NHTSA Complaint #718315 — 1997 FORD F-150

STARTING ON 01-09-98 AND CONTINUING ONLY IN THE WINTER MONTHS, MY VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START. IN ALL INSTANCES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED OVERNIGHT IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE. IN ALL INCIDENTS THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, GORDIE BOUCHER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. ON 01-14-98 THE VEHICLE AGAIN FAILED TO START AS THE RESULT OF A DEAD BATTERY. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DRAINED, TO A POINT WHERE THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. I HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS IN 1998. ON 01-17-99 AND 01-18-99 THE VEHICLE AGAIN HAD A DEAD BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AGAIN BY GORDIE BOUCHER HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE (AGAIN) TO FIND A PROBLEM. ON 02-16-99 AND 02-21-99 AND 03-25-99 THE VEHICLE AGAIN HAD A DEAD BATTERY. ON ALL THE ABOVE LISTED DATES, ALL POWER POINTS (LIGHTS (INTERIOR/EXTERIOR), RADIO, WIPERS, FANS, ETC WERE TURNED OFF. THERE IS NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR WHY THE BATTERY IS BEING DRAINED, EXCEPT THAT SOMETHING IN THE SYSTEM MUST BE FAILING TO SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. MY WARRANTY ON MY TRUCK IS UP IN 05-99 AND I NEED SOMETHING DONE TO MY TRUCK. I CONTACTED NHTSA 03-03-99 AND FILLED OUT THE QUESTIONAIRE, BUT NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. PLEASE HELP. *AK