1997 Ford Club Wagon Owner Complaints

DURATURN TRAVIA H/T DELAMINATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MONDAY OCTOBER 26, 2020. 1 TON VAN SHUDDERED AND SHOOK THE STEERING WHEEL. REDUCED SPEED AND LEFT THE FREEWAY. CHANGED TO SPARE TIRE. DURATURN VISIBLY MIS-SHAPED BUT REMAINED ON THE RIM. VIEWED RECALL IN PROGRESS FOR DURATURN TRAVIA A/T TIRES, INCLUDING MY SIZE 245/75R16 (WHICH ARE LOAD RANGE E). THE DATE RANGE ON MY TIRES IS IN THE DATE RANGE OF THE RECALL (2016). CALLED THE RECALL WEBPAGE PROVIDED REP (DAVE 626-513-8989) TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND LEFT MESSAGES EACH DAY. NO REPLY. NO OTHER CONTACT PHONE NUMBER OPTIONS FOUND ONLINE. MY 4 VAN TIRES HAVE ABOUT 85% TREAD LEFT AND ARE ALL THE SAME BRAND ETC. DOT UFRN EL8 1116 IS MOLDED INTO THE FAILED TIRE. VAN IS 1997 FORD CLUBWAGON WHICH HOLDS UP TO 15 PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ID

11367064

Incident

Oct 26, 2020

#4 SPARK PLUG CAME OUT OF MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN WITH A V-10 ENGINE. THE VAN HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES AND HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263302

Incident

Mar 25, 2009

Mileage

62,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TIRE SIZE 2457516. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051923

Incident

Dec 17, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

UPON RETURNING FROM A ROUTINE DRIVE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO LUGS: NUTS WERE COMPLETELY MISSING AND FIVE OF THE REMAINING SIX WERE LOOSE. THE WHEELS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF POLISHED ALUMINUM AND ARE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER (WHEELED COACH). FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED DETERIORATION AS A POSSIBLE RESULT OF THE ALUMINUM IN THE WHEELS REACTING WITH THE STEEL OF THE LUGS. BECAUSE THIS IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, ONE OF THOUSANDS ON THE ROAD, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO EMS PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADVISE THEM TO ROUTINELY CHECK THEIR LUG NUTS, ESPECIALLY ON ALUMINUM WHEELS.*AK

NHTSA ID

767305

Incident

Sep 17, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TIRES. THE RECALL ONLY APPLIED TO THE SPARE BECAUSE CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE OTHER FOUR TIRES. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. THE SALES ASSOCIATE INSPECTED THE TIRE AND INFORMED CONSUMER HE COULD NOT REPLACE THE TIRE WITH OUT A CODE FROM GOODYEAR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE AND TIRE TO ANOTHER DEALER. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK AND TOLD CONSUMER TO COME BACK ON MONDAY TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. ON MONDAY THE TIRE HAD NOT BEEN ORDERED. IT TOOK CONSUMER 5 TRIES TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *JG

NHTSA ID

565825

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH FRONT END OF VEHICLE VIBRATES AND BRAKES BECOME INOPERABLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERA TIMES. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8007712

THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A MODIFICATION--ELECTRONIC HAND CONTROLS PROVIDED BY EMC CO IN LOUISIANA. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES: THEY ARE ELECTRONIC HAND CONTROLS THAT WORK WITH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. THREE TIMES THE CONTROLS HAVE FAILED TO WORK SO THAT EITHER THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN STUCK OR THE BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND DOING A LITTLE INVESTIGATION OF MY OWN, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, BUT I CAN FIND NO INFORMATION ON THE WWW REGARDING IT. I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK INTO IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

751847

Incident

Sep 3, 2001

HEAT BLEND DOOR FAILED, NO FRONT HEAT/DEFROST, SAFETY HAZARD, $391 TO REPLACE. SMALL PLASTIC PIECE BROKE AND ONLY COLD AIR PRODUCED THROUGH FRONT HEATER. FOUND AT LEAST 9 OTHER ODI DOCUMENTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM FOR JUST THE 97 MODEL YEAR, LISTED UNDER E150, CLUB WAGON AND ECONOLINE MODELS. MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE IT SEEMS.

