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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 9 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #46

Feb 112002

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles

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

While traveling heard a knocking noise coming from engine. Vehicle was serviced, and technician stated that engine head gasket needed to be replaced.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #45

Dec 282001

F-150

  • miles
Front housing seal for engine, located behind motor pump, is leaking anti-freeze. Consumer is concerned anti-freeze could contaminate oil supply, and cause damage to engine. Dealership has not examined vehicle. Please provide any additional information / documentation.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #44

Nov 192001

F-150

  • miles
Engine failed at 46,900 miles due to water in the engine from a leaking gasket. The same gasket was replaced a year earlier by Ford under recall 99B29. Given that there are numerous postings on this type of failure, how many reported failures are required to mandate a vehicle recall?

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #43

Nov 082001

(reported on)

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Whenever vehicle has been started it would it smoke badly. After driving for awhile, blue smoke disappeared. Taken to mechanic., and smelled burning oil. Checked under hood, and found head gaskets had blown, causing damage to motor. Motor had to be replaced.

- Bridgeview, IL, USA

problem #42

Sep 012001

F-150

  • miles
Ford Motor Company issued technical service bulletin ppb29 in December 1999 regarding failure of engine front cover gasket. I was not notified of the recall.in March 2001 Ford Motor Company cancelled the recall. If the gasket was faulty in December 1999 how can it not be faulty today. What is my recourse for this problem. My local Ford dealer estimated it would cost approximately $800.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #41

Oct 102001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was parked, and would not start up at all. There was water coming from inside of vehicle. Dealership was aware of problem.

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #40

Sep 122001

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles

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

#1 0R #2 piston rod knocked a hole through oil pan during a major engine failure. This should not happen to an engine at 51000 miles. I feel this engine had a defect at manufacture or a design flaw as I find I am not alone in having this engine fail.

- Muskegon, MI, USA

problem #39

Jan 011997

F-150

  • miles
The front cover gasket failed, the consumer is requesting reimbursement per recall 99B29. Nlm

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #38

Nov 302000

F-150

  • miles
After vehicle was examined for a manufacturer service program on ingition, vehicle did not operate properly. When dealership examined vehicle, a hole in engine head was discovered. Dealer informed consumer that component needed to repair was no longer available, which required that entire engine be replaced at consumer's expense. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Nitro, WV, USA

problem #37

Mar 202001

F-150

  • miles
With only 1200 miles over warranties engine should have been replaced by Ford motror.head gasket and front cover seal should not of leaked /100,000 miles or more.

- China Twp, MI, USA

problem #36

May 072001

F-150

  • miles

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

I purchased a used 1997 F-150 (4.2L V-6) in July of 2000. Just after I had purchased it a bearing in the motor went out. There was 68,000 miles on the vehicle at that time. There was an extended warranty on the vehicle but Ford covered it 100%. they installed a new long block engine free of charge. The new engine had a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty. I recently brought the vehicle in for a check engine light and they found out that the #4 cylinder was burning radiator fluid. The dealership disassembled the motor and said the only cause for the water could be pinholes in the cylinder head. Which was caused during the casting process. Now the engine is 8 months old with 24,000 miles on it. Ford will not cover any of the work. The probable cause of the first engine going out was a leaky water seal gasket that was replaced. Now engine number two is going bad because of water. The vehicle now has 92,000 miles on it, but it took two engines to get it there. Knowing that the first scheduled service is set for 100,000 miles. I think Ford should stand behind this second engine and cover the cost. This wasnT caused by any abuse, it was caused from a faulty part from the factory. This engine was bad from the start. I just find it difficult to pay the 1,500 dollars to replace a faulty part on a brand new engine. This is a problem Ford is aware of, they just won't admit it.

- Yuba City, CA, USA

problem #35

Apr 272001

F-150

  • miles
Timing gasket failure followed by engine failure. Good running truck brought to Firestone shop for diagnosis & repair of water leak. Timing gasket and water pump replaced. Water pump was not leaking, but had 100K miles. After leak repair severe hesitation noted on acceleration from stop. While returning to Firestone oil pressure drop at red light after passing other vehicle. Cam shaft sensor now bad and changed; hesitation fixed, pressure ok. Drove < 5 miles; accelerated onto interstate & drove 4 mi. At 1st stop after exiting interstate oil pressure drop. Returned to Firestone. Now I need a new engine--$3000!

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #34

Apr 072001

F-150

  • miles
When consumer went out to warm up vehicle in the morning, vehicle started up fine. However, then piston in engine shattered. No determination was given for the cause of this defect. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- May Pearl, TX, USA

problem #33

Feb 142001

F-150

  • miles
Consumer took vehicle in to be examined because of a loss in coolant. A private mechanic noticed that timing cover was cracked, and it needed to be replaced. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Punta Gorda, FL, USA

problem #32

Apr 272001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Comsumer was turning into a parking lot and heard something click. Consumer took a look and went to a nearby garage. Nearest Ford dealer was 15 miles away. 3 bolts had sheared completely off. Manufacturer stated they hadn't seen a problem like this, but warranty was expired.

- Waupun, WI, USA

problem #31

Mar 312001

F-150

  • miles
Consumer received notification from Ford, in service program #99B29, that engine gasket front cover was defective and would be replaced with a redesigned model. Consumer complained that there was an expiration date of March 31, 2001 for this service program, and Ford was not going to replace this defective component for free when this defect could cause engine coolant leaks. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Bridgewater, MA, USA

problem #30

May 012000

F-150

  • miles
The original and replacement engine block components failed. Nlm

- Worcester, MA, USA

problem #29

Mar 292001

F-150

  • miles
We purchased this Ford vehicle from a Ford dealer eight months ago. We just learned it has a blown engine probably resulting from coolant leaking into the engine. We've learned Ford has replaced other '97 F150 engines with this defect. Our dealer indicates there have been no such service bulletins. We paid $12,000 eight months ago.

- Flagler Beach, FL, USA

problem #28

Apr 012001

F-150

  • miles
After recall work was performed for the timing cover, when driving vehicle and going to apply brakes, oil light would come on. Oil pressure would drop, and engine would operate erratically. Consumer formed by another dealership stated that if engine coolant was entered into oil system and/or oil pan, and vehicle has been driven for approximately 250 miles, engine will become damaged, and needed to be replaced. Dealership that performed recall work stated the engine was running normally when turned over to consumer, and they were not responsible because regular oil changes were not performed on vehicle. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Waco, TX, USA

problem #27

Mar 142001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Engine would be making loud knocking noises. Took vehicle to mechanic and was informed that engine pistons were knocking within cylinders. They were wobbling. The defective engine was replaced.

- Albany, GA, USA

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