1997 Ford F-150 Suspension Problems

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 35 MPH WITH NO LOAD AND NOTHING IN TOW THE SUB-FRAME CRACKED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. ON THE DRIVER SIDE IT CRACKED BEHIND THE REAR TIRE. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT CRACKED IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. THE VEHICLE BOWED AND SMASHED THE TOP OF THE BED INTO THE BACK OF THE CAB. MECHANIC ADVISED THE FRAME DETERIORATED AND COST OF FRAME REPLACEMENT WOULD EXCEED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10735032

Incident

Jul 17, 2015

Mileage

147,535 mi

REAR SHOCK MOUNT CONNECTED TO FRAME RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548015

Incident

Oct 10, 2013

Mileage

123,000 mi

I NOTICED EXTREME RUST THAT HAS EATEN AWAY PARTS OF FRAME AND SUSPENSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10547540

Incident

Oct 10, 2013

Mileage

97,789 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

REAR SPRINGS, REAR BUCKLE REAR SPRINGS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. GARAGE THAT REPAIRED THE ITEMS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE FIXED A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF FORD TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT WARRANTS SOME INVESTIGATION. NOTE THAT THE TRUCK GASOLINE TANKS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH, FAILED AND RESULTED IN THE TANK FALLING OUT OF THE TRUCK WHILE UNDERWAY. THIS WAS FIXED, ALBIET AFTER 3 YEARS, BY A FORD RECALL THAT WAS INITIATED THIS YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441202

Incident

Nov 11, 2011

Mileage

86,335 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED AND WAS STRIKING AGAINST THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V161000 (SUSPENSION: REAR: SPRINGS: LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY). IF THE CONTACT REPAIRS THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER WILL OFFER A TWO MONTH WARRANTY FOR THE REAR SPRING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. UPDATED 06/12/09 *BF UPDATED 06/16/09

NHTSA ID

10262453

Incident

Oct 2, 2007

Mileage

100,000 mi

1) DRIVING LOW SPEED RESIDENTIAL 2) MIDDLE LEAF SPRING REAR DRIVER SIDE BROKE, MOVED FORWARD OVER TIME AND SWUNG INTO TIRE SIDE WALL DESTROYING TIRE. RECALL NHTSA # 98V161000 HAD BEEN PERFORMED IN 1998 TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIAL FAILURE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THE OPPOSITE SIDE LEAF SPRING IS BROKEN AND COULD DO THE SAME THING OR PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK. 3) BOTH REAR LEAF SPRING SETS NEED REPLACEMENT AND LEFT REAR TIRE NEEDS REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222610

Incident

Mar 23, 2008

Mileage

122,001 mi

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE MIDDLE LEAF SPRING BROKE IN THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE, IT PUNCTURED A TIRE. THE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE THE TRUCK WAS SITTING. THE LEAF SPRING WAS REPAIRED AT THIS TIME BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE SECOND TIME WAS THE RIGHT SIDE LEAF SPRING; WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND, STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE NOISE, AND NOTICED THE LEAF SPRING H BROKE. IT WAS REPAIRED BY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. CONTACTED FORD , THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE LEAF SPRINGS, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140794

Incident

Jan 28, 2004

Mileage

97,112 mi

DT: THE REAR END IS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE STARTING TO SEPARATE. THE TIRES ARE BRAND NEW PUT ON MARCH 21, 2003. THE TIRES ARE AMERITRAC GENERAL, P255/70R16. THE CONSUMER CAN NOT LOCATE THE NUMBER FOR THE TIRE COMPANY. THEREFORE, HE CANNOT CONTACT THEM. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT HE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE REAR END. THE CONSUMER'S MECHANIC STATES THAT THE BEARINGS ON THE REAR END ARE BAD DUE TO BAD CASING; IT WILL NOT ALIGN ITSELF UP WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE WHINING STARTED. THE MECHANIC STATES IT WILL NOT GROUND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT ACTIVATE THE SWITCH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FORD, AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN. WHEN HE CALLED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN HE WAS TOLD HE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A SERVICE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN DRIVEWAY FOR SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES THERE IS A MUSHY FEELING, AND THE FRONT END SHAKES AND SHIMMIES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10128736

Incident

Sep 25, 2003

Mileage

31,000 mi

1997 FORD F150 TIE RODS ARE EXTREMELY LOOSE.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR IT WAS DEMONSTRATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE BALL END COULD BE PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET WITH BARE HANDS. THE SOCKET WAS MADE OF RUBBER. *SC

NHTSA ID

10128059

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY OWNER WAS GETTING SOMETHING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE TORSION BAR BROKE. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE TORSION BAR. CURRENTLY VEHICLE WAS HAVING A VIBRATION PROBLEM, BUT THE OWNER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A HEAVIER SUSPENSION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10117681

Incident

Apr 5, 2005

Mileage

46,000 mi

FORD F150 1997 DEFECT GASKETS AND COOLING SYSTEM LEAKED. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10113543

Incident

Feb 3, 2004

BALL JOINTS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10102753

Incident

Feb 13, 2001

Mileage

59,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT. WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DURING A SELF INSPECTION, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD CRACKED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE 'SAND PASSENGER SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK. *AK *TS