NHTSA ID

741220

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

THE CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE BROKE. SPARE BOUNCED ONTO HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND US AT THE TIME. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALERSHIP TOLD US CABLE LOOKED "FRAYED." BUT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAVE FRAYED. *AK

NHTSA ID

735488

Incident

Oct 14, 2000

DUE TO A BAD VALVE STEM, THE TIRE AND RIM WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND TAKEN TO A TIRE DEALERSHIP (BIG O TIRES) IN MONUMENT CO. FOR REPAIR. THE VALVE STEM WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITHOUT THE TRIE BEING REMOVED FROM THE RIM. THE TIRE WAS REINFLATED TO MANUFACTURER SPECSOF 80 PSI COLD. THE TIRE AND RIM WERE PICKED UP AND PLACED IN THE BACK OF MY JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE FOR TRANSPORTATION BACK TO MY RESIDENCE. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF BEING IN THE BACK OF THE JEEP, THE TIRE EXPLODED TEARING A 6 INCH GASH IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, AN INCH AND A QUARTER FROM THE TREAD SURFACE. THE TIRE HAD BEEN INFLATED ALL OF 10 MINUTES WHEN IT EXPLODED. I IMMEDEATELY RETURNED BACK TO BIG O TIRES AND CONFIRMED THE TIRE PRESSURE THEY HAD PLACED IN THE TIRE. I SHOWED THEM THE TIRE AND EXPLAINED HOW IT SEEMED TO SELD-DISTRUCT IN THE BACK ON MY VEHICLE. AGAIN, THE TIRE WAS NOT UNDER PRESSURE AS IT WAS ONLY IN THE BACK OF MY JEEP. THEY , BIG O TIRES, FELT THAT THERE HAD TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE TIRE AND SUGGESTED THAT IT BE TAKEN TO FIRESTONE FOR EXAMINATION. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE OF CHAPLE HILLS. UPON EXAMINATION, THEY IMMEDEATELY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS THE TIRE BEING CUT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND NOT THEIR PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED THE NATURE OF THE INCIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE FIRESTONE PEOPLE BUT RECEIVED NO HELP. I RETURNED TO BIG O TIRES AND ADVISED THEM OF WHAT FIRESTONE HAD SAID. THEY EXPLAINED THAT A CUT IN THE TIRE COULD CLEARLY NOT BE THE CASE AS IF IT HAD BEEN CUT TO THE DEPTH OF CUTTING THE SIDEWALL BELTING, IT WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO HOLD THE PRESSURE THAT THEY HAD PUT INTO IT. THEY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE, AS DO I, THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TIRE. FIRESTONE TREATED ME AS IF I HAD CUT THE TIRE AND MADE UP A STORY IN ORDER TO SAVE HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE. THERE WAS NO REASON TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE, PRIOR TO THIS EXPLOSION, AS THE TREAD WEAR WAS MINIMAL. (DOT NUMBER: VOIL1XA366 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

NHTSA ID

732954

Incident

Jul 6, 2000

THIS WAS AN R-16, LOAD RANGE E TIRE. THE 3RD TO DELAM ON US IN THE PAST YEAR. THE TREAD DEPTH WAS STILL HEALTHY ON ALL THREE TIRES. ALL THREE CAME APART AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IN SUMMER WEATHER ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS (TWO IN MONTANA, ONE IN MISSOURI) THEY DE-LAMMED QUITE VIOLENTLY, IN TWO CASES THE BODY OF OUR MOTORHOME WAS DAMAGED. HAD ANY OTHER CARS BEEN IN THE AREA WHEN THE TIRES BLEW APART THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN AT RISK FROM THE DEBRIS. WE MAINTAINED THE INFLATION LEVELS RECOMMENDED ON THE TIRES AND ROTATED THE TIRES EVERY 5000 MILES.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT225/75)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/75 )

NHTSA ID

732953

Incident

Sep 11, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ONE OF THE WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF AND SEVERAL WERE STRIPPED RESULTING IN THE WHEEL DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND HUB AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *MJS

NHTSA ID

554266

Incident

Jul 20, 2000

SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW THE EXHAUST SYSTEM/CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING NOISE AND CAUSING VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AS THE VEHICLE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THE SYMPTOMS. *MJS

NHTSA ID

551802

Incident

May 28, 1997

ENGINE EXHAUST PIPING IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER 14 FOOT SLIDEOUT, AND SLIDEOUT IS NIGHT AIR TIGHT, CAUSIG EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE, AND SETS OFF THE CARBON MONOXIDED DETECTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

533144

Incident

Nov 28, 1997

FRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD SHIMMY WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED. ALSO, WOULD LOCK UP ON WET ROADS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES & BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. LAST TRIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT WORK ON BRAKES. ADVISED OWNER TO MAKE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER/ TIRES/DRUMS AND ROTORS, AND ODOMETER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER 39,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID

859040

HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND DOOR IS BROKEN THE DEFROSTER UNIT DOES NOT WORK AND WINDSHIELD IS FOGGY. YH

NHTSA ID

551120

Incident

Apr 1, 1997

SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON PASSENGER SIDE MAKES THINGS LOOK FURTHER AWAY THAN IT ACTUALLY IS, CAUSING POTETIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

848324

HAD AN ACCIDENT. THE RIGHT SIDE WHEEL LUGS: NUTS HAD BEEN STRIPPED OFF COMPLETELY. THE ENTIRE WHEEL, ALONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM, HAD CAME OFF. THERE WAS NO CARTER KEY USED ON THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR, JIM WILLIAMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

843681

Incident

Jun 14, 1999

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING A BROADSIDE COLLISON. THIS SEVERELY INJURED MY 13 YEAR OLD SON WHO IS 5'2" TALL. THE COVER OF THE METAL AIRBAG FLEW UP, STRKING HIM IN THE FACE AND CAUSING A 4INCH DEEP LARCERATION ON HIS FOREHEAD, REQUIRING STITCHES AND PLASTIC SURGERY. HE WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT AT THE TIME. I THINK THE DESIGN OF THIS AIRBAG COVER IS ATROCIOUS AND DANGEROUS. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF HIM AND THE AIRBAG. WE WANT TO KNOW IF SAMETHING WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN IF WE PURCHASE THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL YEAR 1999, EVEN IF IT NOW IS A REDUCED FORCE AIRBAG--THE COVER DESIGN LOOKS THE SAME. *AK

NHTSA ID

704846

Incident

Mar 21, 1999

POWER TRAIN MODULE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

608016

FRONT BRAKES FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607087

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD AND JERKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD. NLM

NHTSA ID

606106

EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN WET CONDITION, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED MAYBE. VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED/REPAIRED BY INDEPENDENT DEALER, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DELER/MFR. NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. NEEDS HELP IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

833849

Incident

Jan 1, 1997

WE HAVE A VIBRATION IN THE TIRES AND TWO DEALERS HAVE TOLD US IT IS THE TIRES. RANCHO FORD IS OUR CLOSES DEALER SO WE HAVE GONE THERE. THEY REPLACED TWO TIRES 6 MONTH'S AGO AND THAT HEPLED A LITTLE. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE HAD THREE FLATS BECAUSE OF THE VALVE STEMS RIPPING, MY THOUGHT THE VIBRATION HAS CAUSED THIS AND IT COST US A NEW TIRE. WE HAVE PAID TO HAVE TIRES BALANCED EVEN AT THE DEALER BUT IT STILL VIBRATES. THE RANCHO FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY CONSIDER THE VIBRATION A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VAN.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R1 )

NHTSA ID

700363

Incident

Nov 21, 1997

THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT HEAT FAILED AT 9569 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THE HEATER BOX BLEND DOOR FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER BOX UNDER WARRANTY SUPPOSEDLY WITH A MANUFACTURER MODIFIED UNIT TO CORRECT A KNOWN DEFECT IN DESIGN. THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT BRAKES FAILED AT 11,780 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THEM AND THE PADS UNDER WARRANTY. AT 14,824 MILES THE REAR BRAKES WERE GRABBING AND REQUIRED SERVICE. THE DEALER PERFORMED SERVICE AT NO CHARGE. AT 23,550 MILES THE FRONT HEAT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER IS AGAIN REPAIRING UNDER WARRANTY. (EXACT SAME PROBLEM.) ALSO AT THIS SAME MILEAGE (23,550, ALMOST EXACTLY DOUBLE THE MILEAGE OF THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE), THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER SAID THE FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN AND THE REAR BRAKES NEED SERVICE AGAIN AS WELL. THIS TIME I WILL HAVE TO PAY MYSELF. THE DEALER ALSO STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL MILEAGE FOR BRAKE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND I CAN EXPECT SIMILAR RESULTS THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF THIS VEHICLE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE SITUATION (ALTHOUGH THE HEATER IS AN ANNOYING SITUATION).BESIDES BEING AN UNDUE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE FOR OWNERS OF THIS MODEL VEHICLE, MY MAIN CONCERN IS SAFETY RELATED. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL MILEAGE FOR BRAKE REPLACEMENT FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING ALTHOUGH IT IS FACTORY EQUIPPED FOR TOWING. HOW MANY MILES COULD I EXPECT OUT OF A SET OF BRAKES IF I ACTUALLY DID TOW WITH THIS VEHICLE? 3000 - 5000? ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. MOST OF THE MILEAGE ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY MILES WITH ALMOST NO CITY MILES. MOST STATES REQUIRE ANNUAL VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTIONS. WITH THE AVERAGE DRIVER ACCUMULATING 12,000 OR MORE MILES PER YEAR, PEOPLE WITH THIS VEHICLE WILL REQUIRE BRAKES BEFORE A YEARLY INSPECTION. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS THAT THEIR VEHICLE NEEDS NEW BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STO

NHTSA ID

700312

Incident

Nov 3, 1998