NHTSA Complaint #10224337 — 1997 FORD F-150

I HAVE OWNED A 97 FORD F150 XCAB FOR >7 YRS. I KEPT UP ON ALL MAINT & OIL/FLUID CHANGES. I HAVE CARED FOR MY TRUCK AS I HAVE MY OWN KIDS! IT RAN WELL ON FRIDAY NIGHT (4/4/08) THEN ON SATURDAY MORNING HUSB TURNED THE KEY AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO BANG LOUDLY AND SPIT OUT WHITE SMOKE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR SYMPTOMS OR ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS LEADING UP TO THIS SO I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO LOOK INTO IT. I CAME TO FIND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND THAT FORD KNEW ALL ABOUT IT! MY TRUCK HAS ONLY 116,000 ORIGINAL MILES IN 10 YEARS! NOT ABUSED. APPARENTLY, FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON A FAULTY GASKET THAT ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE PLUGS/OIL BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL I WAS OFFERED OR TOLD OF WHEN WE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE OVER THE YEARS! TODAY I FOUND 2 MORE RECALLS 4 IT ON THEIR SITE (NOT THE GASKET 1) THAT THEY DIDN'T TELL ME OF ON 4/7/08 WHEN ASKED 4 A VIN WHEN CALLING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I ASKED 4 THE PRICE OF A REBUILT ENGINE AS THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX A ROD & QUOTED $5,500. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS FOR EVERYTHING, HE REPLIED "NO - PARTS CAN REALLY ADD UP, HONEY"! I TOOK GREAT CARE OF THIS TRUCK! I OPTED TO TOW IT TO ANOTHER ACCREDITED SHOP SINCE THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME A TOTAL PRICE. NOT INCLUDING 2 TOWS & PAYING $150 TO DIAGNOSE I WAS QUOTED A MIN OF $7,300 TO FIX W/REBUILD +/- 12%. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY 4 SOMETHING THAT IS FORDS FAULT? THEY MADE A FAULTY ENGINE & LEFT THOUSANDS OF US TO PAY 4 IT! I CAN EITHER BUY A NEW CAR OR WALK NOW! IM HANDICAPPED W 2 DISABLE ADOPT FOSTER KIDS & HUSB WHO'S A POLICE OFFICER! 1 INCOME/ WE RENT, SO WONT QUAL 4 CASH LOAN! PLEASE SEE THIS: HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-224.HTML WHERE OTHER FORD 4.2 OWNERS NOTED SAME ISSUE & THEIR RESPONSES FM FORD. WE NEED HELP OR DIRECTION ON HOW TO START/JOIN A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST THEM TO GET REPAIRS DONE OR $ TO PAY FOR IT! *TR