1997 Ford F-150 Electrical Problems

The contact owned a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, the contact noticed smoke coming from the driver's side from the bottom of the front tire. The vehicle then caught on fire. The fire department came to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The cause of the fire was an electrical engine component. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. The vehicle remained at the residence and was not repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11467315

Incident

May 31, 2022

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY INTERIOR AND BACK EXTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF RANDOMLY SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADS. THE LIGHT IN THE BACK ABOVE THE TRUCK BED IS BOTHERSOME BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE ATTENTION OF ANOTHER DRIVER CAUSING A ACCIDENT. MY MOTHER ALSO HAS A FORD F150 THAT DOES THE SAME, HOWEVER HER TRUCK ISN'T THE SAME YEAR.

NHTSA ID

11389085

Incident

Jan 10, 2021

Mileage

84,980 mi

DECEMBER 3, 2020...MY HUSBAND DROVE THE TRUCK OVER TO A FRIENDS HOUSE. AFTER BEING THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS HIS FRIEND WALKED IN THE BUILDING WHERE HE WAS AND SAID, 'HEY MAN, YOUR TRUCK IS ON FIRE!' EVERYONE RUSHED OUTSIDE TO SEE THE TRUCK WAS IN FACT ON FIRE. THEY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME AND FINISHED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. IT APPEARS THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE NEAR THE TIRE, OR BEHIND THE DASH. I DID NOT EVEN THINK TO CHECK FOR A RECALL, BUT A FRIEND TOLD ME TO CHECK BECAUSE HE WAS AWARE THERE WAS A RECALL. SURE ENOUGH, THERE IS A RECALL AND IT DESCRIBES WHAT HAPPENED TO MY TRUCK EXACTLY. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 05V017000 DATE: JAN 27, 2005 FORD RECALL NUMBER: 05528

NHTSA ID

11387331

Incident

Dec 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 68 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES STOP OPERATING, ALONG WITH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW INADVERTENTLY OPENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE CAB NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURES PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NEW COMPUTER WAS NOT OPERABLE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

NHTSA ID

10947374

Incident

Sep 5, 2016

Mileage

189,000 mi

MY TRUCK WAS TURNED OFF IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A NEIGHBOR CAME TO TELL US AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME PUT OUT THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10904737

Incident

Aug 25, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED (45 MPH), NO ABNORMAL NOISES OR VIBRATIONS PRESENT. LOUD BANG NOISE CAME FROM WITHIN ENGINE BAY, AND TRUCK BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND STUMBLE VERY BADLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND PRECEDED TO FLASH, PUT TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND ROLLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE TRUCK WAS SHUT OFF. EXCESSIVE FUEL WAS FOUND ON TOP OF THE ENGINE AT THE THIRD CYLINDER FROM THE FRONT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (4.6L V8 ENGINE). SPARK PLUG WAS SEPARATED FROM THE WIRE AND LYING ON TOP OF ENGINE. SPARK PLUG BOOT WAS MELTED AND SMOKING SUGGESTING IT WAS PREVIOUSLY BURNING. SPARK PLUG WAS %100 COVERED BY BURNT SOOTY MATERIAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705197

Incident

Apr 12, 2015

Mileage

207,667 mi

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED FOR AT LEAST 6 HOURS AND OUR NEIGHBORS COME KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR BECAUSE OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. IT MELTED UP EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD. WE GOT THE FIRE OUT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND MADE A REPORT. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10690076

Incident

Feb 22, 2015

MY GRANDSON AND I WENT INTO WALMART AND CAME OUT OF THE STORE. WALKING ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND SEEN MY 1997 FORD F150 PICKUP ON FIRE. COMPLETE STRANGERS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED THROWING SNOW ON IT FROM A PILE 50 FT AWAY. A TOWN COP SHOWED UP AND SPRAYED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON IT THE THE FIRE COMPANY SHOWED UP AND PUT IT OUT THE REST OF THE WAY. NO ONE WAS HURT. BUT MECHANICS ARE SAYING THAT IT LOOKS LIKE A BREAK SWITCH THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10563555

Incident

Feb 7, 2014

Mileage

176,182 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT OPERATING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE DEALER WAS CONTACT WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 12/5/12 *CN THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

