NHTSA Complaint #745658 — 1997 FORD F-150

I PURCHASED A USED 1997 F-150 (4.2L V-6) IN JULY OF 2000. JUST AFTER I HAD PURCHASED IT A BEARING IN THE MOTOR WENT OUT. THERE WAS 68,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE BUT FORD COVERED IT 100%. THEY INSTALLED A NEW LONG BLOCK ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEW ENGINE HAD A 12 MONTH 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. I RECENTLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE #4 CYLINDER WAS BURNING RADIATOR FLUID. THE DEALERSHIP DISASSEMBLED THE MOTOR AND SAID THE ONLY CAUSE FOR THE WATER COULD BE PINHOLES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. WHICH WAS CAUSED DURING THE CASTING PROCESS. NOW THE ENGINE IS 8 MONTHS OLD WITH 24,000 MILES ON IT. FORD WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE WORK. THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE FIRST ENGINE GOING OUT WAS A LEAKY WATER SEAL GASKET THAT WAS REPLACED. NOW ENGINE NUMBER TWO IS GOING BAD BECAUSE OF WATER. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT, BUT IT TOOK TWO ENGINES TO GET IT THERE. KNOWING THAT THE FIRST SCHEDULED SERVICE IS SET FOR 100,000 MILES. I THINK FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS SECOND ENGINE AND COVER THE COST. THIS WASNT CAUSED BY ANY ABUSE, IT WAS CAUSED FROM A FAULTY PART FROM THE FACTORY. THIS ENGINE WAS BAD FROM THE START. I JUST FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PAY THE 1,500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE A FAULTY PART ON A BRAND NEW ENGINE. THIS IS A PROBLEM FORD IS AWARE OF, THEY JUST WON'T ADMIT IT.*AK