1997 Ford F-150 Engine Problems

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

STARTED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT. THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD ON THE PASSENGER REAR OF THE MOTOR. TRIED THE APPROPRIATE HELICOIL REPAIR KIT BUT THERE WERE NO THREADS TO TAP INTO.

NHTSA ID

10883768

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

146,000 mi

MY FORD F150 SOMEHOW GOT WATER IN THE CYLINDER AND BENT A CONNECTING ROD AT111000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

10876915

Incident

May 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. UPDATED 02/02/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10789300

Incident

Jul 3, 2015

Mileage

132,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM VACATION, WITH ABOUT 150 MILES TO GO, THE #2 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. WITH ABOUT 30 MILES LEFT THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. CURSE OF THE FORD TRITON ENGINE

NHTSA ID

10749914

Incident

Jul 30, 2015

Mileage

150,000 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

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE OVERHEATING, HEATER TEMPERATURE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY INSIDE, MISFIRE ON ONE CYLINDER. I HAVE REPLACED THERMOSTAT, SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES, AND COILS. DIAGNOTIC CODE STILL READS MISFIRE ON ONE CYLINDER. MISFIRE IS NOT CONSTANT. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND OTHERS STATING THERE IS A RECALL... "RECALL # 99B20". I CAN NOT FIND A RECALL 99B20. I DID NOTICE THERE HAVE BEEN 545 OTHER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING ENGINE COOLING AND MANIFOLD O RINGS, BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ETC DUE TO FAULTY COMPONENTS. I AM ADDING MY COMPLAINT AS WELL FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION, AS I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A REAL RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM/COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10694021

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

155,000 mi

WHILE STARTING FROM A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG! I HAVE THE 5.4 V-8 ENGINE. FORTUNATELY THE ENGINE WAS NOT DAMAGED OR ANYTHING ELSE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF ROAD AND HAD TRUCK TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. REPAIRS WERE $600.00. *JS

NHTSA ID

10690265

Incident

Feb 20, 2015

Mileage

112,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT AND WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10679233

Incident

Jan 24, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I CAME HOME FROM WORK ON 12/13 2014 AND NOTICED I HAD A WATER PUDDLE UNDER MY TRUCK SO ON 12/14/2014 I PULLED IN THE GARAGE AND DID SOME SEARCHING ONLY TO FIND THE OUTLET TUBE IN THE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING I ASSUMED IT WAS THE RUBBER HOSE AND WHEN I WENT TO REPLACE IT THE OUTLET TUBE BROKE OFF AT THE BASE OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE IT IS TO BUY A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD SO AT THIS POINT MY TRUCK IS STUCK IN THE GARAGE . I CHECKED THE OUTLET TUBE AND FOUND 2 PINHOLES IN IT.THIS IS A CRATE MOTOR REPLACED BY FORD AT 88000 MILES I CAN'T AFFORD THE 500.00 THAT A NEW ONE WILL COSTS SO I'M OUT A VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664169

Incident

Dec 13, 2014

Mileage

167,542 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE ENGINE GOT CAUGHT ON FIRE. WHEN I HAVE THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT HE SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE ROCKER ARM IN THE ENGINE CAME OFF AND HE SAID THE THAT THE VALVES GOT DESTROYED FROM THE ROCKERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10640688

Incident

Jul 8, 2014

Mileage

182,438 mi

MY TRUCK WAS LOOSING WATER TO THE OIL PAN AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO NEED REPLACING IN 2004. FORD CHARGED ME 5200.00 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND SAID THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. NOW THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS DOING THE SAME THING. WHY WILL FORD NOT ADMIT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 97 4.2 AND NOT TRY TO COVER IT UP.? I DO NOT HAVE ALOT OF MONEY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO LET THEM KEEP FIXING THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10558800

Incident

Apr 5, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING GAUGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FOURTH DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,600.

