1997 FORD F-150 Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 WITH 55000 MILES. ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60 MPH I HEARD A LOAD POP THE TRUCK THEN BEGAN POPPING AND MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. LOST POWER IMEDIATELY WAS ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER WHICH FOUND THE SPARKPLUG BLOWN OUT AND REPLACED THE CYL HEAD AND NUMEROUS OTHER PARTS TO THE TUNE OF $4000.OO. AFTER SEARCHING THE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSIDENT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE. I CALLED FORD TO SEE IF THEY ARE PLANNING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS OBVIOUS ENGINE DEFECT AND THEY WERE UNINTERESTED IN MY PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED A FEW VEHICLES AND MOST I HAVE KEPT TILL WELL PAST 100,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD.*AK

NOTICE ENGINE COOLANT EXTREMLY LOW ADDED 1+GALLONS NOTICED STILL LOOSING COOLANT. TOOK 1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L V6 AND ONLY 75,700 MILES ON ENGINE TO FORD DEALER FORD DEALER STATED "NO EXTERNAL LEAK FOUND AND CAN NOT FIND ANY POSSABLE INTERNAL LEAK. BUT NEED TO REPLACE INTAKE SET PART#F652-9433-C, EGR GASKET PART#F6AZ-90476-B, TIMMING GASKET PART#YF2Z-6020-AA, F. CRANK SEAL PART#F18Z-6701-A, W/P GASKET PART#F65Z-8507-BA, INTAKE BOLTS PART#N606526.5100 AND N605894.5309, T-BODY GASKET F75Z-9E936-AA, AND IMRC BUSHINGF5RZ-9F955-AB" APARENTLY FORD HAS AND HAS HAD A GASKET PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE DELT WITH.*AK

RECENTLY MY 1997 FORD 150 4.2L STARTED CLATTER.. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER 4.2L EFI OWNERS FROM 1997-2001 THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE HAS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM OF SORTS.. I WAS WANDER IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SPECIFIC COMPLAINTS? IT IS GOING TO COST ME BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.. WHILE MY TRUCK HAD A BIT OVER 100,000 MILES I'VE MET AND SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LESS MILEAGE WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. I'VE MAINTAINED THE TRUCK WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS.. DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENT, IS WAS USING 1QUART OF OIL PER 2,000 MILES WHICH SEEMED A BIT DISTRESSING. ARE THERE ANY PENDING CLASS ACTIONS AGAINST FORD MOTOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONDITION AND IF SO WHERE CAN I BE INFORMED OF THE PROCESS? *LA

1997 FORD F150 W/ 4.2L ENGINE. THE GASKETS FAILED AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING A BLOWN ENGINE. RECALL FOR FRONT COVER GASKET WAS COMPLETED AND I STILL HAD THE ENGINE FAILURE. TERRIBLE. 5000 DOLLARS FOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. *CB

I STARTED UP MY 1997 FORD F-150 XL WITH A 4.2L V-6 AFTER WORK ONE DAY TO HEAR A LOUD KNOCKING. I OBSERVED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW HOWEVER THERE WAS NO MILKY LOOK TO THE ENGINE OIL. I RAN A COMPRESSION TEST ON MY ENGINE TO FIND THAT THERE WAS NO COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER 1 INDICATING THE CONNECTING ROD HAD BROKEN. I AM AWARE THAT FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR A GASKET FAILURE HOWEVER IT HAS EXPIRED. *CB

FAILURE OF FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET ON 4.2L ENGINE IN 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK.*AK

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE, WHICH JUST TURNED OVER 81,000 MILES. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE TO A "T", CHANGING THE OIL EVERY 3000 MILES, (WHICH I HAVE RECEIPTS FOR) TRYING TO MAKE IT LAST AS LONG AS POSIBLE. IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS THE TRUCK WILL BE 7 YEARS OLD AND STILL LOOKS AS GOOD AS IT DID THE DAY I DROVE IT OF THE LOT. YESTERDAY MORNING, I STARTED UP MY TRUCK AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WAS COMING APART. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT FIRING ON TWO OF THE CYLINDERS, THAT ONE OF THEM WAS ONLY FIRING AT AROUND 40%, AND THAT A VALVE WAS KNOCKING. TECHNICALLY, THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY DENIED ANY EXISTING PROBLEMS WITH THIS PATICULAR ENGINE . I READ...

