1997 FORD F-150 Suspensionrearspringsleaf Spring Assembly Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND WAS STRIKING AGAINST THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V161000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: SPRINGS: LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY). IF THE CONTACT REPAIRS THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL OFFER A TWO MONTH WARRANTY FOR THE REAR SPRING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF UPDATED 06/16/09

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DURING A SELF INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE 'SAND PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *AK *TS

THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 FORD F150, 98V161000, RELATING TO FRACTURED LEAF SPRING. ACCORDING TO FORD, THIS SAFETY RECALL WAS APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE IN 2001. I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE BACK OF MY TRUCK WHEN STARTING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND BEGAN LOOKING AROUND. I SEE THAT THE CENTER LEAF SPRING ON THE REAR OF MY TRUCK IS BROKEN, EXACTLY THE PROBLEM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE SAFETY RECALL 98V161000 (98S18 PER FORD). I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. THEY SHOW NO OUTSTANDING CAMPAIGNS AGAINST MY VIN. AFTER ABOUT 5 ATTEMPTS TO GET SOMEONE AT FORD TO EXPLAIN THIS RECALL TO ME, I FINALLY GOT IN TOUCH WITH FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED TISHA. SHE INFORMED ME THAT THIS RECALL HAD BEEN APPLIED TO MY VEHICLE BY LEIGH FORD, AND THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS REPAIR. I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS....

WHILE DRIVING, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHICH HAD GOUGED THE TIRE, APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. *SLC

NOTICED BROKEN SPRINGS 10/17/2001 RIGHT SIDE SPRING WAS RUBBING AGAINST TIRE VERY LOW SPEED 10 MPH OR LESS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, LEAF SPRING THAT HOLDS AXLE BROKE. VEHICLE FRAME DROPPED ALMOST TOUCHING WHEELS. COULD HAVE SLASHED THE TIRES.*AK CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE DAY THE LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS THE REASON THE REAR PINION SEAL WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER HAS PICTURES OF THE BREAKAGE THAT SHOWS THE RUST AT THE BROKEN SITE. BOTH REAR SPRINGS WERE REPLACED. THE LEFT SPRING WAS WEAK. *JG

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR SAFETY RECALL 98S18, FOR REAR LEAF SPRING CLIPS, HOWEVER AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE SPRING CLIPS, THE REAR SPRING LEAF ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO CONSUMERS VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN HAVING THE TIRE REPLACED.*TT

VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR SAFETY RECALL 98S18, FOR REAR LEAF SPRING CLIPS, HOWEVER AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE SPRING CLIPS, THE REAR SPRING LEAF ASSEMBLY BROKE CAUSING DAMAGE TO CONSUMERS VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN HAVING THE TIRE REPLACED.*TT

CONSUMER 98V161000 REPAIRS WERE DONE BY DEALER. AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE DEALER INSTALLED CLIP ON FORWARD END OF REAR SPRINGS. CONSUMER STATED APPARENTLY DEALER DID NOT REPLACE SPRINGS ON VEHICLE BECAUSE SPRINGS BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HE DID WHAT RECALL REQUIRED. *AK

REAR LEAF SPRINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 1999. CURRENTLY, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THERE IS RECALL 98V161000. BUT FORD CLAIMED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

REAR LEAF SPRINGS BROKE WHICH COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH FUEL TANK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TANK, AND RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAKAGE. ALSO, RECALL NUMBER 98V161000, VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. *AK

LEFT REAR LOWER LEAF SPRING LOOSENS AND SPINS OUT FROM THE ONES ON TOP OF IT.THEREFORE THE LEFT SIDE SUSPENSION IS NOT FULLY SUPPORTED.IF TRUCK IS FULLY LOADED FAILURE OF THE SUSPENSION AND LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKUP IS POSSIABLE.I HAVE READ OF THIS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE R98S18/REAR SPRING ASSEMBLY: LEAF. RECALL REPAIRS WERE SUPPOSE TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. INSTEAD, REAR SPRING LEAF BROKE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT CONSUMER HAD DONE IT, AND THAT THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY FOR 12 MONTHS. *AK *ML

