Ford F150 1997 - Suspension - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Ford F150 1997

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
98V161000	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	from 11/26/1995 to 02/19/1998	V (Vehicle)	202000	08/10/1998	MFR	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	07/15/1998	07/20/1998
Defect Summary	Vehicle description: light duty 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. if the vehicle is overloaded, the rear leaf springs can be overstressed. a fatigue fracture of the spring can occur. the center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.
Consequence Summary	Fuel tank contact can damage the tank and result in fuel leakage. fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Corrective Summary	Dealers will inspect the rear springs and install an additional clip on the forward end of the rear springs to prevent fuel tank contact in the event of a leaf fracture. any fractured springs will be replaced.
Notes	Owner notification is expected to begin august 10, 1998.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
SUSPENSION
15692	03/01/2002		636326	Some vehicles may exhibit a squeak, snap, rattle, or clunk in the front end when turning or going over bumps. *tt	11/07/2002
980310	04/01/1998		603504	Experiencing vibration at cruise over 50 mph. *yc	02/23/1999
98812	04/27/1998		601243	A vibration at highway speeds may be felt on some vehicles. *yc	07/14/1998
SUSPENSION - FRONT
BC2360970501	05/01/1997		52809	For concerns of noisy/squeaky steering and diagnosis is for the pitman arm, recommended service is to replace the pitman arm. *tw	09/12/1997
SUSPENSION - REAR
050618	01/01/2005	05126	10016789	Rear axle noise repair. *sc	10/07/2005
983306	02/03/1998		607472	Concerns of frame strike on the rear axle. *tt	09/23/1999
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
17777	05/01/2004		10008552	Rear leaf spring noise. *tt	08/04/2004
12161	11/01/1998		613176	Some vehicles built with 3-leaf rear springs may exhibit a rear spring rattle. *mjs	06/19/2000
985200	11/01/1998		613017	Vehicles built with 3-leaf rear springs may exhibit a rear spring rattle *mjs	06/16/2000

Investigations

NHTSA ID	Manufacturer	Date open	Date close	Subject	Recall campaign
SUSPENSION
PE98009	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	02/13/1998	06/30/1998	INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR
	Alleged that the independent front suspension torsion bar may fail, creating a potential for compromise to vehicle controllability.
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
RQ98022	FORD MOTOR COMPANY	11/13/1998		REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE	98V161000
	The rear suspension springs may break and splay inward, damaging the fuel tank

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences	Purchase date
SUSPENSION
06/01/2005		1
	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
02/03/2004		1
	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
10/05/2003	95000	1
	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
03/26/2003		1
	While driving at any speed vehicle vibrates violently. dealer notified. *ak
05/01/2002		2	10/17/2000
	The left rear spring assembly failed. the left rear spring was repaired. ak jb after the first incident, in december 2002, the right spring had broken. the consumer researched to see if other vehicle's have experienced the same problem, nine were found. the dealer acted as they weren't aware of the recall # 098v16000. the consumer requested his money back for the repair of the left spring. scc
11/13/2002
	While traveling on the highway there is a knocking noise coming from the rear the vehicle. please provide additional information. dealer is aware of the problem.. ts
10/19/2002
	The consumer is concern at this time he receive a recall notice for the coil spring. the recall number #98s18 and he had the repair done on oct 5th 1998. at this time the problem is still exist. ts
05/23/2001		1
	Vehicle has a ticking sound coming from under floor of vehicle. can't hear sound unless vehicle is moving. had vechile in shop several times. contacted dealer, and dealer put in new bushing and u-joint; but still has not remedied problem. ak yh
06/24/1998		1	08/22/1997
	Vehicle and steering wheel experience vibration while driving, tires have been replaced(at 17616 miles) and balanced, however the vibration still exists, consumer states that something sounds loose in the rear. *slc
03/15/2000		1	01/01/2000
	Bought the vehicle used jan 2000. developed vibration characteristic of out-of-balance tires. when i had them balanced and front end checked, one tire had to be replaced due to tread separation. vehicle still has slight vibration at highway speed, and i suspect another tire may be becominhg separated. firestone claims there have been no reports of failures of the 16-inch wilderness ht. can this be the first?( dot number: unkn tire size: p235/70r16 )
05/01/2000		1	08/01/1996
	Both incidents, involved the rear right hand tire position located directly behind the exhaust pipe exit. in both cases 90% of the tire shredded by itself down to the steel belts. tires remained inflated in both cases. both tires had less than 20,000 miles on them. (one tire was a new replacement from the manufacturer, the 2nd was the original spare). the 1st incident occurred after 20 miles highway travel at 70mph, however the previous day the truck had completed 800 miles continuous highway driving. the 2nd incident occurred after 6 hours continous highway driving at 70mph. in both cases the incident began with severe felt-like wheel wobble, then immediate severe jolting and lurching of the truck across the highway lanes out of control. fortunately no accident occured and i stopped safely. in the 2nd incident the shredding of the tire also ripped out the exhaust barckets, bent the exhaust pipe downwards (required re-bending to obtain decent road clearance). i reported the incident to ford customer service. i replaced both rear tires with new firestone wilderness tires at ford. i am now deeply worried that this will occur again, and to add insult to injury i hear there are now reports of firestone wilderness tires shedding. is there a connection between general tires and firestone, both supplied by ford? is there a conection with the exhaust exhiting directly in front of the tire causing severe over heating of the tire? i shal be replacing the exhaust with a rear exit exhaust at mullinax..*ak( dot number: a308443276 tire size: p235/70r16 )
07/16/1998
	While driving at 45 mph and coming to a stop vehicle vibrates and makes some noise. *ak
01/24/1999
	While traveling approximately 30-45mph vehicle would vibrate. been back & forth to dealer for 13 days & mechanic could not locate cause of vibration. mechanic changed motor mounts, rotors & balanced tires. vibration still exists.

