1997 FORD F-150 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

LOW ON COOLANT- OIL PRESSURE STARTED TO DROP, COOLANT IN OIL. AFTER READING CONSIDERABLY ABOUT THIS ON INTERNET FOUND OUT ABOUT TSP #99B29 AND THE RESULTING ONP DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS EVER FIXED I AM SECOND OWNER AND THE ONP EXPIRED IN 2001. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM LEAKING GASKET. MANY MANY COMPLAINTS ON WEBSITES REGARDING THIS. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN AND CANNOT AFFORD A $4000 MOTOR BECAUSE FORD DID NOT GET IT RIGHT AND WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ERRORS. *NM

COOLANT RUNNING LOW,STARTED MY TRUCK AND IT STARTED KNOCKING VERY LOUD,AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP ALMOST INSTANTLY,HAD TO HAVE ENGINE REBUILT AND NOW IT IS KNOCKING AGAIN. *NM

ON OCCASION, TRUCK WOULD HESITATE, TAKING A BIT OF TLC ON THE GAS PEDAL TO CLEAR IT UP. ONE OCCASION, IN TRAFFIC, ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A NEAR MISS, I ACCELERATED THROUGH THIS. WHITE SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. HEAD GASKET FAILURE. LIMPED HOME. ENGINE HYDRO-LOCKED. DIAGNOSIS = REPLACE HEAD GASKETS ($2,100) IN THIS SAME 'WEAK' 4.2 V-6 OR REPLACE MOTOR ($2,500) WITH NEWER 4.2 V-6. REPLACEMENT WILL BE DONE TOMORROW. FORD FAULTY ENGINE / GASKETS - NOT MY FAULT. MY PROBLEM THOUGH. *JB

1997 FORD F-150 4.2L V6. ENGINE FAILURE. BROKEN ROD FOLLOWING HYDRO LOCK. PROBLEM PRECEDED WITH COOLANT LEAK AND REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET. *JB

FORD F-150 V-6 4.2L MOTOR COOLANT CAUSED THE MOTOR TO THROW A ROD. *NM

THIS IS SHORT. MY 5.4 BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. FORD HEADS ONLY HAVE .250 IN. OF THREADED DEPTH IN HEAD NOT ENOUGH. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 4.2 LITER (V6) ENGINE. IT LEAKED INTO CRANKCASE AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. IT IS A TOTAL LOSS OF THE ENGINE AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER ENGINE. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. *JB

MY 1997 4.2L V6 F150 WOULD NOT START, REPLACED STARTER MOTOR, PULLED PLUGS FOUND COOLANT IN #1 CYLINDER. I'M CURRENTLY DIGGING INTO THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS HAPPENED MORE OFTEN WHILE TOWING SOMETHING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE SPEWED COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES. THE HEADS HAVE BEEN CHANGED ONCE; THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE. THE EGR VALVE HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS.

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE THAT HAS FAILED WITH 82,000 MILES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS FAILURE IS DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE DUE TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW. IT IS ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT CHOOSES TO EXCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY AND LEAVE THE CONSUMER WITH THE BURDEN OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT FOR $4000 TO $5000. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE FAILURES ARE NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM BUT ARE BEING EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF FORD F-150 TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE 4.2L V6 ENGINE. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF A PROBLEM IS THIS WIDE SPREAD AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO BE ACCOUNTABLE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY SHOULD STEP UP AND REPRESENT AS WELL AS PROTECT THE PEOPLE TO SOMETHING THAT AMOUNTS TO OUT AND OUT CONSUMER FRAUD. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED AT AN IDLE, THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE DECREASES TO ZERO FOLLOWED BY A GRINDING NOISE WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

OWN A 1997 F150 WITH 4.2 FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. NEVER SEEN THE SMOKE COMING. HYRDOLOCKED ON ME WITH 150,000 KMS WHICH I HAVE HEARD IS KINDA LOW KMS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. LOOKING AT GETTING A REBUILT BUT WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS. *NM

97 FORD F-150 4.2, BLEW A ROD AND THEY TELL ME THAT IS GONE COST ME ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. *JB

