1997 FORD F-150 Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly Problems

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE RIGHT FRONT STEERING LINKAGE AND TIE ROD BROKE, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A SOLUTION AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

1997 FORD F150 TIE RODS ARE EXTREMELY LOOSE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR IT WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL END COULD BE PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH BARE HANDS. THE SOCKET WAS MADE OF RUBBER. *SC

1997 FORD F150 DRIVER SIDE INNER TIE ROD END BECAME COMPLETELY SEPERATED DURING OPERATION OT THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL.

1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK POSSIBLE DEFECT OF "TIE ROD ENDS". *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM THE MANUFACTURER, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY SHOULD PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. *JB

CAUGHT PROBLEM BEFORE TRAGEDY

TIE ROD BROKE AT A VERY GENTLY USED 40,000 MILES. *AK

THE CONSUMER MADE A LEFT TURN AT 10 MPH AND TIE ROD CAME OUT OF THE SOCKET. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *JB

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

WHILE SHIFTING INTO REVERSE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT IT, AND NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE TURN INWARD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH INNER TIRE RODS HAD POPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE FRONT WHEELS. THE DRIVER FEELS LUCKY HE WASN'T DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR ON HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER SAYS, "TIE ROD ENDS ARE FAILING." PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

WHILE LEAVING A GAS STATION THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD CAME OUT OF IT'S SOCKET. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE CONSUMER REPAIRED THE TIE ROD. THE BALL JOINT WAS DRY AND RUSTED. THE BALL JOINT WAS WORN DUE TO NO GREASE. THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE IT OR TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT NEEDS TO BE LUBRICATED. *AK *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON A NORMAL PAVED ROAD AT 25 MPH FRONT END SUDDENLY STARTED SHAKING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY TIE ROD END FALLING APART AND SEPARATING, NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HIT A RAIL ROAD TRACK AND VEHICLE STARTED TRAVELING TO THE LEFT, CAUSING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO TIE RODS , *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM GEAR, BALL AND SOCKET FELL OFF, RESULTING IS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

DEALER STATED THE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO HE HAS TO PAY $400. *AK

TIE ROD FAILURE. THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN CONTROLLING TRUCK. *JB

A TIE ROD FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT ENGINE SEAL AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN AND ANTIFREEZE LEAK. SOME OF THE VEHICLES LIGHTS (DOME LIGHT AND DASH LIGHT) STAYED ON ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. *AK *NLM

THE INNER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED. *JB

I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL ON MY 1997 FORD F-150 EXTENDED CAB PICK UP TRUCK. THE STEERING ROD HAD COME LOOSE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. I QUESTIONED THE FORD DEALER WHO MADE THE REPAIRS AS TO HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN. THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE. SINCE THEN I WITNESSED ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE ENCOUNTER THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. DUE TO LARGE AMOUNT OF EXPLORERS, EXPEDITIONS AND F150'S ON THE ROAD TODAY, THIS WAS VERY CONCERNING TO ME. FORTUNATELY IN BOTH CASES WE WERE TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND NEVER HAD WORK DONE ON THE STEERING PREVIOUS TO THIS PROBLEM. *NLM

UPON STARTING VEHICLE THERE IS A CONSTANT BANGING NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES VEHICLE SPUN A ROD, AND CAUSE COOLANT TO GET IN OIL AND ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES TIE RODS BROKE WHILE DRIVING CAUSING WHEEL TO MOVE ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED IN 1 YEAR. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED AT 40K MILES. MR

WHILE DRIVING 15MPH TIE ROD: INNER BROKE OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.*AK

TIE ROD END BROKE IN TWO WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. DEALER AND FACTORY BOTH REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE FAILURE, AND THEY IMPLY THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGES, I SHOULD NOT EXPECT ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE OR INVESTIGATION ON THE MATTER. I CONSIDER IT EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN A PARKING LOT, HAD IT BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHER INNOCENT PARTIES.*AK

ANOTHER TIE ROD WAS FAULTY, ONLY THE BOOT WAS HOLDING STUD TO THE TIE ROD. *AK

WHILE TURNING INTO DRIVEWAY, LEFT TIE ROD BROKE OFF AND CAUSED TIRE TO TURN OUTWARDS. *AK *TT

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH FRONT END STARTED SHAKING, THERE WAS A NOISE AND VEHICLE DROPPED ON RIGHT FRONT. DEALER DETERMINED THAT RIGHT TIE ROD HAD BROKEN. ON 6 JUNE 2001 THE LEFT TIE ROD BROKE AGAIN. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE, LEFT OUTER TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.*JG *AK

WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE LEFT TIE ROD ENDS FELL OFF FROM VEHICLE. *AK ALL THE TIE RODS WERE REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER WHO WANTS REFUNDED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE TIE ROD WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. *YH