10481576

Incident

Oct 12, 2012

Mileage

35 mi

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN WHEN ALL THE BALL BEARINGS FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SWAY FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, IT WAS CONTROLLABLE AT THE LOW SPEED I WAS GOING BUT THANK GOD I WASN'T ON AN INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED I COULD HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD OR WORSE HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION ! THE TRUCK HAS NOT LEFT MY PROPERTY SINCE BUT I STILL HAVE TO KEEP FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE AND TAGGED FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES AND A LIEN FROM MY BANK ON IT,I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE STARTER ON IT EIGHT (8) TIMES THE PARTS ARE VERY CHEAP BUT IT HAS AN AIRBAG AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF 200.00 TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE TWO SIX AND SEVEN DOLLAR BEARINGS. WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED SINCE THE BALL BEARINGS ARE VERY TINY AND ARE HARD TO SEE AND IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED MY TRUCK JUST SITS THERE ALL THIS TIME BECAUSE IM AFRAID OF SOMEONE GETTING HURT SERIOUSLY OR KILLED BECAUSE IM AFRAID OF LOSING CONTROL ON THE STEERING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SINCE I WAS SIXTEEN AND WAS A BIG TRUCK DRIVER FROM 1979 TO 1996 TILL I BECAME ILL BUT I WOULD NEVER DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH STEERING PROBLEMS, THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10458004

Incident

Mar 9, 2010

Mileage

135,606 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO ASSIST. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

NHTSA ID

10449665

Incident

Feb 28, 2012

Mileage

225,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IGNITED INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED AND SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

NHTSA ID

10433689

Incident

Oct 9, 2011

Mileage

240,000 mi

MY 1997 FORD F150 STARTED ON FIRE IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY EMPLOYER, FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER I PARKED THE VEHICLE FROM A 5 MILE ROUND TRIP. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND QUICKLY MOVED INTO THE CAB OF THE TRUCK BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. WHEN INSPECTING THE ENGINE AREA WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE EXACT AREA OF WHERE THE FIRE STARTED COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. LUCKILY, NO ONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WAS INJURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN OUR HOME WHEN IT STARTED ON FIRE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, AND IF NECESSARY, SEEK RECOURSE, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROCEED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10427691

Incident

Sep 24, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER NUMBER 3 WHICH WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL IN TRAFFIC OR NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY WHEN ACCELERATING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10414918

Incident

May 1, 2011

Mileage

149,000 mi

I LAST DROVE MY TRUCK ON 06/20/2011. WHEN I WOKE UP TO FEED MY ANIMALS I HEARD A SOUND LIKE A BIRD CAUGHT UNDER MY TRUCK. I LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FENDER AND SAW FLAMES. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS ON FIRE. I GRABBED MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM MY BARN AND PUT THE FIRE OUT.

NHTSA ID

10409688

Incident

Jun 25, 2011

Mileage

197,690 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE NOTICED SMOKING COMING OUT OF THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY WATER PENETRATING INTO THE ELECTRICAL FUSE BOX. THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER FILED REPORT 0470421440, AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,511 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 157, 000. UPDATED 02/17/11*LJ UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN

NHTSA ID

10368532

Incident

Nov 16, 2010

Mileage

157,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE WAS ALERTED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. HE WAS UNAWARE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVED FROM THE LOCATION AND WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HIM THAT THE FIRE WAS MOST LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 225,000.

NHTSA ID

10362437

Incident

Oct 20, 2010

Mileage

225,000 mi

PULL GEAR SHIFTER DOWN TO D1 AND SMOKE AND FIRE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN: ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO USE THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION. REPLACED SEVERAL FUSES AND TRIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I DISMANTLED THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS TWO SHORT AND ROUTED AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING IT TO BREAK EVERYTIME THE TRUCK IS PUT INTO D1. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOR ANY AUTO STORE HAVE ANY PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMEND THAT I NOT USE D2/D1/OVERDRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280108

Incident

Aug 10, 2009

Mileage

72,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED DURING RAIN, MANAGED TO PULL OFF ROAD SAFELY. (OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES FAILED AS WELL) WIPERS NO LONGER WORK. VEHICLE IS OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL REPAIRED. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS. SEE FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 98-9-13 AND FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 . *TR

NHTSA ID

10249716

Incident

Nov 23, 2008

Mileage

106,750 mi

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1997 FORD F-150. I HAD PARKED IT FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL I SOLD MY CHEVY TAHOE. WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WHEN I RECONNECTED IT I WENT IN THE CAB AND COULD SMELL BURNING PLASTIC AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WERE ON, EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS IN MY HAND. I LOOKED UNDER THE DASH AND FOUND THAT THE GEM MODULE WAS SIZZLING AND SMOKING. I QUICKLY GOT OUT AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD HAVE STARTED ON FIRE HAD I NOT NOTICED IT IN TIME. IT SURPRISED ME THAT NO FUSES WERE BLOWN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON THING FOR ALOT OF 1997 - 2003 FORDS AND WAS WONDERING WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED. I WORKED FOR A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN MARQUETTE MI SO I KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT RECALLS AND I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IT SHOULD NOT BE AN EXPENSE PUT ON THE CONSUMER. I THINK THAT WITH THE DECLINE IN SALES FOR THE AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS THEY SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF THESE FAULTY MODULES. I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT SO IM NOT SURE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME BUT IM EXPECTING IT TO BE BETWEEN $120- $160. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249618

