El cajon ford replaced plugs. Never warned me about plug blowout. Heard ticking for 2 weeks but thought it was minor exhaust leak. Plug blew out driving home at 30 MPH. Towed truck to el cajon ford and service writer said ford would only replace the head at $3500 with the same defective head. I asked about the dependability of the other head and he said that this problem was very rare and usually only happened with the lightning and only 1 plug was ever bad in each motor. I refused repair at ford and had the truck towed to an independent mechanic.
1997 Ford F-150 engine complaints
Page 8 of 19: complaints 191 to 220 of 544, newest first, as owners wrote them.
My 97 ford 4.2l, which is paid for and has 60,000 miles has thrown a rod. According to research, this is a problem that ford has been aware of and has chosen to do nothing about. I have faithfully taken the truck in for regular maintenance and all factory recalls. I have a truck that is going to cost me $4,000 to repair because of ford's negligent. Ford needs to step up to the plate and do what is right for their faithful customers.
I have a 1997 f150 with a 4.2l v6 engine. I had a leaking intake manifold gasket replaced a year ago which I never received a recall from ford motor on. I am the original owner and have the same address as to when I purchased this truck. Since the gasket was replaced, several months later I started having oil pressure problems. Now I am starting to hear a knock. Talking to my mechanic, he said it was a rod and bearings. I pulled up the recall # 99-20-7 which explains this problem. I feel like ford should have to pay for the damages that this has caused. By the way this truck only has 46,000 original miles on it!! Have talked to numerous people in forums that have the same problem. They say no luck out of ford. What will it take to get this resolved? Had a mechanic at my local ford dealership look at it and said same thing. How could we go about getting a lawyer to start a class action lawsuit? Your help would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I did get a recall for the cruise control problem that would cause it to catch fire. Why didn't I get the other ones?
Dt: consumer owned a 1997 ford f150. It had a blown gasket. When the truck was turned on there was an extreme knocking. Vehicle was taken to a ford dealership; they stated that the rod was bent. The engine needed to be replaced. The truck had less than 87,000 miles.
Dt: on july 2 2005 while driving down the road the throttle cable broke. The owner was coming down a two lane highway. The consumer noticed that the accelerator wasn't being pushed, the cruise control wasn't on, and the vehicle was speeding on its own. The consumer engaged the parking brake, while going 50-55 MPH. After engaging the parking brake, the truck took about 3/4 of a mile to come a stop. The vehicle finally hit an oak tree and stopped and no air bags deployed. The owner's wife was injured with upper neck and back. Injuries. The owner''s daughter was bruised on the face. The vehicle didn't come in contact with any other vehicles. There was no other problems with the vehicle accelerator sticking before. Ford reported that there was no recalls about this. The owner has contacted the dealership. The vehicle has not been deemed a total loss. The owner has to replace the brakes and throttle cable. Insurance will pay for repairs to the body. About a week before the crash, the consumer had to replace the oxygen sensor. That warning light stayed on about a week before repair. At this time owner is waiting for the repair work to be completed. Owner stated that dealership said that the problem could have been caused by a throttle cable housing.
4.2 l engine busting rods.
Dt: a couple of months ago consumer noticed that vehicle had an intake manifold gasket, which allowed water I to leaking into the engine rods, causing the motor to fail and have to be replaced. The repair cost to fix it before the problem began wa s $800. Consumer's boss had problems with his fleet of vehicles, and notified consumer of the problem. Consumer was not certain whether or not it was a fabricated defect or a design flaw. At this time there was no recall, but owner didn't understand why they won't recall vehicle since they were aware of the problem with the intake manifold gasket.
I own a 1997 ford f-150 with the 4.2l v-6 engine that is notorious for "hydrolocking" due to a faulty lower intake manifold gasket. This has been a well documented issue among many customers who have purchased this model and many of us have been forced to pay large amounts of money in order to replace a blown engine due to poor engineering.