EMAIL FM JOEY GANSZ (AR) INQUIRING IF THERE IS ENOUGH INFORMATION & COMPLAINTS TO REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THE ENGINE GASKET ON THE 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ENGINE PROBLEMS DUE TO A FAULTY GASKET WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN (SB 99-20-7) WAS ISSUED. *NLM *JB

UPON STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER HEARD A TAPPING NOISE. THEN THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEVELOPED A LEAK WHICH CAUSED WATER TO GET INTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE PISTON CONNECTING ROD SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE ON 1997 FORD F150. *MR THERE WAS A LOUD TAPPING NOISE WHICH HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER WHICH DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, BUT LESS THAN 25K MILES LATER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. *SCC *JB

VEHICLE HAD COOLANT LEAK INTO CYLINDER #3 CAUSING RINGS TO COLLAPSE AND LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER. THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE A REBUILD ON THE ENGINE THAT HAS ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. *LA

I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE TRUCK'S MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN MAINTAINED THE ENTIRE TIME SINCE I HAD IT. MY TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED NOR HAS IT EVER PULLED A TRAILER OR BEEN USED FOR HAULING. WE HAVE PUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS INTO MY TRUCK OVER THE PAST YEARS. THE TRUCK HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. IT HAS RUN POORLY, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON MANY TIMES. WE HAVE BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO FORD FOR SERVICE, AND WE HAVE PERMITTED ALL OF THE REPAIRS THAT FORD HAS RECOMMENDED. IN APRIL, I BROUGHT THE TRUCK IN TO WOODY ANDERSON FOR SERVICE... $1100 LATER, THE TRUCK STILL FALTERED WHEN STARTING, AND CONTINUED TO RUN "ROUGH". THE SERVICE TECH AT WOODY ANDERSON TOLD ME THAT TRUCKS RUN ROUGH. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO SEARS, AND THEY SAID HER BATTERY WAS BAD,...

CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT. ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND COULDN'T FIX THE ENGINE LIGHT. *AK

"LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7."

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO CYLINDERS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WOULD DIE OUT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE BY BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICAL. COMMON AMONG 1997 & 1998 FORD F-150S WITH THE NEW V6 4.2 ENGINES.*AK

ENGINE FAILURE ON FORD 4.2L V6. *AK

THE TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH THE EXHAUST EXITING IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE TIRE AND A BURNING SMELL. THE HUB CAPS AND WHEELS WERE DISCOLORED, AND THE REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKED, ALL THESE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH WAS DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT. THE REAR OIL SEAL LEAKED OIL. *MR *PH *JB

I DROVE TO WORK THAT MORNING AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WENT TO MY TRUCK TO LEAVE WORK THAT EVENING AND WHEN I CRANKED MY VEHICLE IT MADE A LOUD POP LIKE A BACK FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STARTED RATTLING IMMEDIATELY. I SHUT MY TRUCK OFF AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE IF I NOTICED ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND FOUND NOTHING OUT OF PLACE. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD SUFFERED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE AT START UP AND WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE COST WOULD BE ALMOST $4000.00. I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO WORKED AT ANOTHER FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES (THE 4.2L IN THE 1997 MODEL YEAR) HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE GASKETS ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER (WATER CANNOT BE COMPRESSED SO...

ENGINE MOTOR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, AND HAS NO OIL PRESSURE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE ENGINE BLOWING UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

AFTER 2 DAYS OF RAIN I WENT OUT TO START MY 1997 FORD, F150. RAIN WATER HAD LEAKED IN FROM FIREWALL AREA ON TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AREA AND LEAKED IN THROUGH A FUEL INJECTOR FITTING AND FOUND ITS WAY TO A PISTON . THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO START THE STARTER ENGAGED AND ABRUPTLY STOP AFTER 3 MORE ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE ENGINE IT TURNED AND STARTED.THE ENGINE HAD SEVERE BANGING NOISE(ABOUT 100 DECIBELS ).I WAS TOLD I HAD A BENT PISTON ROD FROM WATER BEING ON TOP OF PISTON AND THE ENGINE WAS RUINED!*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE REPAIRS DONE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE LIGHT STILL ILLUMINATED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK DESTROYING ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION, ENGINE WOULD NOT IDLE DOWN SO THAT IT COULD BE DOWN SHIFTED. IT IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE TRUCK NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF SO THAT THE TRUCK WHILE OFF COULD BE SHIFTED FROM 5TH BACK INTO FIRST GEAR. ONCE THE TRUCK WAS TURNED ON, THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE SHIFTED UP FROM FIRST TO SECOND, AND SECOND TO THIRD ETC. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****739923

THE ENGINE ROD PISTON BLEW, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE NON DRIVABLE. *NLM PH *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHICH LEAKED ANTI FREEZE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. *NLM *CB *NLM

1. THE FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 WAS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A RECALL AT ONE TIME ON THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS CHECKED BY A FORD DEALER AND NOTHING WAS FOUND TO BE WRONG. APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE IT FOR FREE AND SO I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT MY COST OF $600.00. 2. AIR BAGS AND SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS. MY WIFE HAD A WRECK IN THE SAME VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR DID THE SEAT BELTS LOCK UP LIKE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. I TRIED TO GET FORD TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THAT WOULD HAPPEN AND THEY SAID THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO HANDLE IT. THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT SOLVED. ALSO THE ABS DID NOT WORK. *NLM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB

THE ENGINE DEVELOPED A SEVERE KNOCK WHEN STARTED ONE MORNING. THE PROBLEM WAS A COMPLETE FAILURE AT THE MAIN CRANKSHAFT, SEVERE WEAR AT VALVE ASSEMBLY, AND CORROSION THROUGHOUT COOLING CHAMBERS. FORD DID A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKET THE YEAR BEFORE, CHANGING HEAD GASKET, HOSES, & COOLANT. THE TRUCK IS USES BY HOUSE WIFE DRIVING THE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. EVEN THOUGH OTHERS HAVE REPORTED OF SAME ENGINE FAILURE ON 4.2L, FORD DENIES ANY PROBLEM. 5 MONTHS LATER WHILE THE TRUCK WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE ENGINE WIRING CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING THE PLASTIC MASTER CYLINDER, FUELING THE FLAMES TO MELT ALL CIRCUITIES AND PLASTIC. THE ABS LAMP HAD LIT EARLIER IN THE WEEK, ADDED BRAKE FLUID TO RESERVOIR, AND THE LAMP WENT OUT. INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAYS EVIDENCE POINTS TO A DEFECT IN THE ABS/MASTER CYLINDER WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TS *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY...

MY 1997 FORD F-150 4X4 SPONTANEOUSLY BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR 12 HOURS OVER NIGHT. THE ENGINE HAD NOT BEEN RUN, WAS NOT HOT, AND HAD NO MALFUNCTIONING PARTS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I WAS AWAKENED FRIDAY MORNING BY A JOGGER BEATING ON MY FRONT DOOR SCREAMING THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. IT BURNED THE ENGINE COMPLETELY, DESTROYED THE HOOD, CAB, AND THE ENTIRE OF THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK BEFORE IT COULD BE PUT OUT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE LOCAL FIRE MARSHAL AND ARSON INVESTIGATOR INVESTIGATED THE FIRE AND FOUND NO SIGNS OF MALFUNCTIONS. *JB PARKED THE VEHICLE AT 6:00 PM AT AROUND 6:00 AM THE NEXT MORNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE SEEMED TO BE HOTTEST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF VEHICLE. THE TIRE ON THE...

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY "97" FORD F150 FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING FILLING #4 CYLINDER WITH COOLANT AND BENDING A ROD. NO WARNING, NO OVERHEATING, WATER IN THE OIL, ETC. ONLY A FLICKERING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT WAS SIMPLY A FACTORY DEFECTIVE GASKET AND SHOULD NOT HAVE BLOWN CONSIDERING MILEAGE AND UP KEEP AND MAINTENANCE DONE TO THIS VEHICLE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I AM FINDING THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND THAT FORD HAS HAD MORE THAN A FEW GASKET FAILURES WITH THIS ENGINE. *PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770846

FRONT ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK, BUILT IN 1997. RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS INADEQUATE. PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770847

INCIDENT = IN 2000 FORD MOTOR COMPANY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON FORD F-150 PICKUPS TO COVER A KNOWN DESIGN PROBLEM INVOLVING A GASKET THAT KEPT COOLANT FLUIDS FROM LEAKING INTO THE CRANKCASE AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THEY ONLY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE EXISTING GASKET TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T LEAKING AND THEN EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR ANOTHER 12 MONTHS. JUST AS THEY KNEW IT WOULD, APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER (APRIL 27) THEIR REPLACEMENT GASKET CRACKED AND COOLANT FLUID LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE THROUGH THE CRANKCASE, AND MY ENGINE SEIZED UP. DAMAGE RESULTING = MY ENGINE BEGAN TO CLATTER, AND I DROVE STRAIGHT TO A DEALERSHIP. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ($3,600.00 PLUS TAX). IN TALKING WITH THE AUTHORIZED REPAIR DEALER IN CLARKSVILLE, TN WHERE THE TRUCK BROKE DOWN AND MY USUAL AUTHORIZED REPAIR DEALER HERE IN NASHVILLE, APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OF THE F-150'S THAT...

LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE RESULTING IN BENT CONNECTING ROD REQUIRING MAJOR ENGINE REPAIR. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS *******770801. *AK *JB

LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD GASKETS FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO CYLINDERS. ****DIMMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******770825. *AK *JB

THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. *JB PH

FORD F150 V6 TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE THREW A ROD ON THE #1 CYLINDER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND NOT DRIVEN HARD AT ALL. THE INTERNET IS ABUNDANT WITH COMPLAINTS OF THIS ENGINE. *NLM

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET LEAKED-REPLACEMENT AT 350.00 IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK IN THIS RECALL. AFTER REAIRING THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE FAILED AND IS NOW BEING REPLACED AT 3500.00 DOLLARS. FORD'S RECALL IS INADEQUATE.

THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A KNOCKING NOISE.*JB

REFER TO TSB 99207 LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE. COOLANT WILL GET INTO EITHER THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST PORTS, WITH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE. MOST FAILURES ARE OCCURING BETWEEN 60 AND 80K MILES. JUST PAST MOST FORD WARRANTIES. THEY INSTALLED A HIGH FAILURE GASKET IN THE 1997 F150 WITH THE 4.2L V6 FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE REAPING THE BENEFITS OF THE REPAIR COST TO CORRECT. IF YOU REFER TO WWW.F150ONLINE.COM AND SEE THE MESSAGE BOARDS, THE PROBLEMS ARE BEGINNING TO POUR IN AS THESE TRUCKS REACH THIS MILEAGE. FORD DID NOT NOTIFY ANY OWNERS AND SHOULD HAVE DONE SO, SO THAT THE OWNER MAY HAVE TAKEN THE APPROPRIATE AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WITH THE DEALER.

WATER WAS FOUND IN THE OIL DURING A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE IN AUG 2002. THE VIN WAS TRACED BACK TO BE PART OF THE TIMING CHAIN COVER RECALL. WHEN THE VEHCILE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER CLAIMED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE RECALL. WHEN FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED, THEY DID ACKNOWLEGE THE RECALL, AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL. WE NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER, AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. WE MADE THE DECISION TO PAY $800 FOR THE RECALL REPAIR (WHICH THE DEALER HAPPENED TO HAVE A KIT IN STOCK). SIX MONTHS LATER, THE ENGINE HAS APPARENTLY BLOWN ANOTHER GASEKET (SOUNDS LIKE THE MANIFOLD GASKET FROM OTHERS EXPERIENCE) AND FILLED THE #1 CYLINDER WITH WATER. OTHER INTERNAL DAMAGE IS UNKNOWN, THE ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED RATHER THAN REPAIRED AGAIN.

HEAD GASKET HAS GONE OUT, CAUSING A ROD IN ENGINE TO BREAK. AND ENGINE HAS BLOWEN. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION*AK

HEAD ON THE VEHICLE THAT MEETS ENGINE HAS CRACKED, AND IS LEAKING WATER. IN DOING SO ENGINE IS ABLE TO OVERHEAT. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

2/01 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO LITHIA FORD IN CONCORD TO DIAGNOSE OVER HEATING. COOLING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND STATED C.S. WAS HOLDING AT THAT TIME, TORE DOWN MOTOR, FOUND BAD BEARINGS, OIL PAN MILKY, HEAD GASKET BAD. REPLACED W/4.2 ENGINE WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXT WARRANTY, OTHER RECOMMENDED FIX CLUTCH DISC THROW OUT BEARINGS. 11/2000, PWR STEERING HOSE BAD, REPLACED,10/01 CK ENG LIT ONE,, IDLE AIR CNTROL VALVE REPLACED,6/02 OVERHEARING, NEW THERMO,COOLNT FLSH, OIL CHANGE, NEW BRAKES RECOMMENDED, DONE.9/4/02, OVERHEATING AGAIN, RECOMMENDED NEW RADIATOR/WATER PUMP, INQIRED ON PCV MODIFICATION RECALL, THEY WILL REPLACE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND STAYS ON. HAD VEHICLE CHECK, THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM GROSS LEAK WAS DETECTED CODE PO455.CONTACTED DEALER.*JB

TRUCK AND BEEN PARKED THE PREVIOUS DAY WITH NO PROBLEM, UPON CRANKING THE NEXT DAY MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING. INSPECTION SHOWS BENT PISTON ROD ON # 3 CYLINDER WHICH ALLOWDE THE PISTON TO STRIKE THE CRANK SHAFT. THIS WAS CAUSED FRON THE HEAD GASKET ALLOWING FLUID TO SEEP INTO THE CYLINDER.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE.*AK

THE VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY FRONT COVER GASKET ON THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED COOLANT LEAK IN TURN CAUSING AN OVERHEAT SITUATION WHICH LEAD TO AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILURE, WHICH MAY ALSO LEAD TO AN ENGINE FAILURE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE T&W FORD DEALERSHIP IN WILLIAMSTOWN, KY WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT COVER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE GASKETS AND ALSO O2 SENSORS AT A COST OF 1500.00, I DID THE WORK OF GASKET REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF 60.00. *AK

ROD BEARING FAILURE AT ONLY 73000 MILES. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC