1997 Ford F-150 Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN COMBINATION WITH A WHEEL BLOCK BEING PLACED IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY A SPECIALIZED TRANSMISSION CENTER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. ON JANUARY 21, 2012, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE RECALL CAMPAIGN EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF

NHTSA ID

10495105

Incident

Jan 17, 2007

Mileage

86,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRUCK HAS 112000 MILES AND THE TRANNY WOULD NOT SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR, THE FLUID AND FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGE 5 TIMES MORE THAN RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER, I ALSO HAD AAMCO INSTALL A LARGER TRANSMISSION COOLER. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TRANNY IS THE C CLAMP THAT LOCKS THE MAIN DRIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OFF, AND DESTROYED THE OD DRUM AND GEARS I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY VEHICLES WELL MAINTAINED AND AT A COST OF $1,900.56 I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD RE IMBURSE ME FOR THIS , THE TRUCK HAS NEVER HAULED ANY HEAVY LOADS OR PULLING A TRAILER WITH ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN A RIDING LAWNMOWER. I HAVE A 1970 FORD TRUCK THAT IS A BETTER TRUCK THAN MY 1997. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A NEW TRUCK IF DRIVEN LIKE THE COMMERCIALS THEY PRODUCE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD MAN BUT THEY ARE CHANGING MY MIND QUICKLY. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. IT'S ABSURD THAT A POSSIBLY $5.00 PART COULD CAUSE ME ALMOST 2 GRAND. I AM ABOUT TO BUY A NEW TRUCK AND I WILL BE SHOPPING AROUND AND LOOKING AT CONSUMER REPORTS TO MAKE A DECISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10390227

Incident

Jan 17, 2011

Mileage

112,000 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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A MAILBOX, BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10219734

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

200,000 mi

AFTER STOPPING IN DRIVEWAY MY 1997 F150, 4.6 L WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT SEEMED TO BE LOOSER THAN NORMAL. AS I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO SHIFT INTO PARK A 1 INCH, BRASS, STAR HEAD MACHINED SCREW FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR CAME TO REST BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IN THIS POSITION, BUT DID START IN NEUTRAL. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING REVERSE AND DRIVE, BUT ONCE IN GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SOUNDS AND RUNS NORMALLY. THE SAFETY IMPLICATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF THE TRUCK IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT SET OR DEFECTIVE. MY RESEARCH OF THE PROBLEM DISCLOSED TWO RELATED RECALLS OF 1997 FORD VEHICLES; CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V147000, SEPTEMBER 9, 1997 AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V171000, OCTOBER 7, 1997. BOTH THESE RECALLS INVOLVED SOME FACET OF THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE TRASMISSION HOUSING, JUST AS MINE DID. ON MY TRUCK THERE ARE TWO BOLTS SECURING THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER ARM AND SUPPORT TO THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE SHIFT CABLE IS ATTACHED TO THIS ARM. THE TOP BOLT CAME LOOSE AND FELL OUT, WHILE THE SECOND BOLT WAS VERY LOOSE, IN FACT, THE WHOLE ARM WAS READY TO FALL OUT. THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REALIGN THE SELECTOR LEVER ARM AND SUPPORT TO THE SHIFT TUBE AND REINSERT THE TWO SCREWS, AFTER USING A "LOCTITE" COMPOUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197246

Incident

Jun 5, 2007

Mileage

112,500 mi

MY NON-COMMERCIAL TWO WHEEL DRIVE, 1997 F-150 WITH 59747 MILES WITH 4.2 V-6 ENGINE BLEW ITS 4R70W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION . I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO FORWARD BUT COULD GO IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FAILURE AND THE TRANNY FILTER AND FLUID HAD BEEN SERVICED TWO TIMES. IT COST $ 2121.52 TO REBUILD THE TRANNY AT A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND DID NOT WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME OR THE TRANNY SHOP TO FIND OUT MORE. ALSO THE TIMING CASE COVER GASKET,BRAKE CALIPERS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALSO. *JB

NHTSA ID

10187052

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

Mileage

59,747 mi

WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK FROM TO OTHER GEARS. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A CAMPAIGN ALREADY FOR THIS ISSUE, 97V171000, BUT FORD DOES NOT HAVE MY TRUCK LISTED FOR THIS RECALL. IS THERE A FORD ISSUED RECALL # AND HOW CAN I GET MY TRUCK ADDED TO THIS RECALL SO IT CAN BE ADDRESSED. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, USED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10141103

Incident

Oct 20, 2005

Mileage

72,850 mi

1.WELL FIRST THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 97 FORD F150 WENT OUT. THEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT TOO. REPLACECD BRAKE LIGHTS ,THEN FUSE WENT OUT IN INTERIOR FUSE BOX SO, TRUCK WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. REPLACED FUSE THEN IT BLEW IT AGAIN. REPLACED AGAIN TRUCK COULD NOW SHIFT INTO GEAR. I WENT HOME PARKED TRUCK THE TRUCK IN DRIVE WAY AND DID NOT MOVE IT FOR THE TRUCK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. WAS WAKEN UP ABOUT 3 IN THE MORNING BY COPS TELLING ME MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE TRUCK ENDED UP BURNT EVERYWHERE BUT THE BED TOTAL LOSS PRETTY MUCH UN DRIVABLE. BURNED A 95 CARAVAN AND PART OF A 2002 FORD EXCURSION. I KNOW HAVE I VEHICLE TO MOVE MY KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL AND MYSELF AND MY WIFE WHICH ALSO NOW HAS SOME SERIOUS NERVE DAMAGE SHE HAS NIGHTMARES OF OTHER VEHICLE BURNING AND CAN HARDLY SLEEP. TRIED CONTACTING FORD BUT C.S. DEPARTMENT PUTS ME ON HOLD ALL DAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132260

Incident

Jul 15, 2005

RECALL 97V147000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE GEARS WOULD POP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP.*AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10102075

Incident

Nov 8, 2004

RECALL 97V147000,TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THIS WAS DUE TO TA DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10094490

Incident

Apr 29, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP SLAMMING IT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097338

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF OVERDRIVE. OVERDRIVE WILL GO OUT ALL AT ONCE, LOOSING SPEED AND BECOMING A HAZARD IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10083029

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

102,000 mi

I AM SENDING IN A FULL LETTER TO EXPLAIN THE "FAILURES". IT CENTERS AROUND TSB 99B29 AND LACK OF OWNER NOTIFICATION OF A BAD FRONT COVER DESIGN THAT CAN LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH OCCURRED IN THIS CASE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD A TIE ROD FAILURE THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LATER BROKE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, MY CRANK SHAFT PULLEY / DAMPENER ASSEMBLY FELL OFF WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING (70 MPH). THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES INCLUDING DOOR LOCK / KEY STICKING.*AK CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V196000 COMPONENT: STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR. THE ENGINE COVER GASKET FAILED. *TC THE SERPENTINE FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN AKWARD SHIFT, THE WIPERS OPERATED PERIODICALLY BY THEMSELVES ON HIGH SPEED, THERE WAS LITTLE HEAT COMING FROM THE VENTS THROUGH THE FLOOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10100805

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

Mileage

71,000 mi

WHILE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ALL 4 TRUCK WHEELS SUDDENLY LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED THE TRUCK TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE DEALERSHIP IS CURRENTLY SERVICING THE TRUCK TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *NLM THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10051993

Incident

Dec 20, 2003

Mileage

112,535 mi

DRIVING VEHICLE IT HARD SHIFTS FROM 1 - 2 AND SOMETIMES FROM 2 - 3 AT SPEED LESS THAN 30 MPH AND WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2 - 1, BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DICK PARKER FORD DEALER AND HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED ON RECOMENDATIONS. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK AND ASKED FOR IT TO BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. WAS TOLD THAT PROBLEM I STATED WAS NOT WHAT THE MECHANIC WAS LOOKING FOR. RESTATED THE PROBLEM AND TOOK THE MECHANIC FOR A TEST RIDE WHERE HE ACKNOWLEDGED THERE WAS A HARD SHIFT. LEFT VEHICLE WITH MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. NEXT DAY I WAS TOLD NO DIAGNOSTICS ERROR CODES WERE FOUND AND THAT I THE OWNER SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY. (HAVE DEALER DOCUMENTATION STATING THIS). *AK

NHTSA ID

10052440

Incident

Dec 20, 2003

Mileage

68,400 mi

ENGINE FAILURE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE

NHTSA ID

10039394

Incident

Sep 13, 2003

Mileage

97,807 mi

F-150 1997 FORD FILL LINE TO TRANSMISSION BROKE, ALLOWING LOSS OF FLUID. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037422

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

AFTER HEAVY SNOWS THE SHIFT LINKAGE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON A 5.4L 4X4 WILL BECOME PLUGGED WITH SNOW. WHEN PLUGGED THE SHIFT SELECTOR CAN ONLY BE SHIFTED BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND NOT REVERSE OR PARK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10031166

Incident

Oct 28, 2000

Mileage

54,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVEL BROKE OFF. THERE WERE WIRES HANGING ALL OVER. CONSUME RCALLED THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS SUPPOSE TO BE A BUTTON ON THE LEVEL TO LET ONE KNOW THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT NO LIGHT CAME ON. HE WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR, BUT HE HAD IT REPAIRED. HE NEVER SAW ANY LIGHT COME ON.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032332

Incident

Aug 6, 2003

THE CLUTCH SEAL SHRUNK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD WHICH CAUSED FLUID TO RUN OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10011171

Incident

Mar 9, 2003

Mileage

79,700 mi

2/01 VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO LITHIA FORD IN CONCORD TO DIAGNOSE OVER HEATING. COOLING SYSTEM WAS CHECKED AND STATED C.S. WAS HOLDING AT THAT TIME, TORE DOWN MOTOR, FOUND BAD BEARINGS, OIL PAN MILKY, HEAD GASKET BAD. REPLACED W/4.2 ENGINE WHICH WAS COVERED UNDER AN EXT WARRANTY, OTHER RECOMMENDED FIX CLUTCH DISC THROW OUT BEARINGS. 11/2000, PWR STEERING HOSE BAD, REPLACED,10/01 CK ENG LIT ONE,, IDLE AIR CNTROL VALVE REPLACED,6/02 OVERHEARING, NEW THERMO,COOLNT FLSH, OIL CHANGE, NEW BRAKES RECOMMENDED, DONE.9/4/02, OVERHEATING AGAIN, RECOMMENDED NEW RADIATOR/WATER PUMP, INQIRED ON PCV MODIFICATION RECALL, THEY WILL REPLACE.*AK

NHTSA ID

766836

Incident

Feb 7, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK INTO GEAR. THE DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011748

Incident

Jun 12, 2002

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT IN 2/01 AND HAD APPROX ONE WEEK WHEN IT STALLED EVERYTIME IT DECELERATED. DEALERSHIP (E-Z WAY AUTO SALES) TOOK VEHICLE BACK AND REPLACED PCM AT NO CHARGE TO US. IN 01/02 IT STARTED HESITATING AS IF IT WERE SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. DOES NOT DO ALL THE TIME-JUST UNEXPECTEDLY.HAD TRANSMISSION FLUSHED (80$-01/31/01). STILL SPUTTERING--REPLACED FUEL FILTER AND AIR FILTER OVER THE COURSE OF 2 MONTHS--PROBLEM WAS NOT MAJOR AND DID NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME-JUST WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECTED IT. THEN IN MARCH IT JUST STALLED WHILE MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING IT AND DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACKSEAT AT 60MPH! TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY COULD NOT RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC CODE-FINALLY AFTER TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING IT TO SEE IF THEY COULD MAKE IT SPUTTER OR STALL IT HAPPENED AND THEY RECEIVE A CODE FOR A EGR VALVE WHICH WAS FUEL RELATED--DID NOT FIX, COST 105$--TOOK BACK TO THEM AND THEY KEPT AN ADDITIONAL 2 WEEKS AND SAID THEY GAVE UP--COULD NOT DIAGNOSE. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER(TRI-COUNTY FORD 05/02) AND THEY HAD 3 DAYS BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. REPLACED PFE SENSOR (192$-P0401) WHICH I AM TOLD IS THE ONE WHICH CONTROLS THE VALVE THAT WAS REPLACED. DID NOT FIX-RETURNED TO FORD DEALER(05/02) AND THEY HAD A FEW MORE DAYS AND RECEIVED ANOTHER CODE(P0605) AND WAS TOLD MY PCM NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I TOLD THE TECH IT WAS JUST DONE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A JUNKED PART. E-Z WAY WILL NOT FIX. THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND IT WAS UP TO FORD. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE PART, HAVE ALREADY BEEN THAT ROUTE. SAID IF IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AT A CERTIFIED FORD DEALER THE WHOLE TIME MAYBE THEY COULD HELP AND ALL PARTS HAVE 12MTH WARRANTY. E-Z WAY OFFERED 200$ TOWARD THE PART BUT ONLY IF WE TAKE IT TO THE PLACE THAT ORIGINALLY REPLACED THE PART(WHICH HAPPENS TO BE OPERATED BY THE OWNER OF E-Z WAYS BROTHER). BUT NO ONE WILL GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX OUR PROBLEM. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO US WITHOUT 2 MAJOR SAFETY RECALLS BEING REPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

763013

Incident

Jan 31, 2002

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING GEARS. VEHICLE'S VIBRATION DECREASES AND INCREASES AT ANY SPEED BETWEEN SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO, VEHICLE IS USED FOR HAULING, AND ADDS PRESSURE TO TRANSMISSION, DELAYING SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011287

Incident

Apr 20, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

762743

Incident

May 15, 2002