	When driving between 40-55 mph vehicle begins to vibrate, and then at 70 mph it will vibrate worse.dealership cannot determine what is causing the defect. *ak

	Vehicle drifts at 55 to 60 mph wheels have been replaced. also steering wheel vibrates. owner is very concerned for safety.
		1
	Caster kit installed improperly adjusted properly.
10/15/1997
	When driving vehicle pulls to the right. dealer contacted and unable to duplicate the problem. *ak
08/22/1997		1
	Suspension failed causing left front wheel to fall off, causing vehicle collision.
		4	07/21/1997
	Vehicle bounces between speeds of 60 mph-70 mph due to suspension problems.
04/01/1996		1	11/01/1996
	When driving at approx 40 mph, goes through 50 mph,steering wheel will begin to vibrate. dealer checked the vehicle 3 times. said it was common problem, cannot fix problem. ak slc

	While driving over bumps at any speed, the front of the vehicle shakes. please provide details.
01/16/1997		1
	Front end problem.
SUSPENSION - FRONT
	5000	1
	Consumer states that when driving and wind blowing vehicle's front end wanders excessively, making it very difficult to maintain control.*ak
06/17/2002
	Aluminum wheel split down in the middle while going 40-45mph on straight smooth road. suddenly ther ewas a noise, and the passenger front end fell to the ground. ford was notified. please provide more information.*ak
04/15/2002		2
	Bearings in front of vehicle have been coming apart when consumer was driving. consumer lost control. contacted ford motor company, and they were not willing to do anything.akthe original and replacement parts have both failed. the wheel was on the verge of falling off. jg
10/26/2001		1	08/01/1998
	Front suspension is a sealed ball/socket system supposedly needing no grease. the tie rod driver's side/inner just popped off at low speed. it was determined that the socket was dry causing excessive wear/corrosion on the joint. was also told that the pittman arm is also dry and in need of grease - actually, replacement, now. i am continually assured by ford service dept., that the truck does not need to have grease added as it has a sealed ball and socket joint system these parts should be mandated to have grease fittings for preventative maintenance capabilities. **hubs** design flaw with the diameter of the hubs in relation to the wheel/rotors, etc., on the 1997 trucks, the diameter of the hubs did not allow for even a minor amount of normal corrosion. this results in the mechanic's inability to remove the hub for service without damaging the hub assy. (there is no lip or difference of diameter to tap he edge of the hub assy to remove it from the wheel assy. this happened on the truck when it was less than 1 year old and had not been exposed to salt water/air. *ak
12/31/2000			10/01/1998
	No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
12/17/2000		1	02/01/1997
	No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak( dot number: )
12/24/2000		1	11/01/1999
	No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
09/24/2000		4
	Was getting front end aligned due to vehicle drifting to the right. mechanic noticed that tire tread was separating on all 4 tires. firestone, wilderness ht, p235/70r16 with 52,000 miles.ak dot#w2081pt296. slc
			03/01/1996
	Truck continues to handle poorly at highway speeds dealer checked several times and found nothing mechanicly wrong excluding the fiorst time when they replaced a section of the steering collumn they rotated and rebalanced the tires to no avail warranty expireed due to time with problem still evident our second car with 104,000 miles handles much better at any speed. we have had 4 other trucks so were familiar with how a truck should handle through all speed ranges. thank you. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/7516r )
07/26/1999		3	03/01/1999
	Steel reinforcement plys delaminate causing out of round condition and removes tread from the rolling and sidewall surfaces. when the tread departs the tire an extreme unbalanced condition causes severe vibration in the truck frame until the vehicle is stopped. *ak( dot number: tire size: 235/70r16 )
		3	09/08/1997
	Vehicle is misaligned frequently. yh
02/15/2000		1	05/01/1997
	There was one failure on the right side and one failure on the left after cold weather. the failures were within 3 weeks of each other. *ak
01/05/2000		1	09/01/1998
	I noticed the tire rubbing the inside of truck when i would turn to the right. i check the front tire and saw that it was loosing its tread. i took the truck into burnsworth zollars and told them about the problem, i also told them that if you let go of the steering wheel the truck would automatical go the right side of the road. i also asked them to check the tie rods and ball socket joints to see if the were causing the problem. a day later i called them to find out what was wrong with the truck, they said the had to weld the truck in order to bring the tire back in. this does not sound good to me. i dont think welding the front of the truck is going to fix the problem. i also called ford motor co. about it. i asked them if weld does not hold up and it caused an accident what they would do then, the guy i talked to said the insurance adjuster would tell me who was at fault. and ford said safety comes first. i thought i should report this because i dont know what caused the tire to tow in, or if it was the frame or axel that is the defect of the truck. all i know is that i dont want to drive my children arould in a truck that is having this kind of problem. *ak

