1998 Ford Club Wagon Problems

FORD TELLS ME THIS DOES NOT PERTAIN TO MY 1998 E350 7.3L DIESEL, AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE RECALLED PART FROM FORD RECALL NO. 07S57 MY VEHICLE STALLS ON AVERAGE 2-3 TIME PER MONTH, CAUSING ME TO QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL - RESTART THE ENGINE BEFORE ALL MY BREAKS ARE GONE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROX 3 YEARS NOW. I'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS BECAUSE OF THIS. FORD RECALL NO. 07S57 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V553000NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06012 THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE NHTSA SITE: " VEHICLE MAKE / MODEL: MODEL YEAR(S): FORD / E-SERIES 1997-2003 FORD / EXCURSION 1997-2003 FORD / F-250 SD 1997-2003 FORD / F-350 SD 1997-2003 FORD / F-450 SD 1997-2003 FORD / F-550 SD 1997-2003 MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANYREPORT RECEIPT DATE: DEC 05, 2007 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V553000NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA06012 COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1,176,000 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL. CONSEQUENCE: IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. NOTES: FORD RECALL NO. 07S57. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. "UPDATED 06/25/14 *BF UPDATED 06/30/2014 *JS *TR

I BECAME ONE MORE VICTIM OF AN UNACCEPTABLE DESIGN FLAW FOISTED UPON THE MOTORING PUBLIC BY THE ONCE PROUD FORD MOTOR COMPANY. #3 SPARK PLUG TOOK AN UNAPPROVED LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND HAS GROUNDED MY E-350 VAN FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS. I AM WEIGHING MY OPTIONS; SHOULD I ATTEMPT AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR ONLY TO HAVE IT FAIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE OR SHOULD I RETURN IT TO THE SHOWROOM OF MY CLOSEST FORD DEALER AFTER HOURS? SO MUCH FOR THE ENGINEERING THAT LED TO WINS AT LE MANS IN THE 1960'S. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE FIRE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MISHAP; HOWEVER, I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF FIRES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM SUFFERED BY OTHERS. I AM ONE AMONG THOUSANDS OF FORD TRUCK OWNERS DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION. *TR

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR OUR 1998 FORD CLUB WAGON IN AUGUST 2007. I KEEP CALLING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE PART(IT HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT THAT CAN CATCH FIRE) AND NO ONE HAS THE PARTS. IN SEPTEMBER, WE RECEIVE A CARD SAYING THAT THE THAT "UNFORESEEN SHORTAGE" HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR FORD TO REPLACE THE PART AT THIS TIME. THEY ARE OFFERING A "BAND AID" APPROACH BY ONLY DISCONNECTING THE CRUISE CONTROL UNTIL THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. I FIND THIS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. THE BEAN COUNTER OBVIOUSLY BLEW IT FOR FORD AND NOW WE THE CONSUMERS ARE PAYING THE PRICE. I CALLED AGAIN TODAY, NOVEMBER 3, AND STILL THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND WAS TOLD THEY MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL JANUARY? I ALSO FOUND OUT TODAY THAT OUR LINCOLN TOWN CAR IS ON THE LIST AND WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION CONCERNING THIS CAR! NOW, WE HAVE TWO CARS WAITING FOR A PART THAT WON'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL WHO KNOW WHEN! NO ONE CAN PROVIDE A STRAIGHT ANSWER. I WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE A DIRECT RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT. I ALSO WANT A GUARANTEE THAT OUR TWO VEHICLES WILL BE FIRST ON THE LIST TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL PARTS REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. FORD HAS ALLOWED ALL OF US THAT TRUSTED THEM ENOUGH TO PURCHASE THEIR VEHICLES TO DRIVE THEM ALL THIS TIME BEFORE THEY EVER PUT OUT A RECALL. THAT IS NINE AND A HALF YEARS! TRUST IS A DIFFICULT THING TO GET BACK ONCE IT IS LOST. I EXPECT FORD TO LIVE UP TO ITS NAME AND GET THE PARTS WITHIN A THIRTY DAY PERIOD, SINCE THEY HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD SEVERAL MONTHS TO HAVE THE PARTS MANUFACTURED AND SENT OUT TO ITS DEALERSHIPS. OUR LIVES AND THOSE THAT ARE ON THE ROAD WITH US ARE AT STAKE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK IN THE ON POSITION, RAISING THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE TO OVER 90 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO A REST AREA. A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP WAS CONSULTED, WHO DISCONNECTED THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AT THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH CLOSED THE THROTTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - *NM

FRONT ROTORS WARP FOR APPARENTLY NO REASONABLE CAUSE. MASTER MECHANIC SUGGESTS ITS DUE TO MASS OF ROTORS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO HANDLE BRAKING LOADS, OR BAD MATERIALS. SAME WITH WARPED REAR BRAKE DRUMS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOW ON ITS SECOND SET OF ROTORS (6-21-2002), AND THEY HAVE BEEN LATHE TURNED TO THE LIMIT OF THEIR WIDTH. ROTORS HAVE NOW WARPED AGAIN, BUT I'LL CONTINUE TO PUT UP WITH THE PULSATION TILL IT DRIVES ME CRAZY. I LIVE IN A RURAL AREA AND BRAKING IS NOT A CONSTANT THING HERE. THIS VAN IS USED TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN AND FOR ERRANDS, SO THE VEHICLE (FORD E350 1 TON CLUB WAGON VAN) IS NOT BEING WORKED HARD.*AK