NHTSA ID

10489357

Incident

Apr 21, 2010

Mileage

103,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN. AS A RESULT, THE MOTOR CRATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIRS THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURERER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID

10479350

Incident

Oct 14, 2003

Mileage

82,000 mi

4.2L F150 HAD A SLOW LOSS OF COOLANT AND NOT BEING NOTIFIED THAT THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO ENGINE DESTRUCTION, I WOULD SIMPLY ADD MORE COOLANT. THIS CONDITION RESULTED IN COMPLETE HYDRO LOCK AND DESTROYING #5 ROD BEARING. WHILE I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH VEHICLES OF 1997 VINTAGE I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND AT ALL FORD NOT ADVISING CONSUMERS OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE THEY SPEND 4K$ IN REBUILDING AND INSTALLING THIS LONG BLOCK AND FINDING OUT THEY HAD SQUANDERED THEIR MONEY ON TRYING TO RESURRECT A DEAD HORSE WITH 86069 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10461686

Incident

Apr 2, 2012

Mileage

86,069 mi

FORD RECALL 99B29. FRONT COVER GASK UNABLE TO HOLD COOLANT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457670

Incident

May 4, 2012

TRUCK HAS A 4.2 LITER, V-6 ENGINE. A WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED IN A MY GARAGE. ON THE INCIDENT DAY I TRIED TO START THE TRUCK BUT HEARD ONLY A LOUD, HARD KNOCK WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE BATTERY VOLTAGE CHECKED OUT OK. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE STARTER WAS REMOVED AND CHECKED OUT OK ELECTRICALLY. THE MECHANIC MANUALLY ROTATED THE ENGINE BACKWARD 1-1/2 TURNS (HE COULD NOT ROTATE IT FORWARD) THEN TRIED TO START IT BUT THE ENGINE AGAIN MADE A LOUD, HARD KNOCK SOUND. THE MECHANIC THOUGH THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED OR A PUSH ROD WAS BENT. HOWEVER, SINCE THE TRUCK RAN FINE THE LAST TIME IT WAS USED I FELT THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED DURING ITS LAST USE AND LAST COOLDOWN. I CONCLUDED A GASKET FAILED (OR A HEAD CRACKED) ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS DURING ITS LAST COOLDOWN. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED BACK TO MY GARAGE. I REMOVED ALL SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND COOLANT DRAINING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT CYLINDER WHICH WAS CAUSING HYDROLOCK. I ROTATED THE ENGINE BACKWARD 4-1/2 TURNS THEN FORWARD 9 TURNS. THE ENGINE NOW TURNED FREELY. A TOTAL OF 4 TO 6 OUNCES OF COOLANT CAME OUT OF THE CYLINDER. I SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC WHO CHECKED THE FORD ALERT SYSTEM AND FOUND A POSTING FOR THE 1997 4.2L V-6 ENGINES THAT INDICATED THEY ARE PRONE TO INTAKE MANIFOLD O-RING FAILURES. I FOUND MANY REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES FOR THIS YEAR AND ENGINE TYPE. I INTEND TO CHECK IN WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO GET THEIR TAKE ON THIS PROBLEM AND FIND OUT WHY I WASN'T NOTIFIED ABOUT A "RECALL". *JS

NHTSA ID

10455460

Incident

Apr 10, 2012

Mileage

102,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD THE HORN SOUNDING OFF. THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES SOON THEREAFTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10453097

Incident

Mar 23, 2012

Mileage

161,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING) THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL STRAPS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CORROSION ON THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE RECALL REPAIR AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER THE FUEL TANK MOUNT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRAME BRACKET HAD ROTTED AND THE RECALL COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A SLIGHT HESITATION, THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE, THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY, THE BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE BRAKES, CALIPERS AND HOSES. UPDATED 04/17/12 UPDATED 04/25/12*LJ UPDATED 05/02/12 *JB

NHTSA ID

10452801

Incident

Sep 29, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. NO ONE WAS INJURED FROM THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10451937

Incident

Mar 15, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CONTACTED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 207,000.

NHTSA ID

10448373

Incident

May 4, 2011

Mileage

207,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

NHTSA ID

10447013

Incident

Aug 5, 2011

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY TRUCK BUILT 1997 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442029

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

224,043 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE LOCAL MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE BLOWN SPARK PLUG AS WELL AS A COIL, AND ADVISED REPLACING THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO ORDER THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR REPAIRS AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THERE WERE ONLY TWO ENGINE HEADS AVAILABLE IN THE COUNTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10420066

Incident

Aug 8, 2011

Mileage

100,000 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