1987 Ford F-150 Problems

SHUT VEHICLE OFF, THEN, ON RESTART AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED FOLLOWED BY SMOKE UNDER HOOD. FUSIBLE LINK CAUGHT FIRE BY SOLENOID. IF I HAD NOT BEEN NEAR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AROUND ME. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY, IT COULD HAVE ENDANGERED MY LIFE OR OTHERS. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED UNTIL AUGUST OF 1987 WELL AFTER THE SWITCH REDESIGN THAT FROM WHAT I CAN COLLECT INFORMATION ON WAS REDESIGNED IN MAY OF 1987 SO THE SWITCH DESIGN ON MY VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE SAME PART BEING RECALLED. FIVE YEARS AGO I OWNED A 1990 F150 THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY SENT ME A RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE. I CHECKED FOR RECALL ON THIS ONE AND THEY DO NOT OFFER IT. I AM OUTRAGED CONSIDERING THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME EXACT IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN AND DID FAIL AS THE RECALL MENTIONED SOME VEHICLES WOULD AND YET I AM LEFT HAVING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE. NOT ONLY THAT, HERE IS A PORTION OF INFORMATION TAKEN FROM "THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM" FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS DEFENDING THEIR STANCE ON THE RECALL. HERE ARE SOME FACTS COMPILED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN RELATION TO THE ISSUE: * THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 900 REPORTS OF FIRES FROM THE SWITCHES IN THIS COUNTRY. IN SOME CASES, FIRES OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND SHUT OFF. * FORD HAS LONG SAID THE FIRE REPORTS FORD DISCLOSED TO NHTSA INCLUDED ALL THOSE THEY KNEW OF THAT COULD HAVE STARTED NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN _ MEANING UNVERIFIED REPORTS AS WELL AS FIRES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE IGNITION SWITCH. * FORD DID NOT RECALL ANY VEHICLES PRIOR TO 1988 BECAUSE THE AUTOMAKERS TIED THE SWITCH FIRES TO A FAULTY DESIGN CHANGE MADE BY A MANUFACTURER IN MAY 1987. THAT CHANGE REDUCED THE SPACE BETWEEN A BATTERY AND GROUND TERMINAL, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE, FORD OFFICIALS SAID. *NM

SUDDEN AND SPONTANEOUS FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED CONSUMER 1987 F 150 FORD TRUCK. *BF THIS WAS FOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER SAME MAKE/MODEL VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL THAT MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC

PROBLEM WITH THE DUEL FUEL TANKS, AFTER FILLING THE REAR FUEL TANK I STARTED SMELLING GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND GAS WAS LEAKING FROM BENEATH THE TRUCK . WHEN I OPENED THE FRONT TANK GAS CAP , FUEL SPEWED OUT AS IF IT WAS UNDER PRESSURE. AT THAT TIME I WAS OPERATING ON THE REAR TANK. I OPENED THE REAR GAS TANK CAP AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND AN EXTENDED SAFETY " RECALL " WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AGAIN BY " FORD " AS , ONCE AGAIN THE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FOR MY GRANDSONS FIRST VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS 114,450 MILES ON IT. I ONLY DRIVE FORD PRODUCTS. *TR

DRIVING HOME, ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING, STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. GAS SPILLING FROM FRONT GAS CAP. I HAVE HAD THIS IN FOR REPAIRS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTS AT TIMES BUT SEEMS TO BE FLOODING ITSELF OUT AND GAS CONTINUES TO SPILL FROM FRONT TANK. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RATHER SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE BUT FORD WANTS $900 TO FIX. NOTE: THEY HAVE ALREADY CHARGES ME $200 FOR A REPAIR THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE. *TR

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.( OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-278)

FAULTY EXHAUST MANIFOLD; VEHICLE HAD SEVEN MANIFOLD REPLACMENT SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.

THERE IS A CRACK LOCATED AT THE LEFT FRONT PORTION BEHIND THE STEERING BOX THAT GOES INTO THE FRAME BREAKING THE FRAME OFF. BOTH OF THE GAS TANKS ARE LEAKING AND A POSSIBLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.

LEFT FRONT FRAME BROKE IN TWO SPOTS UNDER STEERING BOX AND BEHIND FRONT CROSS MEMBER.

DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE; PULLED TO SIDE & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. NOTHING WAS FOUND. STARTED TO LOCK DOOR & NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM DASHBOARD AREA NEAR STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DEPT. CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SMOKE, SUDDENLY FIRE STARTED COMING FRON UNDER DASH, NO WARNING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT.*AK

1987 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE PARKED.*MR *NM

STARTED VEHICLE & EVERYTHING CAME ON. HAD CHECKED TRAFFIC & THEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO FULL THROTTLE & TOOK OFF. HAD AVOIDED HITTING INDIVIDUAL. HIT STEEL CRASH COLUMN. VEHICLE COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CAUSING SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP,WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED REAR PASSENGER DUAL TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE SHREDDED AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL WELD AND TAIL PIPE. *AK

DT: WED. JUNE 29, 2005 CALLER HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AFTER MARKET WHEELS AND WAL-MART OVER TORQUED LUGS:NUTS. SHOULD HAVE BEEN TORQUED AT 84 FOOT POUNDS, INSTEAD THERE WERE TORQUES AT 100 FOOT POUND. ASA RESULT, LUGS:NUTS WERE STRIPPED ON DRIVER?S SIDE FRONT AND BACK. CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER WHEELS AS WELL. WALL MART ADVISED CALLER TO GET NEW ONES, THEY WILL POT THEM ON, AND PAY HIM BACK. CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT LUGS:NUTS. *AK

WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR FAILED.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOESN'T STAY SECURE INTO THE SECURING MECHANISM, ALL OTHER SEAT BELTS WORK EXCEPT THIS ONE!*AK

SEAT BELT BUCKLE INOPERATIVE. *SD

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO TRAVEL TO FLOOR.

CONSUMER HAS PUT ON TWO PAIRS OF BRAKES AT 23262 MILES. ALSO CONSUMER HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB DONE ON THE FRONT ROTORS, AND AFTER HAVING THIS DONE THE WHOLE FRONT END OVERHEATED THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED.*AK PEDL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR THERE IS NO STOPPING AVAILABLE, ALSO AIR CONDITION HAS FAILED, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

STEERING COLUMN FIRE.

CLUTCH/BRAKE PEDAL SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAS BROKEN WELDS ACCORDING TO LOCAL FORD SERVICE MANAGER. ENTIRE ASSEMBLY MOVES WHENEVER THE CLUTCH OR BRAKE IS APPLIED. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD TRUCKS. I KNOW OF 2 OTHER FORD F150 TRUCKS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. TO HAVE IT REPAIRED IS A COST OF ABOUT $1000.00 TO HAVE THE ASSEMBLY REWELDED. IF THIS WELDMENT SHOULD BECOME MORE BROKEN, IS IT A POSSIBLITY OF THE ASSEMBLY BREAKING COMPLETELY OFF? THEN YOU WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES! IS FORD AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM? THE SERVICE MAN SAID IT IS COMMON. COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD.

WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR FAILED.

CONSUMER HAS PUT ON TWO PAIRS OF BRAKES AT 23262 MILES. ALSO CONSUMER HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB DONE ON THE FRONT ROTORS, AND AFTER HAVING THIS DONE THE WHOLE FRONT END OVERHEATED THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED.*AK PEDL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR THERE IS NO STOPPING AVAILABLE, ALSO AIR CONDITION HAS FAILED, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE.*JB