1) no events leading to failure. Original owner, well maintained vehicle with 98,000 miles. 2) engine siezed during start (4.2 liter with apparent history of manifold gasket flaw leading to failure) 3) vehicle not repaired due to high cost of engine rebuild or replacement
(1)ford 1997 4.2 l v6, slow coolant leak/gasket leak resulting in internal terminal damage to the engine. (2) replacing lost coolant every so often is not unheard of for a common high mile engine but by doing so, the problem is gradualy getting worse until the engine locks up! (3)the fix is thousands of upset consumers spending hard earned dollars replacing a factory defective motor with another factory defective motor at the owners expense! Thanks ford! Found the problem is very common after researching the web. Please help! Sincerly, ex-ford fan
Egine failure due to defective gasket leak on 1997 ford f150 v6 2.4 engine at 43,000 miles
Engine failure due to faulty gasket
1.) engine failure on 1997 ford f150 4.2 v6 with only 84442 miles replaced motor at personal expense $4019.00 2.) engine died on 10-02-1003 had towed back to dealer and they said it was "not" related to the replaced motor and it was electrical - personal expense $300 3.) enigne begins running rough on 6-6-2005 - diagnosis faulty coil assembly, plus and plug wires "not covered under the rebuilt engine 36,000 mile warranty - personal cost: $600
I have spoken with several people here in tucson and read on the internet, many people that have a 1997 f150 pickup have had the head gasket go bad causing radiator fluid to flow into the engine. I had this same problem and was wondering if this is a complaint worthy of investigation or something that is coincidental. I had to have my engine rebuilt and it was under 100,000 miles. I called the ford dealership and they told me that there has not been an issue with the gasket.
My '97 ford f150 4.2l v6 failed in my driveway upon starting three weeks after purchasing it. After turning the ignition, I heard loud knocking and banging coming from the engine and I shut it down. I found oil pouring from under the engine. Upon inspection found that the # 2 connecting rod was shattered which took out the oil pan, the oil pick up tube, and bent the crank shaft. Removed upper intake manifold, and found coolant in the rear port of the lower intake manifold.
I've noticed that coolant is leaking into my engine (burning from the exhaust) and that ford issued a recall for the intake manifold gaskets, but I was never notified. Had I been notified, I could have had this problem corrected in 2001.
Low amounts of coolant loss, knocking in engine, and the engine runs poorly. Had the engine looked at by three mechanics, including castrucci ford in milford, and they all informed me that the rods in the engine are bad because coolant is getting into the engine. Diagnosis: new engine required.
Started the truck one morning it had a rough idle but seemed to smooth out. Drove it out to a jobsite and parked it for a couple hours. Started it and white smoke came out and there was a banging and knocking sound. Turned it off and had it towed to a repair shop. They told me I had thrown a rod.
I have 1997 ford f150 4.2l pick-up that has the "famos" anti freeze internal leak that has ruined my motor. I have 56,000mi on it, and feel ford has sold millions of these lemons and are doing nothing about it! Is there any hope for "us" who got screwed?
I have a 1997 ford f-150 with 87,000 miles on it. The motor is a 4.2l v6. It all began when I noticed the anitfreeze level seemed to keep going down even after I would fill the coolant jug to the proper level. Last week I noticed that the motor seemed harder to start and thought the battery was going dead. The next day I went to start my truck and when I turned the ignition the motor made a loud pop and wouldn't do anything. I had to have the truck towed to my local garage and the mechanic told me that either the intake manifold gasket, the head gasket, or the timing chain cover gasket had failed allowing coolant to enter my motor. This caused my motor to completely seize up. The end result is that I now need a new motor that is going to cost me over $3,000. I contacted ford customer service and they told me that they had no record of this happening to anyone else and since no warranty or recall was in effect I would receive no reinbursement. I thought this was odd since I have found several web sites saying this has happened to several 4.2l v6 motors. I hope that you will look into this and make ford pay if the gaskets are found to be of poor quality.