NHTSA ID

10087872

Incident

Aug 13, 2004

Mileage

112,136 mi

AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN LEFT REAR TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. THIS WAS DUE TO THE REAR LEAF SPRING POPPING OUT. DRIVER FELT LUCKY THAT HE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN INSTEAD OF A RIGHT TURN BECAUSE LEAF SPRING COULD HAVE PUNCTURED THE GAS TANK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063206

Mileage

77,000 mi

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO GET THE TIRES ROTATED WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT LEAF SPRING BROKE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GAS TANK COULD HAVE BEEN PUNCTURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10052050

DURING AN OIL CHANGE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SEVERELY WORN. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10051693

Incident

Dec 12, 2003

Mileage

53,400 mi

WHILE LEAVING A GAS STATION THE PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD CAME OUT OF IT'S SOCKET. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT TIME BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP SAFELY. THE CONSUMER REPAIRED THE TIE ROD. THE BALL JOINT WAS DRY AND RUSTED. THE BALL JOINT WAS WORN DUE TO NO GREASE. THERE IS NO WAY TO GREASE IT OR TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT NEEDS TO BE LUBRICATED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10044816

Incident

Oct 5, 2003

Mileage

95,000 mi

WHILE BACKING UP HEARS A NOISE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # 15692 THAT DESCRIBES THE EXACT PROBLEM, A CONSTANT SNAPPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *PH

NHTSA ID

10040786

Mileage

29,000 mi

1997 FORD PICKUP DLERARM,PITTMAN ARM, TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT-FROZEN-CREAKING: LOWER BALL JOINTS WORN; WE ALREADY REPLACED BRAKES,THE PISTONS FROZE CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE ALL ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD AND PISTONS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK WHY DID THIS HAPPEN WITH ONLY 34,152 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. IS FORD USING POOR QUALITY PRODUCTS. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE THIS EXPENSE AT THIS LOW MILEAGE.

NHTSA ID

10043882

Incident

Oct 29, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING REAR END SHIFTED, CAUSING THE SHIFTER TO LOOK TOWARD THE DRIVER SEAT. ALSO THE PIN THAT HELD THE REAR END WAS ROUNDED OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID

10034431

Incident

Aug 22, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033820

Incident

Mar 26, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SELF CONTAINED BALL JOINTS. THESE BALL JOINT DO NOT NEED TO BE GREASED. OVER TIME THE BALL JOINTS DEVELOP A SQUEAK AND NEED REPLACING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10027241

Mileage

39,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN DRIVING AND WIND BLOWING VEHICLE'S FRONT END WANDERS EXCESSIVELY, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026910

Mileage

5,000 mi

ON APRIL 12, 2003 WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 FORD F 150 SUPER CAB PICKUP VIN [XXX] I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE I DISCOVERED THE MIDDLE LEAF OF THE REAR LEAF SPRING HAD BROKEN IN HALF AND THE FORWARD HALF WAS DANGLING IN THE AIR HELD THERE BY THE CLAMP THAT WAS INSTALLED AT THE DEALER (BONNELL MOTORS) WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK AS PART OF NHTSA RECALL 98V16000. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I NOTICED THE MIDDLE LEAF ON THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRING APPEARS TO HAVE SHIFTED AS IT IS NO LONGER EVEN WITH THE OTHER TWO LEAFS. I ALSO TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BROKEN MIDDLE LEAF FROM THE RIGHT SIDE AND IT APPEARS THAT A MAJOR FRACTURE EXISTED FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THIS FINALLY DECIDED TO FAIL. MY FIRST ACTION WAS TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INFORM THEM AND TO FILE A COMPLAINT OF WHAT HAPPENED AND TO SEE IF THIS TYPE PROBLEM HAD BEEN REPORTED AND IF SO WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE. I ADVISED THEM OF THE RECALL ISSUED BY NHTSA (98V16000). HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THAT RECALL WAS ISSUED BY A THIRD PARTY NOT FORD AND THERE HAVEN'T BEEN COMPLAINTS RECEIVED OR RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BY FORD. NEXT I WAS ADVISED BY FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BONNELL MOTORS AND TALK THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THEY WOULDN'T MAKE ANY ASSURANCES FORD WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THEY WORK ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BETWEEN FORD AND DEALERS TO DETERMINE IF THE SITUATION WARRANTS IT. UPON MEETING WITH A SERVICE WRITER AT BONNELL MOTORS I WAS ADVISED THEY NEVER SAW THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BEFORE, IN FACT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD TO ORDER LEAF SPRINGS BEFORE. THE SERVICE WRITER ADVISED ME THAT FORD'S STATEMENT ON SPRINGS WAS IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED OR UNDER LOADED CAN RESULT IN LEAF SPRINGS BREAKING. THE SERVICE WRITER LOOKED UP HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPLACE BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LEAF SPRINGS. THAT COST WOULD BE $615.00, AND IF HAD 2,000 FEWER MILES FORD WOULD HAVE PAID ALL BUT A $250.00 DEDUCTIBLE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

NHTSA ID

10016525

Incident

Apr 12, 2003

Mileage

62,435 mi