NHTSA Complaint #10049011 — 1997 FORD F-150

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE, WHICH JUST TURNED OVER 81,000 MILES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO A "T", CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, (WHICH I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR) TRYING TO MAKE IT LAST AS LONG AS POSIBLE. IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS THE TRUCK WILL BE 7 YEARS OLD AND STILL LOOKS AS GOOD AS IT DID THE DAY I DROVE IT OF THE LOT. YESTERDAY MORNING, I STARTED UP MY TRUCK AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS COMING APART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT FIRING ON TWO OF THE CYLINDERS, THAT ONE OF THEM WAS ONLY FIRING AT AROUND 40%, AND THAT A VALVE WAS KNOCKING. TECHNICALLY, THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DENIED ANY EXISTING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PATICULAR ENGINE . I READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT WERE CONSISTANT WITH MINE AND WISH THAT SOMEONE WOULD EXPLAIN WHY FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I HAD ALL THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON SCHEDULE BY FORD DEALERSHIPS. I AM SO DISTRAUGHT ABOUT THIS THAT I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AND WILL ADVISE ALL FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE SAME.*AK