	When traveling at 45-50 mph consumer noticed vibration and loud noise coming from the floorboard and from front driver's side seat. consumer has contacted the dealer. dealer unable to determine the cause of the problem; vehicle has been in for repairs four times. *ak
12/01/1998		1	02/26/1997
	Vehicle experiences continued pulling and vibration which has causing premature wear of the tires. mjs
03/05/1998		1
	There are 8 points on the front end that have moving parts, however there are only 2 grease points. consumer feels this will shorten the life of the vehicle due to a lack of proper lubrication.
09/05/1996		4
	On highway driver needs two hands to steer the vehicle. steering is hard to handle, sometimes oversteering occurs, dealer contacted three times. dealer has aligned the front end and adjusted the toe, camber and caster, however consumer still complains of steering wheel stiffness, dealer can not remedy. check engine light illuminated. *slc
01/21/1999		1	11/01/1997
	No summary listed for this vehicle. *ak
			02/28/1997
	Tires are prematurely wearing due to malfunction within the suspension. cause unknown. manufacturer has been contacted. ak ml
06/15/1996		3	02/01/1996
	Front suspension poor causing premature wear of tires.
		1	05/01/1997
	Front end out of alignment causing premature wear of the tires.
05/12/1996
	When driving the truck hears a loud noise in the dashboard, and the truck is hard to control, it goes all over the road. took to dealer and was told it was the steering column, they put extensions on the steering column, but the problem is still reoccurring. *ak
03/17/1997		0	08/01/1996
	Truck's tail end fish-tailed, resulting in a crash.
07/31/1996		4	07/31/1996
	Vehicle drifts to the right. high efforts on steering effectiveness. *ak
04/01/1997
	Vibration in the front end makes a loud noise when driving at a speed 67mph or more. in for repair , manufacturer knows about it and it is under investigation. *ak
04/23/1997		0
	Starts vehicle and it vibrates excessively. steering is hard to drive, cannot control.took the car to dealership, unable to find cause or problem. dealer notified manufacturer of the problem. *ak

	Steering wheel vibrates. took to dlr 2 times, no results. vehicle is with dealer for the fourth time. *ak
01/29/1997		12	11/25/1996
	Vehicle rolled away while in park on slight incline; also vehicle veers to the left and windshield wipers skip cycles while on delay. *ak
		0	11/01/1996
	When at a stop or parked the vehicle has a ruffled idle and vibrates like its ready to stall out. while driving between 40mph and up, the vehicle sways from one side to another side. *ak

	When driving the vehicle there is a vibration coming from the steering wheel, 700 or 1200 rpm's or higher. vehicle at dealership (17) days, still cannot find problem. *ak
08/20/1996		22
	Vehicle shakes/ hop's when driving. *ak
		1
	While driving noticed rattle in front suspension, hit bumps in road, vehicle vibrates and steering column shimmies, dlr indicates mfr's aware of problem but has not fixed the problem at this time. ak jb
01/01/1996		1
	While driving, the steering wheel vibrates and there is a noise coming from the steering column.ak consumer feels someting was left out around the steering column. slc

