1997 FORD F-150 Structurebody Problems

The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the rear passenger’s side subframe near the axle of the vehicle was severely corroded. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 134,788.

DECEMBER 3, 2020...MY HUSBAND DROVE THE TRUCK OVER TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. AFTER BEING THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS HIS FRIEND WALKED IN THE BUILDING WHERE HE WAS AND SAID, 'HEY MAN, YOUR TRUCK IS ON FIRE!' EVERYONE RUSHED OUTSIDE TO SEE THE TRUCK WAS IN FACT ON FIRE. THEY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME AND FINISHED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. IT APPEARS THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NEAR THE TIRE, OR BEHIND THE DASH. I DID NOT EVEN THINK TO CHECK FOR A RECALL, BUT A FRIEND TOLD ME TO CHECK BECAUSE HE WAS AWARE THERE WAS A RECALL. SURE ENOUGH, THERE IS A RECALL AND IT DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK EXACTLY. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 05V017000 DATE: JAN 27, 2005 FORD RECALL NUMBER: 05528

MY 3RD DOOR WON'T OPEN AND IT'S A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE KIDS AND IT'S THE ONLY VEHICLE I HAVE TO TRANSPORT THEM AROUND. I WENT TO YOUTUBE AND FOUND THAT SOME CHEAP PLASTIC RETAINERS THAT'S CLIPPED TO CABLES ARE BROKEN. THE RETAINERS OPEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. PLEASE HELP. THANKS

I WENT TO OPEN MY 3RD DOOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY F 150 AND IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I TRIED BOTH LATCHES ON THE OUTSIDE AND IN INNER DOOR FRAME BUT NO LUCK. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME ITEMS OUT OF MY BACK SEAT. I HAVE NOTHING TO UPLOAD AT THIS TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TO REAR FUEL STRAPS FRACTURED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FUEL LINES AND FUEL TANK TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL STRAPS, FUEL LINES, AND FUEL TANK DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE DEALER (REINEKE FORD LINCOLN OF LIMA, 419-223-3673, 1360 GREELY CHAPEL RD, LIMA, OH 45804) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT THE CONTACT WELDED THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR FUEL STRAP. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION TO PERFORM THE RECALL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SECTIONS THAT WERE RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE BUMPER AND STEPS NEAR THE DOORS WERE ALSO RUSTED AND SLIGHTLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,582.

I NOTICED EXTREME RUST THAT HAS EATEN AWAY PARTS OF FRAME AND SUSPENSION. *TR

AFTER CHECKING MY VEHICLE OVER I NOTICED THAT THE FRAME IN THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE IS RUSTED THRU. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A CONDITION COMMON WITH THIS YEAR OF TRUCK AND STYLE. IS THERE GOING TO BE A RECALL SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY VEHICLES THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM? I HAVE DRIVEN FORDS FOR YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS EXTEND OF RUST IN ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE FRAME FRACTURED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE BROKEN AND THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKING ABILITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS RUST AND CORROSION ON THE SURFACE OF THE FRAME, BUT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF CRACKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE DRIVER WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 205,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT, WHO WAS STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, HEARD A LOUD BANG AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPARE TIRE CABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 314,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS 5 MPH AND ABOVE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WAS FRACTURED FROM THE HARNESS AND A CABLE WAS ALSO FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND HE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 84,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE BROKE WHILE DRIVING. THE SPARE TIRE FELL TO THE GROUND. UPDATED 01/19/12

1997-F-150 SUPER CAB WITH FACTORY INSTALLED REAR SLIDING WINDOW. THE WINDOW HAS FLOWED WATER/RAIN EVERY TIME. IT SEEMS TO BE COMING IN AROUND THE SEAL WHERE IT MEETS THE CAB OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE TALKED WITH OTHER 97 F-150 OWNERS AND THE SAME THING WAS HAPPENING TO THEIR TRUCKS. ISN'T THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE? *AK

WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE SHE SAW A DARK SPOT SHE THOUGHT IT WAS DIRT. THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE METAL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKS ARE GOING TOWARD THE WINDOW AND DOOR. NLM

SHEET METAL HAS A CRACK CONSISTENT WITH OTHER 97-98 F150 MODELS. *AK

ARM REST IN THE CENTER OF THE BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION, AS IT DOES IN THE UP AND LOCKED POSITION. THIS ARM REST ALSO HAS A RECESSED CUP HOLDER. PASSENGERS GAINING ENTRY INTO THE BACK SEAT VIA THE THIRD DOOR, PLACE THEIR HAND ON THE BACK OF THE ARM REST FOR SUPPORT, THE ARM REST FOLDS UPWARD AND ANYTHING IN THE CUP HOLDER IS CATAPULTED INTO THE BACK SEAT. FORD CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM IN THE 98 AND NEWER MODELS, BUT WON'T CORRECT IT FOR THIS 97 TRUCK.

I'M NOT SURE WHEN THESE CRACKS STARTED, BUT LOOKING AT FORD WEB SITE I SEE THAT THIS COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS MODEL. AND ATHE SMALL CRACK JUST GETS BIGGER. CONTACTED A FORD DEALER THEY SAID THEY PRBEBLE WIIL NOT COVER UNDER WARRENTY. AND THIS CRACKING IS NORMAL? PAY 29000.00 FOR VEHICLE AND CRACKING BODY PARTS ARE NORMAL? *AK

PROBLEM: THE CENTER CONSOLE ARMREST IN THE FRONT BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION FOR USE. THIS ARMREST CONTAINS A SINGLE, RECESSED CUP HOLDER LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ARMREST WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. ANY CUP CONTAINING A LIQUID, SUCH AS HOT COFFEE, CAN BE PROPELLED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSE POTENTIAL SEVERE INJURY TO A PASSENGER. *AK

CENTER ARM REST MALFUCNTIONED.

CENTER CONSOLE/ARM HOLDER/CUP HOLDER DOES NOT LOCK IN DOWN POSITION WHICH CAUSES ANY DRINK WHICH MIGHT BE IN THE CUPHOLDER TO BE THROWN INTO THE BACK SEAT WITH MINIMAL EFFORT. ALSO, WHILE CLIMBING INTO THE TRUCK VIA THE 3RD DOOR IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS ARMREST TO BE USED AS A HAND HOLD WHICH AT A CRITICAL MOMENT GIVES WAY, AND CAUSES A PERSON ENTERING THE CAB TO FALL IN BETWEEN THE SEATS.

THERE IS GRASS/WHEAT AND WEEDS THAT PACK IN TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CROSSOVER, CATCHES ON FIRE. THE SPARKS IN THE FIELD, CAUSING THE FIELD TO CATCH ON FIRE. TUCKER FORD HAD TRIED TO CONTACT FORD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING SCENT. THEN HEARD A BANG AND RAN OVER THE OBJECT. THE OBJECT THAT FELL OFF WAS A WHEEL WELL SCHROUD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE LOCKS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, BUT DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWNRIGHT POSITION.

ARMRESTS FAIL TO LOCK DOWN.

CENTER ARM REST/STORAGE CONSOLE DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THEREFORE, DRINKS PLACED IN INTEGRAL CUP HOLDER CAN BE LAUNCHED INTO BACK SEAT IF SOMEONE PLACES WEIGHT ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE ARM REST.

FRONT SEAT CENTER ARM REST DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. ON SEVERAL OCACASIONS, BACK SEA TPASSENGER'S HAVE INADVERTENTLY LEANED ON BACK OF ARM REST, CAUSING IT TO SUDDENLY MOVE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS LOSE THEIR BALANCE WHEN THE ARM REST COLLAPSES.

THE CENTER CONSOLE ARM REST DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION.

CONSOLE BETWEEN 60/40 BENCH IS POORLY DESIGNED, LOCKS IN UP POSITION. *AK

CENTER ARMREST DOESN'T LOCK IN DOWN POSITION, CAUSING ANY DRINK IN CUP HOLDER TO BE LAUNCHED EASILY. *DSH

FRONT FENDER WAS DAMAGED WHILE DRIVING TRUCK HOME FROM DEALER, PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

FRONT FENDER WAS DAMAGED WHILE DRIVING TRUCK HOME FROM DEALER, PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT