILED IN MY DRIVEWAY UPON STARTING TWO DAYS AGO. AFTER TURNINIG THE IGNITION I HEARD LOUD KNOCKING AND BANGING COMINIG FROM THE ENGINE AND SHUT IT DOWN. I NEVER GOT A RECALL I HEAR THERE WERE TWO OF THEM. I CALLED THE DEALER BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. THE FAILURE IS PREVALENT AND CONSISTENT WITH NO OFFICIAL ADMITTANCE YET FROM FORD THAT I'VE FOUND. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN EXPLAINED TO ME THEY UNDERSTOOD IT AS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT OF EXPECTATION. WHAT ELSE DOES IT TAKE? SO I ASK NHTSA FOR YOUR HELP PLEASE!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10114673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS WAS A RECALL. IT WAS REPLACED BUT NOW IT LEAKS. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****76953
NHTSA complaint #10007170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1997 FORD F150. *PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770804
NHTSA complaint #10006798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1997 FORD F150. *PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770822
NHTSA complaint #10006800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1997 FORD F150. *******DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02*******770803. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10006563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1997 FORD F150 XLT SUPERCAB. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------------770779. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10006557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PAINT WAS OXIDIZING IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOTHING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10004413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONCERNED ABOUT ME AND OTHERS ITS PRETTY EVIDENT THAT THESE DOORS ARE WEAK STRUCTURLY OR THEY WOULD NOT DO THIS, AND I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY HAVE FIXED EVEN IF I DID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURE I CA'NT AFORD A NEW DOOR ON FIXED INCOME. COMPLAINT #2 WHEN THE BOLTS ON THE CRANK PULLEY SHEARED OFF LOSS OF CONTROL MAKING IT VERY DIFFCULT TO STEAR ,THANK GOD I WAS'NT ON A SHARP CURVE WHEN THE BOLTS BROKE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ THIS NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #749103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THE PITMAN EVERYTIME THE WHEEL IS TURN. ALSO, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STICKS AND STAYS ON LONGER AND LONGER EACH TIME.
NHTSA complaint #9002361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/22/2000 DUE TO OWNER DETECTION OF WATER IN OIL. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH ANY FOREIGN SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL AND ENGINE CHECKED OK. ON 01/15/2001 THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SEVERAL MILES LATER , ENGINE ATTEMPTED TO STALL AT 50 MPH WITH ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS ACTIVATED. CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND RACED TO PREVENT STALL. ENGINE RECOVERED AFTER A FEW YARDS AND WAS DRIVEN HOME. TRUCK WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THAT FORD WOULD REPLACE THE ENGINE IF OWNER AGREED TO PAY $500 OF THE COST.
NHTSA complaint #739719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #736065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE SEIZED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #554391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #729949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #728819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF OF CAB IS BLISTERING, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A THREE YEAR OLD TRUCK. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONE DIN THE SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #725171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL THE FLOOR MATS WILL CURL UP AND GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PEDALS. CONTACTED THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #864915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW FUEL FILLER TUBE CRACKED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND VEHICLE OVERHEATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #864315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 8 TIMES, BUT UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #859000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER SIDE ELEC. REMOTE CNTRL. MIRROR GLASS HAS CRACKED 2 TIMES ALMOST SAME PLACE EACH TIME, TOP TO BOTTOM
NHTSA complaint #718655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #717823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 1996 WITH 6,000 MILES FROM NATIONAL AUTO SALES. IN MAY 1999 WE NOTICED THE PAINT ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUCK WAS CHIPPING AWAY. THE PAINT IS GONE AND THE GRAY PRIMER IS NOW SHOWING IN AN 18 INCH AREA. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR FORD DEALER (HOLMES TUTTLE FORD) AND WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE TECHNICIAN HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS CALLED "CRAZING". HOWEVER, DUE TO THE MILEAGE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WE THEN CONTACTED THE FORD CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND WERE TOLD THE SAME THING, IT WAS OUT OF WARRAMTY AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN COVERED PARKING AND IS ONLY DRIVEN ABOUIT THREE TIMES A WEEK. NO SAFETY DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #716149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL JUST STOP WORKING. NO GAS GUAGE, SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, TEMP GAUGE, CHARGE GAUGE, ETC. CHECKED FUSE BUT OK. BUT LIKE NO POWER DEALER KNOWS OF NO SUCH DEFECT. ALSO WIPERS COME ON AT ALL DIFFERENT TIMES WITHOUT ACTIVATION BY DRIVER . BEAT SEVERAL TIMES AT VERY HIGH SPEED THEN STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS
NHTSA complaint #714223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES. YH
NHTSA complaint #549339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BLOWS FUSES, WHEN THIS HAPPENS SPEED IS NOT KNOWN AND BRAKE/ABS,TEMP.,FUEL,WARNING LIGHTS ARE ALL DEAD. CHECKING INTERNET CHAT GROUPS INDICATES THIS IS NOT UNCOMON AND IS CAUSED BY A BARE WIRE EXPOSED INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. REPLACING FUSE ONLY LAST TILL COLUMN IS MOVED IN THE POSITION TO CAUSE IT TO BLOW AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #713831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY.
NHTSA complaint #713767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.