1997 Ford F-150: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Oct 17, 2009 · Brakes · 120,000 miles · CA

1. Regular braking was disabled by malfunctioning ABS firing. For no apparent reason, in dry and slow conditions on city streets, brakes were not allowed to engage properly, resulting in the truck rolling forward as the ABS system fired. 2. In trying to stop the truck, with the brakes fully engaged to the floor, the pedal vibrated from ABS activity and the truck continued to roll forward into intersection. At first this only happened on the first stop of the day, every few months or so. Later it happened frequently. I found that if I quickly shut off the ignition the (electronic) ABS would be deactivated and the truck would stop normally. 3. Changing front bearings and associated speed sensors solved the problem. Dealer part and installation was around $1200, but generic parts were available that shaved several hundred off this total repair cost.

Filed Jun 29, 2008 · 174,892 miles · CO · fire

The 97 f-150 had been parked outside not started for 2 days. Sunday morning we went to go to the lake and the truck started but would not go out of park,an issue I have had before,but this time the ABS light was flashing. I have been in the automotive repair business for 15 years, so I had a good idea were to start looking. The first place I looked was the brake safety switch located on the top of the brake pedal itsel. Every thing checked out fine. That is were I have had the problem before so I thought it was another broken wire but that was not the case. So I decided to check brake fluid level,and noticed that the electrical plug located at the front of the master brake cylinder had caught fire and melted the entire plastic plug and wires. Now I don't know when this happened but I feel very lucky it went out by itself!I live in the colorado mountains and could not imagine the damage it could of caused if it would have gotten out of control, as it was parked by trees ,shed, jet skis,etc. At this time I am going to try to replace the plug and or wiring harness and the electrical component on front of master cylinder that I believe was the cause of the small fire. I will call ford dealer ship in morning to see if they have any info on problem. I have all old parts and have documented the issue with pictures. I have also noticed that the cruise control switch box is located about 3 inches from the electrical brake switch that caught fire. I do know about the cruise control recall and it makes me wonder if all of these tragic ford fires reported really did start from the cruise control switch?

Filed Aug 21, 2005 · Acceleration, Brakes · 94,200 miles · MO · fire

In feb./ 05 cruise control quite, mechanic couldn't find problem, aug 15/05 ABS light comes on. Thinking brake fluid is low, I pop the hood and notice plug on master cylinder is burned/melted. Car wont shift out of park, and no brake lights. I get a new plug and harness from dealer and replace blown fuse. I still have no cruise light on on dash but brakes and cruise work. Dealer said no recall but plenty of service bulletins. $15.00 part

Filed Aug 19, 2005 · Acceleration · 102,000 miles · OR · fire

Abs light started flashing 16 times with pause then repeats. Noticed #13 fuse was blown. Replaced and looked up immediately to find white smoke billowing out of hood. Pulled out fuse to find that it was blown (thank goodness). Heard on internet forum that it may be the cruise switch on master cylinder. Looked there and found switch partly melted. Disconnected switch and battery, replaced fuse and hooked up battery, but not the switch. No more blinking light, but now no cruise control, of course. Still have yet to contact ford about the failure.

Filed Jun 30, 2005 · Brakes, Seats · LA · crash

Dt: the consumer owns a 1997 ford f150 xlt. The consumer was involved was in a car accident over a year ago, and the driver's seat broke. The dealership replaced the drivers seat with another bracket. The seat broke again. When sitting in the seat the back of the seat went down to the floor while the front of the seat raised up. The bracket has been replaced three times. The ABS light illuminated.

Filed May 24, 2005 · Acceleration · 125,000 miles · MN · fire

Abs light came on as we were pulling up to our back garage door. We opened the hood of the truck to check the brake fluid level. That area of the engine was on fire! We were able to quickly put out the fire. We had the vehicle towed to the repair shop. They replaced all the parts that were burnt (unfortunately we did not think to keep the old parts). As a side note, the technician working on the vehicle mentioned that ford has a recall out for 2000 and newer vehicles for the cruise control switch - which they have determined is the cause of fires in these models. He said the cause of the fire in our vehicle was the cruise control switch, the very same part that ford has the recall for. The cruise control switch the repair shop used to replace the burnt up one was obtained from ford and is the very same part they are using in their recall. Unfortunately, our vehicle is a 1997 ford f150 and therefore does not falling within the recall.

Filed May 17, 2005 · Acceleration · 90,000 miles · IL · fire

Dt: the consumer owns a 97 ford f150 and the cruise control switch caught fire and burned the master cylinder and wiring harness at the switch. Also it blew a fuse in the circuit that kept it from burning further. When the consumer went to start the vehicle, it would not shift out of park because the ABS circuit was disabled. The consumer bought materials to repair the damage. After which ford had recalled later model pick ups. The consumer feels this is a wide spread problem and other years were affected also.

Filed Feb 1, 2005 · Brakes · LA

While braking the pedal went to the floor on more than one occasion. The problem repeated itself on its own. Driver lifted up the hood, and noticed that fluid was leaking from ABS braking modular. This caused sparks from the master cylinder. Driver will contact a mechanic for an appointment. *ak on second call. The original problem was intermittent cruise control operation about 1 year prior to this complaint. About 3 or 4 months ago the fuse on the circuit containing the scds blew. Replaced fuses about 2 times. The first time the fuse lasted several weeks. The second one did not last long. Then left fuse out. Next time was under hood and replaced fuse saw spark at scds and fuse blew again. Along with this problem the ABS warning light was coming on on the dash and staying on. After disconnecting the scds the ABS warning light went out. The crusie control still worked for a short period of time after disconnecting the scds electrical connector.

Filed Jan 5, 2005 · Brakes · FL · fire

Consumer stated that without warning the brakes leaked fluid. The dealer was notified. *ak the switch on the master cylinder started to leak on the ABS wiring and started the fire. *scc *jb.....

Filed Sep 28, 2004 · Brakes · 104,000 miles · KY

Abs brake system was defective and rear brakes were not working. Consumer contacted the dealer and the manufacturer and was told that there was nothing they could do. The brakes were 60% defective. *ak the dealer later determined that the vehicle's rear ABS valve was sticking.

Filed Sep 23, 2004 · Electrical · GA

The fuse which controlled the ABS switch on and off burned. The consumer replaced the fuse and 25 minutes later the vehicle was on fired. The consumer opened the hood and saw a lot smoke coming from the ABS.

Filed Feb 9, 2004 · Brakes · 83,500 miles · MI

Break failure ford 1997 f150 VIN. [xxx]. The vehicle had been parked for about 45 min. Before starting out, I drove to a stop sign (about 200 ft) when the brakes were applied (10-15 MPH) nothing happened, I used booth feet on the petal and applied all the force I could to slow down and it took about 75 ft to stop. I went to a side street and parked with engine off, checked the break fluid it was full. Took truck to nearest repair shop for check out. Truck was parked for about 10 min. With engine off when mechanic started it and tested brakes they were working at that time (ABS light was on). Took truck to ford dealer in oscoda michigan ( zubek auto sales 511 state st, oscoda mi. 989‑739‑3261) after checking it out they found a bad ABS sensor, they did not have any idea why I had no brakes. But they had another f150 in their shop that had a complete brake failure that they could not find the problem, they have had technicians from ford (detroit) look at the truck and they dont know what is wrong. Updated 07/30/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)