	When driving at 40 mph the truck sways. please describe .
		1	05/09/1996
	When driving at 40 mph the truck sways. ak steering is very sensitive vehicle wanders at highway speeds can not tow with vehicle or can not control at all.jb

	When driving the front end goes left to right almost cause and accident. please describe . *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM
06/15/2000
	Vehicle hit a bump.consumer felt a shake in front end. upon inspection consumer noticed front outer ball joint had disconnected. part was replaced. on 1 july 2001, right inner ball joint fell off. one day later , left ball joint fell off while backing up. mileage was 67000 at the time.*ak
04/21/2001		1	11/01/1996
	Please note that i am from canada and your request for zip code will not accept my postal code. therefore, i typed in 90210 so i could by-pass this portion. my postal code is k1c 5s7. i was backing up on level pavement when i heard a pop. upon investigating, i found that the ball joint on the tie rod end had separated from the socket at the wheel. there does not appear to be any corrosion or other damage to the tie rod. also the joint feels well greased and the tie rod moves freely. the truck has been towed to a dealer and will be looked at tomorrow (april 22, 01). if you are unable to help outside of the u.s can you please direct me to a canadian association. again, my e-mail address is jeff-kenda@sympatico.ca
04/14/2001		0
	Pulled up in driveway and driveshaft went out. also, driver's side wheel ball joints fell off.*ak
04/01/2001
	Ball joints are out. contacted dealer, and dealer said not worry about it.*ak
09/09/2000		1	02/01/1997
	I feel that at 37000 miles ball joints should not be bad this truck is well cared for & does not go out in woods & go 4 wheeling.
07/22/1999
	While driving at 35 mph inner tie rod came off, and the ball joints are trying to coming off. *ak
08/22/1997		1
	Control arm rusted/cracked, causing left front wheel break loose, resulting in an accident.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT
12/12/2003	53400	1
	During an oil change mechanic informed the consumer that lower ball joints were severely worn. dealer was aware of the problem. *ak
10/29/2003		1	10/07/1997
	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.
08/01/2002		2	10/01/2097
	Lower ball joints needed to be replaced for the second time. stabilizer bar fell off for the second time
05/31/2002		1	04/01/2000
	Lower ball joints went out while consumer was driving and could not control vehicle. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything.ak contacted ford and they said since there was no recall, they coudl not help. mj
		1
	While driving vehicle began to vibrate, consumer got out of the vehicle but could not see anything, consumer then proceeded to drive about 5mph when the vehicle began to vibrate again, plus there was a squeaking noise, vehicle was taken into a mechanic, and consumer was informed that the lower ball joint was loose.*jb
11/01/2000		1
	During inspection a broken coil spring was repaired, the lower ball joints were loose and were replaced. *slc
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER ARM
06/03/1997		1
	Making sharp left turn heard loud metal noise. noticed front end dropped. mechanic did not find problem at first. noticed upper control arm had bent. had front end aligned, wheel bearings had overheated/rotors warped. needed truck checked. *ak
06/03/1997		1	05/31/1997
	The ear that the cam adjuster rests against bent backwards allowing the upper a arm to become loose. the incident happened while making a sharp left turn from even pavement to a ramped side street.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT
	39000	1
	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
03/15/2001		1	08/11/2000
	Upper ball joint is about to break. contacted dealer, and the dealer is not willing to do anything.ak dealer stated that parts wear out even if it did happen with only 44000 miles on it, dealer replaced left upper ball joint and replaced control arm. slc
SUSPENSION - FRONT - MACPHERSON STRUT
06/07/1997		1	12/12/1996
	Struts broke off from axle, causing loss of tire and loss of control.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER
09/01/1997		1	09/01/1997
	Front shock absorber failed. yh
11/14/1997		1
	Vehicle pulled to the side due to the shock absorber jammed up in the coil spring when the front shock absorber came out of the control arm.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - AIR SUSPENSION - SPRINGS/BAGS
		1
	Springs failed.
04/01/1996		1	03/01/1996
	Rear axle gears failed.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS
03/05/2001		2	10/01/2000
	This vehicle already had a recall #98s18. this obviously didn't fix the problem. the spring came out of the assembly and struck my fuel tank. in my opinion they should have replaced the leaf spring if it was not made correctly and not just put a bandaid on it. they broke even though this was supposed to fix the error..
02/08/2001		0
	Manufacturer's recall 00522; after replacing front coil springs, consumer had problem stopping vehicle. dealership replaced them with clips. he was driving vehicle, and coil springs came out and stuck into tires. *ak
11/01/2000		1
	During inspection a broken coil spring was repaired, the lower ball joints were loose and were replaced. *slc
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
		1	01/22/1997
	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
10/25/2002
	Nhtsa# 8719-98-v-095-161-000 rear leaf spring, the center leaf of the sppring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat. consumer states vehicle has a noise and the spring is falling apart. dealer has been notified. ts
		3
	Bottom leaf spring has moved to the outside of the truck. dealer replaced the leaf spring on the driver's side, and the leaf spring on the passenger's side has been readjusted (3) times and needs readjusting again. *ak
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR
04/05/2005	46000	3
	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