1997 FORD F150 4.2L V 6 ENGINE. ENGINE HYDROLOCKED. #4 CYLINDER FULL OF COOLANT BENDING CONNECTING ROD AND OTHER CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. POOR GASKET DESIGN BY MANUFACTURER ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEECH INTO COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET REGARDING MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE SAME TYPE FOR THE SAME ENGINE TYPE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. $4000 REPAIR COST TO AN ENGINE THAT HAS LESS THAN 75K MILES ON IT. *JB

I OWN A 1997 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 V-6 MOTOR. THE TRUCK HAD 70, 126 MILES WHEN IT SUFFERED HYDROLOCK. I DROVE THE TRUCK ON A WEDNESDAY, AND IT WAS RUNNING FINE. FRIDAY EVENING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT, I THOUGHT THE BATTERY HAD GONE DEAD. I PULLED THE BATTERY OUT AND HAD IT TESTED, AND IT WAS OK. INSTALLED THE BATTERY AND AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO START THE TRUCK, WHEN I HEARD AN UNUSUAL "KICK BACK." I WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK STARTED, BUT THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE SMOKE HAD A SWEET COOLANT SMELL. I PERFORMED SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HYDROLOCK PROBLEMS. I PULLED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE GASKET. I THEN PULLED THE LEFT SIDE HEAD AND FOUND THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD WAS BENT. I PULL THE MOTOR AND PERFORMED...

NO KNOWN EVENT LEADING UP TO FAILURE. ENGINE MADE A LOUD EXPLODING NOISE AND STARTED POPPING AFTER EXPLOSION. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A BLOWN SPARK PLUG AND THAT THE HEAD HAD TO BE REPLACED. COST $1600.*AK

COOLANT LEAKING FROM A FAULTY HEAD GASKET INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. RESULTING IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY REPLACING THE ENTIRE MOTOR FOR WELL OVER $4,000. THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE BUT MANY MORE. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH FOR FAULTY GASKETS IN 97 4.2L ENGINES. GO TO HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=10&PP=15 FOR MORE INFO. *JB

INTAKE GASKET WENT OUT CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INTO PISTON AND WHEN TRUCK WAS CRANKED UP IT BENT ROD BROKE PISTON REPAIR BILL WAS $1685.00 SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOWN ABOUT THIS. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM JUST LOOK UP 1997 F150 INTAKE FORUM THANKS. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A V-6 4.2L ENGINE. THIS ENGINE RAN ROUGH AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WAS THEN SLOWED TO NORMAL CITY SPEEDS. THIS WAS INVESTIGATED AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHILE UNDER THE WARRANTY PERIOD WITH NO TROUBLE FOUND EACH TIME. AT ABOUT 70,000 MILES THIS TRUCK BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE SHOP WHICH SERVICED IT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT SPARK IN THE RIGHT HALF OF THE ENGINE, BUT CAME UP WITH NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTIONS. I NOTICE THAT I WAS LOOSING COOLANT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND BLINK OCCASIONALLY. THIS CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN I TURNED ON THE ENGINE THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND AN OBNOXIOUS CLATTERING. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED INTO A DEALER AT WHICH POINT I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE WHICH COST $4200. AFTER 55,000 MORE MILES...

FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF 1997 FORD F150. *TS *JB

97 FORD F150 4.2 L ENGINE, NO GASKET RECALL NOTIFICATION, THROWN ROD DURING STARTUP JUST LIKE THE LARGE NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME FAILURE ON HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. HE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT ALL 1997 FORD F150 ENGINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. HE CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NO RECALL INVOLVING NOISE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE WATER PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH RESULTED IN WATER LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC PREDICTED THAT THE ENGINE MIGHT FUNCTION FOR THREE MORE MILES. *AK

1997 FORD F-150 PICKUP WITH 4.2 LITER V6. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE NOTICED THAT I HAVE TO CONTINUALLY ADD COOLANT TO THE RADIATOR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I CAME ACROSS FORD ONP 99B29 WHICH STATES FORD WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET TO PREVENT SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. (HYDROLOCK LEADING TO BROKEN OR BENT CONNECTING RODS). I NEVER RECEIVED THIS NOTICE AS I UNDERSTAND IT WAS ONLY SENT TO CORPORATE CUSTOMERS. I NOW HAVE OILY RESIDUE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE COOLANT, HARD STARTING, ETC. ALL CONSISTENT WITH DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD/FRONT COVER GASKET LEADING TO INTERNAL ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE FORD DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE SAID I HAD TO REPORT IT TO HIM PRIOR TO MARCH 31, 2001. I NOW HAVE 70,600 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE I HAVE A CATOSTROPHIC...

