NHTSA Complaint #10169665 — 1997 FORD F-150

MY 1997 FORD F150, 4.2L V6, HAS BEEN LOSING COOLANT SINCE ABOUT 2004. MY SON HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE ONE AFTERNOON. FINALLY I GOT IT STARTED AND DROVE 5 MILES HOME. THE NEXT AFTERNOON THE CAR STARTED QUICKLY BUT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BANGING AWAY. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ENGINE IS DEAD - BAD ROD. NOW I FIND OUT FROM THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS ENGINE BUT FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. TRADE IN VALUE ON THE CAR IS ZERO BECAUSE ALL THE 2ND TIER DEALERS KNOW ABOUT THE ENGINE PROBLEM. I'M OUT THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE (SEEMS ONLY FAIR AFTER MY 96 WINDSTAR NEEDS NEW HEAD GASKETS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT AT 30K MILES) APPARENTLY IF YOU KNOW A FORD MECHANIC, HE WILL TELL YOU THE MOTOR HAS BEEN BAD SINCE THE DAY IT WAS FIRST MANUFACTURED. THIS MOTOR SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE FAULTY GASKET LEAKING COOLANT INTO THE MOTOR IT WOULDN'T HAVE. FROM READING WEB SITES I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON THE GASKET AND THEN PULLED IT. I NEVER RECEIVED A BULLETIN ON THE FAULTY GASKET. DON'T EXPECT TO OWN ANOTHER FORD, BUT SOME FINANCIAL HELP WOULD SURE SOOTHE MY FRUSTRATION IF SOMEONE WANTS THE PARTS TO USE TO ACQUIRE COMPENSATION FROM FORD I CAN KEEP THE DEAD ENGINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. *JB