	While driving 10 mph heard a loud noise. checked vehicle, passenger's side fender had dropped due to broken front torsion bar. dealer contacted. please add vin.*ak
03/29/2002		1
	Rt torsion bar failed when setting in driveway. it seems as though this is safety concern that nhsta needs to reopen as there appear to be many other identical failures reported. i was suprised to learn that, when the dealer worked on the vehicle, there was no recall related to the torsion bar failure.*ak
06/04/2001		2
	Torsion bar twisted off on the drivers side causing front corner to drop 6 to 8 inches. and a loss of suspension on that side. later the passenager side snapped.
05/25/2001		1
	Torsion bar broke without prior notice. when bar broke entire front end of vehicle fell in. dealer made repairs at consumer's expense. ak jb
04/12/2001		1	07/01/2000
	Vehicle was parked inside of garage. consumer noticed that vehicle was leaning on left side. vehicle wasn't like that when she pulled inside of garage that evening. vehicle had to be towed to the dealership. mechanic told consumer that torsion bar had broken. there were no injuries.ak the dealer says there was a high failure rates of 1997 and 1998 models. yh

	Vehicle was parked for over an hour, and consumer heard a loud noise. noted vehicle had dropped down due to torsion bar on passenger's side had snapped and broke, causing the problem. consumer has contacted dealer, dealer has replaced both torsion bars. please provide any further details.*ak

	Torsion bar snapped in half while vehicle was running in park postion, dealer was aware of same defect but in ford expedition.*ak
03/18/2001
	Torsion bar on left side broke while backing out of driveway. dealer notified and informed that vehicle was not covered under a manufacturer's recall, and out of its warranty. please feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak
03/01/2001		1
	While parked and vehicle still running left front of vehicle just dropped. consumer had no prior warnings of problem. contacted dealer, and the dealer has not had a chance to look at vehicle. ak the torsion bar snapped causing the front of the vehicle to drop. the consumer believed that the torsion bar had material defect. yh

	While backing out of driveway front torison bar broke, causing front passenger side of the vehicle to drop off. please give any further details.*ak
02/01/2001		1	05/01/1997
	While vehicle was parked torsion bar snapped ,and front end fell down. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to fix problem at no cost. ak jb
01/20/2001		1	07/01/2000
	Ford need to issue a recall to many reports of bad torsion bars. *ak
02/07/2001		1	11/12/1999
	Front torsion bar broke on left side while driving at a low rate of speed, causing wheel to go into an angle and frontend to fall. *ak
01/30/2001		1	07/01/2000
	Torsion bar on this vehicle snapped while parked in the garage. had this happened while driving the vehicle, it could have resulted in a very serious accident. ford accepts partial responsibility for this failure, and has agreed to split the total cost of repairs 50/50. i disagree with this and don't feel that i should be charged for their neglegable safety defect.*ak
01/30/2001		1	02/10/1997
	Front end rod snapped while driving. contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything for consumer . ak it was the torsion bar that had snapped and the consumer was concerned about the safety of this vehicle. yh
12/31/2000		1
	Left front torsion bar broke while parked in garage. vehicle towed to dealer and repaired at consumer's cost. ak slc

