1997 Ford F-150 Engine

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

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO CYLINDERS.*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."

COOLANT WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, AND WITHIN TWENTY MINUTES THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE ROUGHLY. DRIVER SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT RESTART IT. DEALER FOUND THAT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK

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, SO WE HAD IT REPLACED. THE TRUCK STILL RAN ROUGH AND DID NOT START PROPERLY. LAST FRIDAY (3 OCTOBER 2003) THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN! ON SUNDAY, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY TRUCK ... AND THE ENGINE MADE A HORRIFIC SOUND. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF IMMEDIATELY, AND HAD IT TOWED TO WOODY ANDERSON ON MONDAY MORNING. NOW I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS "FALLEN APART," AND WOODY ANDERSON WANTS $4000 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE! I FEEL THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE IS FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY. OUR RECORDS SHOW THAT WE HAVE DONE OUR PART IN KEEPING THE TRUCK'S MAINTENANCE CURRENT. IT WAS OUR EXPECTATION AND BELIEF THAT FORD WOULD DO THEIR PART AND SERVICE OUR VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE FACT THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AFTER NUMEROUS SERVICE ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM(S), INDICATES TO ME THAT THE SERVICE THE TRUCK RECEIVED WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ENGINE'S FAILURE. WHETHER OR NOT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS RELATED TO THE ENGINE'S FAILURE I DO NOT KNOW, BUT IT DOES SUPPORT THE FACT THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE WERE NEVER RESOLVED. *LA

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

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

97 F150 BEGAN TO HAVE AN UNPREDICTABLE COOLANT LEAK, NEVER GOING BELOW MINIMUM COOLANT LEVEL. WITHIN THE WEEK NOTICED WATER IN THE OIL AND WENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING, PROVING TO BE A DAMAGED ROD. LATER RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THE 4.2 LITER V-6 ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY GASKET. FORD RAN A "CAMPAIGN," BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION AS TO THE PROBLEM. *JB

WITH NO PREVIOUS INDICATIONS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG, UPON STARTING ENGINE HEARD LOUD CLACKING SOUND, SHUT OFF AND TOWED TO MECHANIC. WHO SAID IT WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM THAT COULD ONLY BE FIXED BY FORD DEALERSHIP OR A MACHINE SHOP. IT WAS A HOLIDAY SO WE TOOK IT TO A MACHINE SHOP WHO VERIFIED HIS PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH THE SAME MODEL ENGINE BEFORE THAT A ROD WAS BENT WHICH CRACKED THE PISTON, CAUSED FROM A "DEFECT IN FORD'S INTAKE HEAD GASKET", WHICH LEAKED WATER INTO THE ENGINE. HE ALSO STATED ONE MORE CRANK OR RUN A LITTLE LONGER THE PISTON WOULD HAVE SHATTERED AND GONE THROUGH THE CRANK SHAFT WHICH COULD HAVE ENDANGERED ANYONE IN IT'S RANGE (HWY, ETC.). THE ENGINE IS NOW BEING REPAIRED AND WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM WITH THE GASKET AND ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE MACHINE SHOP HAS A "SERVICE NOTIFICATION" THAT THE GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH ONE THAT WILL NOT LEAK. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF FORD HAD SENT NOTICE TO OWNER'S. I FEEL FORD SHOULD OWN UP TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PART AND PAY FOR COSTS OWNER'S LIKE MYSELF HAVE ENCOUNTERED. I HAVE A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR A DIFFERENT GASKET LEAKING COOLANT WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP, #99B29.

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

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L V-6 MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 68,000 (ORIGINAL) MILES WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AT COLD START THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS CAUSED PISTONS/ROD TO BREAK AND ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN LOUD KNOCKING AND POURING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. THE COST TO REBUILD THE MOTOR (FROM FORD) WAS $3500.00. WHEN MY MECHANIC CALLED TO ORDER THE REBUILT ENGINE FROM FORD, HE WAS TOLD THEY HAD JUST PLACED AN ORDER FOR 50 IDENTICAL ENGINES. THEY ALSO TOLD HIM THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THESE ENGINES ALL THE TIME. IT'S A SHAME THAT FORD WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND TRY TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD PRODUCT AGAIN AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH ABOUT THIS VERY UNFORTUNATE PROBLEM THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT. *LA

CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BROKE 4 BOLTS AND CAME OFF HARMONIC BALANCER ON 1997 FORD F150 CAUSING LOSS OF ROWER STEERING,ALTERNATOR,AND WATER PUMP FUNCTIONS. *NLM

MY 1997 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L V-6 MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO CYLINDERS. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, AT COLD START THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS CAUSED PISTONS/ROD TO BREAK AND ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN LOUD KNOCKING AND POURING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAYS THE LOCAL MACHINE SHOP THEY USE FOR REBUILDS HAS SEEN AT LEAST 24 OF THESE ENGINES SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2003! ESTIMATES TO REBUILD OR REPLACE THIS ENGINE RANGE FROM $2,000 TO $4,000. WE HAVE NOT YET DECIDED WHAT TO DO - SCARED TO GET NEW ENGINE FROM FORD BECAUSE SAME PROBLEM MAY STILL BE PRESENT.*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *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 ENGINE ROD PISTON BLEW, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE NON DRIVABLE. *NLM PH *JB

COOLANT LEAKING AT FRONT COVER GASKET AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD. 1997 FORD F-150 4WD. VIN#[XXX]. I PURCHASED VEHICLE USED. HAVE RECALLS AND SERVICE BULLETINS BEEN MAINTAINED ON THIS VEHICLE? I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO JACOB GEORGE FORD, HOUTZDALE, PA FOR FULL INSPECTION TOMORROW. ANY INFORMATION ON THE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE USEFUL FOR US TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE WATER PUMP AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 094 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION AND MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

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 RECEIVED A NEW GASKET AND AN EXTENDED 12 MONTH WARRANTY. AGAIN, FORD KNEW THERE WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM (WHICH BY THE WAY BOTH PLACES TOLD ME FORD CORRECTED IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS) AND ONLY OFFERED A BAND-AID APPROACH TO DEALING WITH IT. IN TALKING WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I HAVE REQUEST THAT THE COST, OR AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE COSTS, OF MY NEW ENGINE BE PAID BY FORD. THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE TOMORROW, APRIL 29. NEEDLESS TO SAY, FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED OR OFFERED TO PAY FOR MY NEW ENGINE. *NLM

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

FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE AREA AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. VEHICLE AT A COMPLETE LOSS. FIREFIGHTERS COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE OTHER THAN IT ORIGINATING IN MIDDLE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM

THE TRUCK HAD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT COVER GASKET AND MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDER. AT COLD START, THE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDER CAUSED THE PISTON ROD TO BREAK. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD COST $4000. TO REPLACE. *NLM *TT

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