FRONT SUSPENSION IS A "SEALED BALL/SOCKET SYSTEM" SUPPOSEDLY NEEDING NO GREASE. THE TIE ROD DRIVER'S SIDE/INNER JUST POPPED OFF AT LOW SPEED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOCKET WAS DRY CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR/CORROSION ON THE JOINT. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PITTMAN ARM IS ALSO DRY AND IN NEED OF GREASE - ACTUALLY, REPLACEMENT, NOW. I AM CONTINUALLY ASSURED BY FORD SERVICE DEPT., THAT THE TRUCK DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE GREASE ADDED AS IT HAS A "SEALED BALL AND SOCKET JOINT SYSTEM" THESE PARTS SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE GREASE FITTINGS FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES. ****HUBS**** DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DIAMETER OF THE HUBS IN RELATION TO THE WHEEL/ROTORS, ETC., ON THE 1997 TRUCKS, THE DIAMETER OF THE HUBS DID NOT ALLOW FOR EVEN A MINOR AMOUNT OF NORMAL CORROSION. THIS RESULTS IN THE MECHANIC'S INABILITY TO REMOVE THE HUB FOR SERVICE WITHOUT DAMAGING THE HUB ASSY. (THERE IS...

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING, CONSUMER THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ABOUT 5MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AGAIN, PLUS THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO A MECHANIC, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD END ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD FALLEN OUT OF POSITION.*JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING LEFT FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NO COLLISION OR INJURIES OCCURRED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

TIE ROD END ON LEFT FRONT BROKE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DEALER NOTIFIED AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER.*AK CONSUMER STATES AS HE WAS PARKING IN THE PARKING LOT, THE TIE ROD END CAME APART, NO PRIOR WARNING.*JB

FRONT TIE ROD END BROKE OFF. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT IF CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK *JB

WHILE BACKING UP LEFT/ UPPER TIE ROD POPPED OUT OF SOCKET, AND VEHICLE HAD NO STEERING, CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK *SLC

FRONT RIGHT INNER TIE ROD RUSTED , AND FELT VEHCLE OPERATING POORLY WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

INNER TIE ROD FELL OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS IN PARK POSTION, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR PRIOR WARNING .PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, HORSE TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE TRUCK WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE. IS THIS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING? WHY WOULD FORD MANUFACTURING MAKE PARTS SUCH AS TIE RODS NON GREASABLE, THUS BREAKABLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ONE MINUTE LATER.

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AT 20 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL DUE TO A TIE ROD END FAILURE. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY NOTICED LOSS OF STEERING. DEALER STATED THAT INNER TIE ROD BROKE. A SECOND TIE ROD END WAS FOUND TO BE WORN AND WAS REPLACED ALSO. *AK *ML

TIE ROD END SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AT 60MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

BROUGHT VEHICLE IN TO COMPLY WITH RECALL. NO PROBLEMS PREVIOUS TO RECALL, AFTER RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK ALL PROBLEMS STARTED. RECALL WORK WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY. SCREWS WERE NOT REATTACHED TO COVERING OVER FAN BELT, OIL CHANGE AND NEW FILTER WERE NOT DONE ACCORDING TO RECALL. KNOCKING STARTED TO OCCUR IN ENGINE AFTER VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME. CALLED DEALERSHIP BACK TO REPORT THE 2 SCREWS MISSING ANDA KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. WAS TOLD TO STOP IN ON SAT. TO HAVE SOMEONE PUT IN THE MISSING SCREWS. RETURNED TO SHOP NOONE WAS AROUND TO DO THE WORK. WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK SAT. THE ENGINE OIL LIGHTS UP. HAD TO FIND A STORE TO BUY OIL AND ADD TO CRANKCASE. HAD TO DO THIS TWICE THAT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE DEALESHIP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY WILL PUT IN A REBUILT ENGINE. I...

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH INNER TIE ROD CAME OFF, AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE TRYING TO COMING OFF. *AK

OUTER TIE ROD ENDS FALLING FROM SOCKETS, CAUSING SUDDEN AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

TRUCK IS USED AS FAMILY TRANSPORTATION, NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. TIE ROD END BROKE TURNING IN TO A PARKING LOT. TOWED TO DEALER. FINALLY GOT IT FIXED 9 DAYS LATER, WAS TOLD THERE WAS A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THE PART. DROVE THE TRUCK 1 DAY BEFORE THE OTHER SIDE TIE ROD BROKE - PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AT APPROX. 5M.P.H.. TOWED AGAIN TO DEALER TO HAVE SECOND TIE ROD REPLACED.

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE INNER TIE ROD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TIE ROD HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH, SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL OWNER HEARD A LOUD NOISE . HE TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE INNER TIE ROD WAS LOOSE. *AK CONSUMER STATES JUST 1000 MILES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HE HAD VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR THE 60000 MILE CHECK UP. *SLC

TIE ROD FAILURE.