THERE IS A BROKEN REAR SPRING WHICH COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. RADIATOR, ENGINE MOUNTS AND HEAD GASKET HAVE ALL FAILED. OWNER PAID FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

REAR LEAF SPRING SNAPPED UNDER NORMAL USE, FRAME CAME DOWN ON THE AXLE DUE TO FAILURE. MJS

REAR SPRING LEAF BROKE AFTER RECALL REPAIR CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO SHRED . (98V-161) NLM

THE REAR SUSPENSION, SPRINGS/ SHOCKS FAILED, RESULTING IN VIBRATION. *YC

MY TRUCK WAS INDEPENDENTLY DISGNOSED TO HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT IS DISCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 98V161000. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THAT MY VIN # IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND...I HAVE THE EXACT PROBLEM ON THE EXACT VEHICLE OF THE RECALL AND JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY THAT MY TRUCK IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, FORD CAN GET OFF WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM. IF IT IS THAT EASY FOR THE MANUFACTURERTO GET OFF PAYING FOR SAFETY RELATED DEFECTS, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN! *AK

REAR LEAF SPRING SEPARATION OF LOWER LEAF FROM UPPER PART OF SPRING. PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BY REPLACING BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLIES. THE PART THAT FAILED APPEARS TO BE A SHEAR PIN THAT LOCATES AND MANTAINS THE ALIGNMENT OF THE LEAF SPRING LAYERS. *AK

LEAF SPRING WAS BROKEN UPON RECEIVING TRUCK. I DID NOT KNOW UNTILL I WAS TRING TO LOAD APPROX 150LBS OF FURNITURE, I HAVE TRIED TALKING TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY IT IS OUT OF THERE HANDS.

CONSUMER RECEIVED THREE RECALL LETTERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PROPERLY HANDLED. MANUFACTURER RECALL98S18/NHTSA RECALL #98V161000 FOR REAR SPRINGS; /NHTSA RECALL #98V095000 FOR LUGS: NUTS, AND MANUFACTURER RECALL#97S86/ NHTSA RECALL#97V147000 FOR TRANSMISSION CABLE. CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE IN AT DEALER SIX TIMES. *AK

RECALL 98V161000, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ARE CRACKED AND OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PROBLEM IS DESCRIBED AS IN THE RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE'S VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *ML

HAD CALLED DEALER AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL 98V161000. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS ON SUSPENSION. WOULD NEED TO ORDER PARTS. *AK

DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY THEM. CONSUMER INFORMED DEALER THAT IS NOT HIS CONCERN EXCEPT FOR GETTING THE RECALL REPAIRS DONE. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DEALER HONORING MFR. RECALLS 98S-14 AND 98S-18, CONCERNING LUG: NUTS AND REAR LEAF SPRINGS. CONSEQUENCE DEFECTS: CAN RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WOULD CONTACT THEM WHEN THEY CAN BE AVAILABLE TO DO THE WORK.*AK

LEFT REAR SPRING BROKE.

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL (98V161000). NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. HAS NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE MANUFACTURER. WOULD CALL OWNER WHEN PARTS DO BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK

RECALL 98V161000. RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM BECAUSE PROPER REPLACEMENT MATERIALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

DEALER CLAIMS NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 60 DAYS. HAS ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DEALER OVER DOZEN TIMES. *AK

TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH LEAF SPRINGS ON REAR END TO KEEP TRUCK LEVEL, REAR END TOO LOW/FRONT END TOO HIGH, CAUSED TRUCK TO SWAY/LOSE STEERING CONTROL; DEALER RECMMENDED INSTALLING HELPER SPRINGS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING LEFT NOTICED LOUD BANGING NOISE ON DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN REAR LEAF SPRING SHIFTS, ZONE REP HAS INSPECTED, AND STATED IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, DEALER REPLACED REAR LEAF SPRING, PROBLEM PERSISTS, ALSO, DROVE ALONG WITH ZONE REPRESENTATIVE IN SAME YEAR MODEL, NOISE WAS TWICE AS LOUD, DEALER SAYS IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING UNRAVELED WHEN HITTING BUMPS, NOTICED THUMPING SOUND, REAR FISHTAILS, RESULTING IN HIGH/LOW SPEED INSTABILITY. *AK