I purchased a ford f-150 in jan 97 with 4.2l v-6 engine, I have followed the services religiously, on or around jan 2000 I tooked the vehicle to local dealer in puerto rico because there was a recall for the front gaskets to be replaced, I contacted the dealer and ascheduled an appmt. I tooked the vehicle in the dealerd 4 days later they call me and said that the vehicle was done. I went to pick the vehicle up and notice that there was no work done to the vehicle. The attendant told me that they did not replaced the gaskets because the vehicle was not leaking so it did not needed the gaskets replaced. Came to united states since I am in the military in fort leonard wood. I started to notice a loss in coolant this concerned me and replaced the water pump then it started leaking from the timing chain cover gasket so I replaced the cover the gasket and the water pump gasket once more costing me around $900.00. Then this past winter one morning I went to start the vehicle and started to make this knoking knoice very loud knoice so I turned off and called the local ford dealer here in st robert mo, dealer seller sexton they told me to bring the vehicle and then is when I found that the engine has broken a piston rod because coolant had gotten in the oil. They told me that it was going to cost me around $4,500.00 I told them that I had no money to pay for those type of expences. Then I found out that the engines were manufactured with defective gaskets. I contacted ford for assistance and they said that they can not help me because the warranty in the vehicle is expired. To this should make no difference because this was a manufacturing problem not the owners fault my truck only around 73,500. Ford needs to be held liable for this they claimed that this vehicles spark plugs are to be changed at 100,000. Miles how is this if the engines are only lasting 73,500 miles. Please need your help on ensuring ford is held liable for this. Thank you.
Driving along at 40 MPH, severe rod knocking on the driver side of 4.2 motor. Anti freeze in oil per timing chain cover, acid etched crank to rod bearing. Ford refused to fix-3000 miles over warranty. I paid $1000 for xtended warranty to fix. Dealer put in new rebuilt 4.2, 35,000 miles on 2nd engine when rod knocking on driver side of engine. Anti freeze in oil, acid etched crank to rod bearing again! Truck sits in back yard, excellent condition. $4000 to put in new engine. Ford claims no responsibility for terrible craftsmanship on 4.2 engine.
Dt: in october of 2003, the check engine light came on. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times and they said the problem was fixed. The dealer also mentioned that the problem was something near the carburetor.
Defective intake manifold gasket in 1997 ford f150 4.2l v6 engine 70899 miles. Antifreeze leaks into number 4 cylinder. When engine starts resulting "hydro-lock" shears off conecting rod and destroys engine.
Dt: the consumer stated that one of his spark plugs blew out of the engine while driving. . The consumer stated maybe it was a design defect because he heard the same problem from other people about the same vehicle. The consumer called the ford motor company and they said there was no recall on the vehicle. The manufacturer said they would have to replace the engine head to fix the vehicle. The estimated cost of repair is 3300 dollars. *jb
1997 ford f150 suffered from premature failure of the engine's gaskets.*mr this caused the engine to lockup either from coolant in cylinder bores or crank bearing failure. At high speeds this could cause skid and loss of control. Also coolant leaks out front of engine on ground and tires when going forward. *bf
Was never notified of a recall99b29 for a timing cover/water pump gasket on my 1997 ford f-150 [xxx]. In november 2004 I was losing coolant and took it to my local ford dealer and he gave me an est. Of $1500.00. At that time I couldn't afford it. I had it repaired at a reliable repair shop for $800.00. I had just found out about the recall from a co-worker who also has a vehicle mentioned in the recall. I feel that should be due reburstment of the repairs for that fact I did not receive the re-call.their records will show that other recalls I have had it in for the repairs. This vehicle only has 58,000 miles on it! *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
1. Purchased ford f-150, [xxx], with 4.2 l six at 15,000 miles at sun state ford of orlando fl. 2. In 2004, noticed unexplained coolant leaks. 3. Engine front cover gasket failed in line with recall 99b29, but this information was not known at that time; ford does not include this truck, built 03/97, in recall campaign 99b29, indicating the original recall has been inadequate. 4. On 4/22/05 at 66,713 miles, lower intake manifold side gaskets failed, allowing coolant to leak into a cylinder, leading to a thrown rod and engine failure. Issue is addressed by ford with tsb article no. 99-20-7. 5. Dealer refused to help except to offer a rebuilt engine for $4500; ford customer relationship call center related that the recall covered up to 12/31/96, and this truck was made 3/97. No offer of help nor appeal there, either. *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
Went to start truck began knocking from motor upon starting.motor thrown rod had to be replaced.this 1997 f-150 only had 93000 miles not even mech.limit what a lemon ford built here .
1. Ticking noise similar to valve train noise. Engine seemed difficult to start last usage day prior to failure. 2. Engine wouldn't turn over. Engine determined to be hydro-locked. Won't turn over. 3. Engine replaced with rebuilt engine. (good description of problem is available from jasper engines at http://www.jasperengines.com/pdf/38_42_tb.pdf). A bunch of people with this problem can be found here: http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/archive/index.php/t-224.html
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1997 Ford F-150?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history