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATION (EVEN THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE). I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH STOPPED VEHICLES SLOWLY BUT COULD NOT GET ANY BRAKE RESPONSE, CAUSING A CRASH AND THEN PUSHING UNTIL THREE OTHER VEHICLES WOULD BE HIT. *AK

EXTREME FRONT END SHUDDER AT 50+MPH BRAKING, OCCASIONALLY BELLOW 50MPH. FIRST NEAR CRASH WAS AVOIDED BY DOWNSHIFT AND PARKING BRAKE APPLICATION. FRONT END WOBBLE AND SQUEEL AND FELT LIKE BRAKE FADE BUT WAS ONLY COMING TO STOP FROM 35MPH IN RESIDENTIAL/RETAIL ZONE. STOPPED HALF WAY INTO INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST BROADSIDED BY A MOTORCYCLYST. REPLACED WITH NEW PAIR OF ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AS ORIGINAL ROTORS WERE EXTREMLY WARPED AND HAD MINOR CRACK ON RIGHT FRONT. PADS WERE WORN TO METAL IN PLACES. I HAVE PUT ON YET ANOTHER SET OF ROTORS WITH SAME EXTREME WARPAGE AND MORE CRACKS THAN LAST SET. I'M NOW ON MY FOURTH SET OF BRAKE SHOES. AND THE SHUDDERING HAS BEEN INTENSIFYING. TOOK IT TO DEALER ONCE AFTER FIRST FAILURE AND THEY SAID EVERTHING WAS FINE WITH THE SYSTEM WITH EXCEPTION OF MINOR CRACK ON RIGHT FRONT ROTOR WICH WAS LATER REPLACED. I'M ABOUT TO GO BACK AGAIN TO HAVE THE SHUDDER CHECKED OUT AS IT IS REALLY BAD NOW. *AK

WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN THE WHEEL RUBS AGAINST THE TORSION BAR. THE DEALER / MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NIECE WAS BELTED SLEEPING. RATCHET MECHANISM ENGAGED. BELT BECAME TWISTED AND WHEN HER TRIED TO FREE HERSELF, BELT RETRACTED TRAPPING HER IN BELT. BUCKLE WOULD NOT RELEASE. SHE WAS IN PAIN. WE HAD TO CUT BELT TO FREE HER.

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MALFUNCTIONED. *YC

ALL FOUR WHEEL RIMS WERE BENT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK ALL 5 RIMS WERE BENT. BUT NO FLATS. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW RIM TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND IN MAY BOUGHT FOUR NEW MICHELIN TIRES 245/75/16 MLS. AT NTB WHO SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE BENT RIMS. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THE NEW TIRES WOULD SOLVE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T. THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *SCC *JB

VAN IS ON 2ND ENGINE&TORQUE CONVERTER.HAS VIBRATION @ ALL SPEEDS.PULLS HARD LEFT. ANY SORT OF ROUGH ROAD & YOU THINK YOU WILL LOSE CONTROL. VIBRATES SO BAD FRONT DOORS ARE EATING IN TO BODY. HAS TERRIBLE SMELL VENTILATION & HEATING SYSTEM. WHAT A HUNK OF JUNK !!!

CONSUMER LEANED BACK ON HIS DRIVER SEAT TO HAND SON SOME WATER AND SEAT COLLAPSED, AND WILL NOT RETURN BACK TO NORMAL POSITION. *AK

THE SEAT DID NOT LATCH AND MOVED FORWARD CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)

VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND DRIVING IN WIND.

ALUMINUM HEAD FAILURE, SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF HEAD AT 60 MPH--MILD EXPLOSION, ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT SPEED--COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL REAR END ACCIDENT IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING NORMAL DAY HOURS, BUT IT WAS AT 3 AM---FAILURE STILL NOT FIXED AFTER 2 FULL WEEKS, DEALER IS FAMILY FORD, CARLISLE PA.---THEY STATE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE, AND THEY HAVE DONE SEVERAL.

ALL FOUR WHEEL RIMS WERE BENT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK ALL 5 RIMS WERE BENT. BUT NO FLATS. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW RIM TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO AND IN MAY BOUGHT FOUR NEW MICHELIN TIRES 245/75/16 MLS. AT NTB WHO SHOWED THE CONSUMER THE BENT RIMS. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. THE CONSUMER THOUGHT THE NEW TIRES WOULD SOLVE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT IT DIDN'T. THE VEHICLE ALSO NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *SCC *JB

DESIGN OF VEHICLE CAUSES IT TO WANDER WHILE DRIVING.

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. TIRE DEALER SAID TIRE FAILURE WAS DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L 1XD TIRESIZE: LT225-75R1)

DOOR LOCKS FAILED. YH