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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
61,393 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford F-150 engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 8 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #66

Dec 222020

F-150

  • 98,685 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lower intake manifold gasket failure resulting in bent connecting rod requiring major engine repair. *****dims 11 IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis *******770801.

- Bossier City, LA, USA

problem #65

Apr 242003

F-150 6-cyl

  • 103,000 miles
The timing chain failed which caused coolant to leak onto the lower intake manifold.

- Metairie, LA, USA

problem #64

Apr 182003

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
Fire started in engine area after being parked for approximately 2 hours. Vehicle at a complete loss. Firefighters could not determine cause of fire other than it originating in middle of engine compartment.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #63

Mar 142003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 110,505 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ford F150 V6 total engine failure. Engine threw a rod on the #1 cylinder. Vehicle has been meticulously cared for and not driven hard at all. The internet is abundant with complaints of this engine.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #62

Mar 042003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles
Engine failure at 73000 miles, followed all Ford recommended maintenance.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #61

Mar 132003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 93,500 miles
Engine front cover gasket leaked-replacement at $350 in line with recall 99B29. Ford does not include my truck in this recall. After reairing the engine, the engine failed and is now being replaced at $3500 dollars. Ford's recall is inadequate.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #60

Mar 112003

(reported on)

F-150

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The engine was replaced because of a knocking noise.

- Greenwood, ME, USA

problem #59

Feb 072003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles
Refer to tsb 99207 lower intake manifold failure. Coolant will get into either the intake or exhaust ports, with potential to cause engine failure. Most failures are occuring between 60 and 80K miles. Just past most Ford warranties. They installed a high failure gasket in the 1997 F150 with the 4.2L V6 for approximately a year, and now people are reaping the benefits of the repair cost to correct. If you refer to www.F150online.com and see the message boards, the problems are beginning to pour in as these trucks reach this mileage. Ford did not notify any owners and should have done so, so that the owner may have taken the appropriate and corrective actions with the dealer.

- California, MD, USA

problem #58

Feb 072003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,500 miles
Water was found in the oil during a routine oil change in Aug 2002. The VIN was traced back to be part of the timing chain cover recall. When the vehcile was brought to the dealer, the dealer claimed no knowledge of the recall. When Ford customer service was contacted, they did acknowlege the recall, and that the vehicle was part of the recall. We never received the letter, and we were informed that the recall had expired and the repair would not be covered. We made the decision to pay $800 for the recall repair (which the dealer happened to have a kit in stock). Six months later, the engine has apparently blown another gaseket (sounds like the manifold gasket from others experience) and filled the #1 cylinder with water. Other internal damage is unknown, the engine will be replaced rather than repaired again.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #57

Sep 022002

F-150

  • miles
Head gasket has gone out, causing a rod in engine to break. And engine has blowen. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.

- Tom Harbor, FL, USA

problem #56

Sep 022002

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Head on the vehicle that meets engine has cracked, and is leaking water. In doing so engine is able to overheat. Contacted dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything.

- Flowery Ranch, GA, USA

problem #55

Feb 072001

F-150

  • miles
2/01 vehicle was brought to lithia Ford in concord to diagnose over heating. Cooling system was checked and stated C.S. was holding at that time, tore down motor, found bad bearings, oil pan milky, head gasket bad. Replaced w/4.2 engine which was covered under an ext warranty, other recommended fix clutch disc throw out bearings. 11/2000, pwr steering hose bad, replaced,10/01 ck eng lit one, , idle air cntrol valve replaced,6/02 overhearing, new thermo, coolnt flsh, oil change, new brakes recommended, done.9/4/02, overheating again, recommended new radiator/water pump, inqired on PCV modification recall, they will replace.

- Brentwood, CA, USA

problem #54

Aug 152002

F-150

  • miles
Consumer states while driving the engine light comes and stays on. Had vehicle check, the evaporative system gross leak was detected code PO455.contacted dealer.

- Loomis, CA, USA

problem #53

Aug 262002

F-150

  • miles
Truck and been parked the previous day with no problem, upon cranking the next day motor started knocking. Inspection shows bent piston rod on # 3 cylinder which allowde the piston to strike the crank shaft. This was caused fron the head gasket allowing fluid to seep into the cylinder.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #52

Jun 012002

F-150

  • miles
While traveling on highway there is a noise coming from rear of vehicle. Oil was leaking from underneath of vehicle.

- Holman, WI, USA

problem #51

Jun 252002

F-150

  • miles
The vehicle has a faulty front cover gasket on the engine, which caused coolant leak in turn causing an overheat situation which lead to an intake manifold gasket failure, which may also lead to an engine failure. I took the vehicle to the T&w Ford dealership in williamstown, ky where they told me that the front cover would need to be replaced along with the gaskets and also O2 sensors at a cost of $1500, I did the work of gasket replacement at a cost of $60.

- Dry Ridge, KY, USA

problem #50

May 052002

F-150

  • miles
Rod bearing failure at only 73000 miles.

- Columbia City, IN, USA

problem #49

Apr 012002

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine check light illuminated, indicating that head gasket needed to be replaced.

- Lion, NY, USA

problem #48

Mar 022002

F-150

  • miles
Front engine cover gasket failed allowing coolant to leak is this problem covered under recall tsb# 99B29 Dec. 1999 what do I do ? I never got a recall from Ford or dealer.

- Yatesville, GA, USA

problem #47

Oct 302001

F-150

  • miles
Gasket failed caused piston rod to bend, engine rebuild cost over $1500. I contacted Ford, they said there were no recalls and they never had that problem before.

- Tavernier, FL, USA

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