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.
1998 Ford F-150 4.2L hydrolock issue. Antifreeze in the #1 cylinder. Manufacturing defect not covered by Ford. Engine useless until repaired due to manufacturing defect at the factory. Need to repair engine.
Overnight hydrolock condition, caused by faulty intake gaskets and cylinder head gaskets, causing immediate and unforseen internal damage up to and including damage to pistons, rods, crankshaft, and bearings. We were non-informed due to Ford's neglet to send appropriate recall notices for both vehicles owned by our family. This is a well documented problem within the internet community, and although Ford did issue recall notices, we did not recieve any to our current knowledge. Ford Motor Company will not fix this problem because apparently it is too late to turn in a recall. The response given by Ford Motor Company does not seem ethical in my eyes, and many consumers are out of transportation and be out the money that this will cost them to fix the problem themselves. These are honest, hard working citizens that have believed in Ford for many years, and for this kind of problem to come up and to have them not do anything about it, removes any shred of confidence still remaining in todays manufactured goods.
Have had problems with my 1998 V6 Ford F-150 pick up, regarding coolant/water loss, so have continually done coolant maintenance. Started the truck up last Saturday 5/7/06 and the engine made an an awful sound, and white smoke came out of the exhaust. The truck was running fine the day before. My truck was towed to a mechanic yesterday, and they say the engine needs replaced, which will cost $4,000 plus. I have seen many, many complaints from F-159 V6 owners, 1997-2000. I cannot afford to have the vehicle repossessed, as I still owe $4,000 plus on it. I cannot afford the rebuilt engine repair, and now have no means of transportation. Also, I am currently unemployed and looking for work. Ford company needs to do right by their customers, as this same problem has happened to so many F-150 owners. A class action suit is currently on-going in northern California, according to a consumer website. I never received a recall notice from Ford. Please let me know how I can join this class action lawsuit.
- Bellingham, , WA, USA
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I have an Ford F150 with the 4.2 V6 engine. I have taken good care with oil changes every 3-5,000 miles. In 2001 I noticed it was losing coolant. Took it to dealer and they found nothing wrong. Have had it checked twice since then. Coming home from work yesterday, I noticed the oil pressure dropped to 0 everytime I stopped and the engine idled. Took it to personal mechanic and he called Ford dealership. He was told the engine was getting ready to blow. That there was a problem with this motor and mine has lasted more than most. I have seen on the web other F150 owners with the same problem. Coolant leaking into the cylinders and destroying the engine. Ford should take responsibility for this defective engine. Mine would probably have gone out before now, but I changed the oil really well. Now I'm out $4,000 to put in a new engine.
Coolant leaking into engine. I have had my truck at the dealer several times and 3 other mechanics in my area. I have a 98 Ford F150 with the V6 4.2L motor. It has 120,000 miles on it now and started having problems at 115,000. I have changed the oil every 3000 to 4000 miles and the coolant every 3 years. I have look into internet forums and noticed that there are 100S of others with the same exact problems - most with far less mileage.
I was driving an heard a loud squealing noise from under the hood. Lost power and lights dimmed for a brief period. I pulled over and smelled antifreeze before I opened the hood. I checked the coolant recovery tank level and it was slightly low. Looked for a leak and found a 1/16th" pinhole approximately one inch below the thermostat housing gasket line producing a steady stream of antifreeze directly onto the serpentine belt. This strong leak continues as long as the proper fluid level is maintained, and stops once the level falls below the hole. To refill the tank to it's proper level takes approximately one us gallon of coolant, which immediately begins to squirt out the hole, whether the engine is running or not; hot or cold. Took it to my mechanic who told me all he could do is replace the engine, which I have not done. I will be taking it to the closest Ford dealer, as several other professional mechanics have looked at it and all agreed that it was a defect in the casting, since there was no cracking- just a round pin hole in an area where there are no moving parts that could have caused such damage.
I was coming from the doctor with my wife when my truck starts doing a laud knocking sound. I could not figure what was going on. The temperature, battery, oil pressure and everything was fine. The next day I took it to a mechanic and he told me I had a bad head gasket and found that it damage a #1 cyl, bend connecting rod, crack piston and of course a bad head. To fix it was over $2,500. I live in a social security disability with a fix income since February and cannot afford to pay all that money and barely make the payments. The mechanic told me that it has been lots of problems with these engines and head gaskets. I told my stepdaughter and we went on-line surprised to see lots of people with the same problem. Ford knows about these problems since 1998 on the 3.8-liter V-6 head gasket used between 1988 and 1995 on the Taurus, Sable and Continental, as well as the 1995 Windstar and we think they did not fix the problem not until way after 1998 when they issued a technical service bulletin. Now 1998's F-150 got exaclly the same prablem. I don''t know what to do !!! I have not call Ford credit to tell them yet. Anny sugestions please E-mail me at jessym28@hotmail.com
Dealer reports coolant loss into oil system, states cause is defect in timing chain cover or intake manifold, 1997 trucks with same engine equiped with defective timing chain cover, Ford issued silent recall to dealers to cover cost of repaires for 1997 trucks, Ford claimes defect corrected for 1998 truck, dealer states that even if cover is defective, Ford won't cover costs for repaires, I wonder if Ford completly corrected timing chain cover problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lancaster, OH, USA