BLOWN GASKET- *NM

DEFECTIVE ENGINE. 1997 F150 V6 4.2 L, 73000 MILES AND A ROD IS KNOCKING. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AT FORD. *JB

I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 97 F150 A LOT OF PEOPLE DO. I HAVE 4.2 V6 THAT LOCKED UP ON ME A FEW MONTHS AGO. I HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MOTOR FOR A COOLANT GASKET BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ONE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND EVEN THE ONES THAT GOT CHANGE WENT BAD ANYWAY. PLEASE HELP MAKE FORD OWN UP TO THIS ENGINEERING DEFECT AND REPLACE THESE MOTORS. THANK YOU. *JB

1997 FORD F150 4.2 L V-6 LEAKING LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET DESTROYS ENGINE!

I HAVE A 97 FORD F150. THEY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE GASKET FAILURE. I AM ON MY 3RD MOTOR IN IT. THEY DONT MAKE IT 100,000 MILE. YOU JUST START THEM @ THEY WILL BLOW. *NM

I HAVE A 1997 F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE. I HAD A LEAKING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED A YEAR AGO WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR ON. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS AS TO WHEN I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK. SINCE THE GASKET WAS REPLACED, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I STARTED HAVING OIL PRESSURE PROBLEMS. NOW I AM STARTING TO HEAR A KNOCK. TALKING TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID IT WAS A ROD AND BEARINGS. I PULLED UP THE RECALL # 99-20-7 WHICH EXPLAINS THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THAT THIS HAS CAUSED. BY THE WAY THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 46,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT!! HAVE TALKED TO NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN FORUMS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY SAY NO LUCK OUT OF FORD. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED? HAD A MECHANIC...

1) NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. ORIGINAL OWNER, WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH 98,000 MILES. 2) ENGINE SIEZED DURING START (4.2 LITER WITH APPARENT HISTORY OF MANIFOLD GASKET FLAW LEADING TO FAILURE) 3) VEHICLE NOT REPAIRED DUE TO HIGH COST OF ENGINE REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT

EGINE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE GASKET LEAK ON 1997 FORD F150 V6 2.4 ENGINE AT 43,000 MILES

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY GASKET

I HAVE 1997 FORD F150 4.2L PICK-UP THAT HAS THE "FAMOS" ANTI FREEZE INTERNAL LEAK THAT HAS RUINED MY MOTOR. I HAVE 56,000MI ON IT, AND FEEL FORD HAS SOLD MILLIONS OF THESE LEMONS AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT! IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR "US" WHO GOT SCREWED?

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 87,000 MILES ON IT. THE MOTOR IS A 4.2L V6. IT ALL BEGAN WHEN I NOTICED THE ANITFREEZE LEVEL SEEMED TO KEEP GOING DOWN EVEN AFTER I WOULD FILL THE COOLANT JUG TO THE PROPER LEVEL. LAST WEEK I NOTICED THAT THE MOTOR SEEMED HARDER TO START AND THOUGHT THE BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO START MY TRUCK AND WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION THE MOTOR MADE A LOUD POP AND WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT EITHER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THE HEAD GASKET, OR THE TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET HAD FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO ENTER MY MOTOR. THIS CAUSED MY MOTOR TO COMPLETELY SEIZE UP. THE END RESULT IS THAT I NOW NEED A NEW MOTOR THAT IS GOING TO COST ME...

DT: IN OCTOBER OF 2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THE DEALER ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING NEAR THE CARBURETOR. *TT

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN 1997 FORD F150 4.2L V6 ENGINE 70899 MILES. ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO NUMBER 4 CYLINDER. WHEN ENGINE STARTS RESULTING "HYDRO-LOCK" SHEARS OFF CONECTING ROD AND DESTROYS ENGINE.

WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL99B29 FOR A TIMING COVER/WATER PUMP GASKET ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 [XXX]. IN NOVEMBER 2004 I WAS LOSING COOLANT AND TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HE GAVE ME AN EST. OF $1500.00. AT THAT TIME I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A RELIABLE REPAIR SHOP FOR $800.00. I HAD JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL FROM A CO-WORKER WHO ALSO HAS A VEHICLE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT SHOULD BE DUE REBURSTMENT OF THE REPAIRS FOR THAT FACT I DID NOT RECEIVE THE RE-CALL.THEIR RECORDS WILL SHOW THAT OTHER RECALLS I HAVE HAD IT IN FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT! *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

1. PURCHASED FORD F-150, [XXX], WITH 4.2 L SIX AT 15,000 MILES AT SUN STATE FORD OF ORLANDO FL. 2. IN 2004, NOTICED UNEXPLAINED COOLANT LEAKS. 3. ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29, BUT THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT KNOWN AT THAT TIME; FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS TRUCK, BUILT 03/97, IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29, INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. 4. ON 4/22/05 AT 66,713 MILES, LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO A CYLINDER, LEADING TO A THROWN ROD AND ENGINE FAILURE. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7. 5. DEALER REFUSED TO HELP EXCEPT TO OFFER A REBUILT ENGINE FOR $4500; FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CALL CENTER RELATED THAT THE RECALL COVERED UP TO 12/31/96, AND THIS TRUCK WAS MADE 3/97. NO OFFER OF HELP NOR APPEAL THERE, EITHER. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF...

WENT TO START TRUCK BEGAN KNOCKING FROM MOTOR UPON STARTING.MOTOR THROWN ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED.THIS 1997 F-150 ONLY HAD 93000 MILES NOT EVEN MECH.LIMIT WHAT A LEMON FORD BUILT HERE .*AK

TRUCK WOULD SUTTER AT STOPS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING WITH LOSS OF COOLANT.*AK

FORD F150 1997 DEFECT GASKETS AND COOLING SYSTEM LEAKED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

MY TRUCK IS A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH 140000 MILES LAST WEEK I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE AUTO SHOP BECAUSE I COULDNT FIND OUT WERE THE ANTIFREEZE WAS GOING I WAS TOLD THAT 4.2LITER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A HEAD GASKET WAS THIN AND-ANTIFREEZE LEAK IN MOTOR AND WASHING OUT BEARING. *AK

I HAVE A 97 FORD F150 XL WITH A 4.2L 6CYL ENGINE. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SMALL LOSS OF COOLANT AND NEITHER FORD SERVICE TECHS NOR PRIVATE MACHANICS COULD EVER FIND THE LEAK. WELL IN JAN 2005 AFTER THE TRUCK SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS AND I STARTED THE TRUCK AND THE ENGINE BLEW. TOWED IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE DAMAGE. $4000 PLUS TO FIX IT. AFTER SERCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. I AM TRYING TO SELL THE TRUCK TO GET A LITTLE MONEY TO HELP BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HELP!*AK

THE VEHICLE WITH 4.2L ENGINE COMMENCED TO RUN ROUGH AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE OR COOLANT BOTH DOORS STARTING TO CRACK REAR SLIDING WINDOW LEAKING. *JB

FORD 1997 F150 ENGINE FAILURE - COULD BECOME VAPOR LOCKED CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE REPORT LISTED THE CAUSE AS A MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH STARTED IN THE ENGINE. *AK

COOLANT LEAK IN #4 CYLINDER. WHITE SMOKE FROM BURING COOLANT IN ENGINE. ROUGH IDLE AND HARD START UP. POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. CURRENTLY AT FORD DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE GASKETS.*AK

GASKET FAILURE CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. THIS CAUSED THE CYLINDER ROD TO KNOCK AND THE ENGINE TO FAIL. MUST REPLACE THE ENGINE AS A RESULT. *AK

I AM SENDING IN A FULL LETTER TO EXPLAIN THE "FAILURES". IT CENTERS AROUND TSB 99B29 AND LACK OF OWNER NOTIFICATION OF A BAD FRONT COVER DESIGN THAT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH OCCURRED IN THIS CASE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD A TIE ROD FAILURE THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LATER BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, MY CRANK SHAFT PULLEY / DAMPENER ASSEMBLY FELL OFF WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING (70 MPH). THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING DOOR LOCK / KEY STICKING.*AK CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V196000 COMPONENT: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR. THE ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED. *TC THE SERPENTINE FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN AKWARD SHIFT, THE WIPERS OPERATED PERIODICALLY BY THEMSELVES ON HIGH SPEED, THERE WAS LITTLE HEAT COMING FROM THE VENTS THROUGH THE FLOOR. *JB