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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 72
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,352 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 4 of 5)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #34

Apr 022005

F-150

  • 126,000 miles

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

Vehicle was parked for 2 days. The horn started blowing, and consumer's wife looked out the window and saw fire coming from the center of the hood. Put water on vehicle from hose, but was not enough to stop fire. Called 911. By the time the fire company came vehicle was consumed by fire. Also, the house almost caught on fire. Cruise control quit working about 1 or 2 months before the fire. There were no other problems. Checked the fuses, and they were fine. One evening, before the fire would not come out of park. Found the brake light switch at the pedal was defective. Replaced that switch. Then, found a brake light bulb out. Replaced that bulb, and vehicle came out of park. About a week later the right turn signal blinked real fast, again the bulb was replaced. This trouble with the turn signal was intermittent. Rear glass leaked, and door panels were cracked on both sides. Geico insurance sent an adjuster to take pictures. Owner felt cruise control caused the fire.

- Waycross, GA, USA

problem #33

Mar 192005

F-150 6-cyl

  • 75,580 miles
After sitting unused for 2 days, the cruise controll switch caught on fire. It was put out quickly after disconnecting the battery and putting soda on the switch. I had the truck towed to a Ford dealer who said it was not listed on the recall, and I would have to pay. I decided to take it to my normal repair shop for correction. It was corrected with a new switch. I belive I should be reimbursed for entire cost.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #32

Mar 282005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle was parked for over an hour and a neighbor bought the fire to consumer's attention. Fire was coming from under the hood on drivers side.

- Fort Wayne, IN, USA

problem #31

Jan 012005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

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

Vehicle was parked in the garage, consumer came out to get into the vehicle, and saw smoke, and fire coming from under the hood. Consumer contacted the dealer.

- Palmer, MA, USA

problem #30

Jan 112005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was parked in front. Ten minutes later, the truck caught on fire. Driver called the fire department to extinguish the fire. Vehicle was towed by the insurance company. The insurance adjuster informed the driver that the cruise control switch started the fire inside of the truck.

- Williston Park, NY, USA

problem #29

Apr 032004

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
NHTSA recall campaign 05V0170000 concerning cruise control. Vehicle was parked in the garage for some 8 hours when the smoke detector went off. Consumers immediately exited the home, and the fire department responded. The home and two vehicle were destroyed in the fire.

- Old Hickory, TN, USA

problem #28

Feb 272005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 69,000 miles

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

While vehicle was parked for 9 hours a fire started under a the hood. Vehicle was totaled. Updated 2/28/2006 - the cruise control was not working at the time of the fire. The consumer noticed that it had stopped working on 2-18-05.

- Holland, OH, USA

problem #27

Mar 222005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles
The truck caught on fire and burned to the ground while parked on the street. This occurred 15 hours after the vehicle was serviced by an independent repair facility for a cruise control failure. The fire department extinguished the fire, but couldn't determined the cause of it, just that the fire started in the engine compartment. The vehicle was not running and or warm when the fire occurred.

- White Bear Lake, MN, USA

problem #26

Jul 202004

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles
Truck started; however, would not go into drive. Connector for cruise control shut off on brake master cylindar was burnt. Occured while in parking lot with engine shut off. Appears that the brake relay leaked brake fluid into connector causing short. Ford did not replace connector. Cruise control no longer functions. Ford only replaced brake relay at my cost. Did not replace fried connector.

- Grassvalley, CA, USA

problem #25

Oct 152004

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 165,000 miles
I have a 1997 Ford F150 4X4 4.6 litre pickup. The cruise control system has been malfunctioning for the past 6 months. While driving for an extended period, the cruise control will deactivate on its own. When I press resume, it will pick back up and work fine for an undetermined period. It is a random deactivation problem. Due to the recent recall of Ford trucks regarding the cruise control deavtivation switch problem and my symptoms, I have disconnected my cruise control deactivation and contacted a dealership. They would not look at my truck unless I paid them for the evaluation of my problem. I do not feel I should pay for what I feel is a related problem to the cruise control deactivation switch. I am willing to pay for a new switch if needed however I do not feel that I should pay for the labor. I am making this report due to news I heard today that 1997 models of pickups were now being investigated for this problem. I wanted to be made part of the investigation process. I will be happy to make my vehicle available for inspection by your Agency if needed.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #24

Feb 162005

F-150

  • 140,000 miles

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

Parked vehicle at 7:40 am and 10 minutes later a witness saw smoke and flames coming from the vehicle near the driver's side wheel well. No problems with vehicle prior to the fire. Had not used the cruise control in a very long time. The turn signals would sometimes click very fast, indicating a bulb was out, but no bulbs were defective. This had been going on for a year or more. A new engine was installed about 1 year ago. No after market equipment. Vehicle was insured, but a claim was not made due to minor damage. Mechanic, who repaired vehicle, indicated that speed control deactivation switch caused the fire.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #23

Feb 142005

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
While parked in a public parking lot the vehicle caught fire without warning. The consumer states two days prior the cruise control had malfunctioned and the dealer stated that the part was unavailable. Please provide additional information.

- Summersville, MO, USA

problem #22

Feb 082005

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
05V017000/Ford cruise control deactivation switch. The vehicle was parked for over 9 hours. The next morning there were flames coming from under the hood in front of the driver seat. The owner contacted the fire department and had the fire extinguished. Owner also contacted the Ford manufacturer who told the owner that this vehicle was not included in the current recall. Provide further details.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #21

May 081999

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles
While the vehicle was parked, a fire started under the hood. The vehicle was totaled. The dealership is aware of the problem. Other vehicle's were damaged during the fire and one person was burned on the arm while trying to contain the fire with a fire extinguisher. The consumer request reimbursement from the manufacturer for the damages.

- Browns Summit, NC, USA

problem #20

Feb 212005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 158 miles
While the truck was parked in a parking lot it caught on fire without warning. There were no injuries reported. The driver called the fire department to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed, and declared totaled by the insurance company.

- Chuluota, FL, USA

problem #19

Jan 312003

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 90,000 miles
Cruise control switch burnt.

- Winter Haven, FL, USA

problem #18

Dec 262004

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 142,000 miles
While parked, the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department stated that the fire started in the wiring of the cruise control.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #17

Jan 262005

F-150

  • 149,000 miles
While vehicle was parked a fire started under the hood. The fire was put out. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. The vehicle was off for 2-3 hours before the fire started.

- Blackstock, SC, USA

problem #16

Oct 202004

F-150

  • 93,000 miles
While the vehicle was parked, a fire started under the hood. The vehicle was totaled. The cause was not determined.

- Bryan, TX, USA

problem #15

Feb 072005

F-150

  • 130,000 miles
Parked the vehicle at 10:00 and at 10:30 the alarm sounded. Went to look at vehicle and saw fire under the hood on the driver's side. Pictures posted at plaza.ufl.edu/bethie21/. the cruise control failed before the fire, and the brake lights had gone out. The cruise control failed before christmas. The brake lights went out in early January. The vehicle would not come out of park. We replaced the fuse and it blew again. We replaced it 3 times and it stopped blowing. The vehicle was insured by state farm policy number 8922531-59 4.

- Merritt Island, FL, USA

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