1997 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE AND DESTROYED COIL PACK RIPPING THE THREADS OUT OF THE HEAD. *TR

OUR MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE STRAPS AT THE REAR OF THE GAS TANK WAS MISSING, AND WHEN FILLING UP OUR 1997 FORD F150, THE TANK WAS GETTING CLOSE TO BEING FILLED, GAS STARTED SPEWING OUT OF THE FILL TUBE. WE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT THE FILL TUBE HAD SHIFTED DUE TO THE REAR STRAP BEING BROKEN. *TR

1997 FORD F-150 . THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE BEGUN TO ROT AND HAVE CHAFFED THE GAS TANK TO THE POINT THERE ARE SOME GAS VAPORS ESCAPING. NOT A FULL BLOWN LEAK AT THIS POINT. I WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING TO AVOID FIRE/EXPLOSION. *TR

ONE GAS TANK STRAP BROKE ON MY 97 FORD F150 A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER ONE BROKE. I DROPPED AND DRAGGED THE GAS TANK WHICH BEGAN TO LEAK. I DON'T DRIVE THAT VEHICLE TOO MUCH. I WAS VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR

THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 1997 FORD F150 LOCK UP. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES GRADUALLY OVERHEAT FROM A FAILURE OF THE CALIPERS TO RETURN TO THEIR NON-BRAKING POSITION. I HAVE REPLACED THE RUBBER BRAKE LINES, REPLACED THE DISK BRAKE PADS. TURNED THE ROTORS, LUBRICATED THE SLIDING PORTIONS OF THE CALIPERS WITH HIGH-TEMPERATURE GREASE AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKES COMPUTER CHECKED AND REPAIRED. NEVER-THE-LESS, THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS PRESENTS AN EXTREME SAFETY RISK. WHEN DRIVING TO A SAFE LOCATION TO ALLOW THE BRAKES TO COOL DOWN, THE VEHICLE LOSES MOST OF IT'S BRAKING ABILITY AND I HAVE SUFFERED TIRE FAILURE DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP IN THE BRAKES WHICH TRANSFERS IT'S HEAT INTO THE WHEEL CAUSING TIRE FAILURE. ALSO, THE ENGINE HAS TO WORK IN AN UNSAFE TEMPERATURE AREA IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO SUCH A SAFE LOCATION. THIS AFFECTS THE GAS MILEAGE, ENGINE RELIABILITY AND ENDURANCE, WHILE PRESENTING, YET, ANOTHER POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND CRUISE CONTROL. THIS ADVERSELY AFFECTS THESE SAFETY APPOINTMENTS, ALSO. I HAVE CONTINUALLY ASKED IF THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM OR A SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH MIGHT PROVIDED A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY NEAREST DEALERSHIP, ANDALUSIA FORD-LINCOLN-MERCURY, INC. AND I AM TOLD THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE GIVEN ME FALSE INFORMATION IN THE PAST. THEREFORE, I HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR HONESTY WITH THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH SHOP BULLETINS WHICH ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF ONE OF THESE VEHICLE WHO HAS INCURRED THIS PROBLEM. FOR THAT REASON I AM LODGING A COMPLAINT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT. SINCERELY, RON THOMPSON *TR