Incident

Nov 17, 2008

Mileage

136,000 mi

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK AND MY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON SO WHEN I GOT HOME I STARTED TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND FOUND A FUSE THAT WAS BROKEN. I REPLACED THE FUSE AND THREE HOURS LATER WE SMELLED SMOKE IN OUR HOUSE AND FOUND MY SHOP WAS ON FIRE. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT FOUND THAT THE TRUCK WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246912

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

202,000 mi

THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER (BRAKES). NO DAMAGE WAS DONE DUE TO QUICK REACTION BUT IT LEFT THE BRAKES WITHOUT POWER AND THE TRUCK WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. THE PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO THE "SWITCH FIRE" PROBLEM THAT RESULTED IN A WIDE-SPREAD FORD RECALL. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 1997 FORD F-150 4X4. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED FROM LEASE-HOLDER AND FULL WARRANTY WAS TRANSFERRED TO ME. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALL NOTICES BUT NOT THE ONE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219342

Incident

Jun 20, 2007

Mileage

96,500 mi

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE THAT JUST TURNED 100,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT SECOND HAND FROM A FORD DEALERSHIP JUNE 1999 WITH ABOUT 45,000 MILES ON IT. THIS TRUCK WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR OVER THE YEARS. AFTER NOTICING THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS DOWN AFTER A A RECENT REFILL I REFILLED IT AGAIN. I DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT TEN DAYS BUT WHEN I WENT TO START IT THE ENGINE MADE A CLUNK AND WOULDN'T CRANK. I SUSPECTED THE BATTERY AFTER A CHARGE YIELDED THE SAME RESULTS. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BUT STILL THE SAME RESULT AND ALSO AFTER REFINISHING LEAD TERMINALS AND STARTER REPLACEMENT. I CHECKED THE OIL FILLER CAP AND THERE WAS A THICK LIGHT BROWN SUBSTANCE I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE ON IT AND ALL THE WAY DOWN AROUND THE INSIDE WALL OF THE FILLER TUBE. I SUSPECTED A LEAK IN THE HEAD GASKET OR ELSEWHERE AND WENT TO THE INTERNET SITES FOR CLARIFICATION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I REALIZED I WAS FAR FROM BEING THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. AS I SUSPECTED THE COOLANT LEAKS VIA THE LOOSE SEAL OF THE HEAD GASKET INTO ONE OR MORE OF THE CYLINDERS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND RECALL THAT FORD NEVER CONVEYED TO ALL THE OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10217879

Incident

Feb 7, 2008

Mileage

100,478 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. FORD STATED THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. HE BEGAN RECEIVING RECALL LETTERS REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS IN 2004. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FORD CONCERNING REPAIRS AND/OR REIMBURSEMENT. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,660. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF

NHTSA ID

10204520

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

Mileage

52,660 mi

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WITH DOORS LOCKED AND IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION. NO ONE WAS NEAR OR IN THE VEHICLE. LOOKED OUT WINDOW AND NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE MIST FROM A WATER SPRINKLER FROM THE FRONT SIDE OF TRUCK. LOOKING CLOSER, I REALIZED IT WAS SMOKE AND THEN SAW FLAMES FROM THE TIRE WELL AND UNDER THE HOOD BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED VERY QUICKLY, PUTTING THE FIRE OUT. THEIR ASSESSMENT WAS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH HAD CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FIRE CAUSED THE HOOD HYDRAULIC LIFT TO EXPLODE LIKE A ROCKET, HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, CRACKING IT AND THEN SHOOTING OFF INTO THE YARD. THE FRAMES INSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSING BY THE DRIVERS TIRE BURNT THE HOUSING COMPLETELY AWAY. THE WIRING HAS BEEN COMPLETELY BURNED AND MELTED AWAY INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALL THE PLASTIC FLUID CONTAINERS MELTED, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HOUSING, ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD WERE BURNED UP OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY BY THIS FIRE. THE TRUCK WILL NOT START OR RUN. NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK, RADIO, HEAT, AIR OR POWER FUNCTIONS WORK. THE TRUCK IS TOTALLY INOPERABLE. I CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY DIRECTED ME TO THIS SITE TO LOOK FOR FIRE RELATED DEFECTS AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT IS BEYOND REPAIR SINCE ALL THE WIRING AND MOST OF THE INSIDES UNDER THE HOOD HAVE BURNED UP OR MELTED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10198682

Incident

Aug 6, 2007

Mileage

110,487 mi