	While driving front passenger's side torsion bar broke, causing front fender to lower onto front wheel. dealer has been cotnacted. *ak
01/02/2001		1	01/21/1999
	Right front torsion bar broke while vehicle was parked. vehicle taken to dealer shop for repairs. *ak
01/08/2001		1
	While driving front torsion bar broke which caused loss of control, and could have resulted in a crash. *ak
12/24/2000		1	02/16/1998
	While driving, consumer heard a loud bang followed by the front right end of the vehicle falling directly onto the wheel wall. the right front torsion bar broke in half dislodging a piece of metal that had rusted through. *slc
05/22/2000		1	03/01/1997
	Front driver's side torsion bar broke while vehicle was parked. have heard that this has ocurred on other ford trucks. this truck's suspension has not been obused in any way. i am only relieved that this failure happened while the vehicle was not being driven. *ak
02/18/2000			05/01/1997
	Consumer was traveling about 10 miles and stopped at a stop sign, he heard a loud baning.. got out of the car, and front left side dropped out. *ak.et.
03/11/2000
	Torsion bar failed. *ak
02/25/2000			06/01/1997
	While driving at about 5 mph torsion bar broke, the left front of the vehicle dropped down on the tires of the truck. if driving at a higher speed, it could cause the vehicle to swerve into oncoming traffic. ak ml
02/07/2000		1	04/04/1997
	While pulling out of driveway torsion bar on the passenger's side broke. truck was towed to the dealership. torsion bar has been replaced. ak ml
01/22/2000		1	02/01/1997
	While parked, unoccupied and not running, in an closed garage the right side torsion bar broke in two. the break occurred just behind the location where the torsion bar fits into the lower control arm. as a result of this failure the right front suspension dropped approximately 8 - 10 inches. from examination of the part it is clear from corrosion in the break that the part had been cracked for sometime before final catastrophic failure occurred. while this vehicle has just over 49k miles, they have been primarily highway miles. the vehicle has never been used for towing and has never been used in an off-road environment. ford has been notified and is willing to repair at a discounted price. however, they will not acknowledge the existance of a problem. while i have shown the dealer the broken part, i am retaining the part and refusing repairs at this time due to ford's lack of demonstrated concern over this situation. i has registered a conplaint over the phone with the nhtsa. however, i am filing this complaint to demostrate the urgency of my concern. if this failure had occurred during highway driving, it would have almost certainly caused an accident possibly causing bodily injury. reviewing complaints listed on the nhtsa web page i quickly found several complaints of torsion bar failure and a nhtsa action (pe98009). if it is possible, i would like to obtain a copy of the results of that action. at this time i have serious concerns about the safety of this vehicle as well as like vehicles on the highway. *ak

	While vehicle was in park right torsion bar broke, causing the front end of the vehicle to drop. please give any further details. *ak
			01/01/1998
	Sway bar rod to frame missing. nlm
02/05/1998		2	05/26/1997
	The torsion bar broke on two occasions. *yc

	Right torsion bar snapped off, causing the body of vehicle to fall onto the wheels .*ak
02/26/1998		1
	Left and right torsion bar broke.
03/28/1998		1	04/01/1997
	This is a follow-up to odi#704135 filed yesterday. in this incident, the torsion bar broke while thr truck was sitting in our drive-way. it was fixed under warranty by vermillion ford, 101 west cherry, vermillion, sd; phone 605-624-8624. they sent the paper work to ford, but they could not tell me if ford requested that the torsion bar be sent back to ford. after two original bars breaking, for others' safety, we feel this merits recall consideration. thank you.
01/11/1999		1	03/01/1997
	Backing out of lot, torsion bar snapped on right front. if this had happened on the highway at regular speeds, extensive damage as well as injuries would have resulted. dealer repaired but ford refused to pay due to over warranty mileage. this has to be a defect and must be checked to prevent others from injury.
03/07/1999		1	04/01/1997
	This is the second torsion bar to break on this vehicle. the left front bar broke previously while the truck was parked at home. this happened the spring/summer of 1998. two different dealers said this would be very serious if it happened at regular speed on a highway/interstate. i will get the detailed information and file a second report when the business is open tomorrow. the 3/6/99 torsion bar broke while i was hunting and driving minimum speed.
01/22/1999		1	03/01/1997
	The torsion bar failure was not an isolated incident. i have heard of several others reported to my dealer, and have found a number of others on the web. i found the failure unusual since i do not use the truck off-road, it is driven like a car. also, i have never had or heard of spring or torsion bar failures like this. i suspect either faulty material or a design problem. had the failure occurred at any considerable speed, there would have been aloss of control of the vehicle with nothing supporting half the front end. *ak
01/31/1999		1	03/01/1997
	I was backing out of the garage at about 2-5 mph when i heard a loud bang. i immediately stopped and noticed that the truck was tilting noticeably toward the right or passenger side. i inspected and found that the passenger side torsion bar had snapped in two, and was hanging down. temperature was approximately minus 7 degrees f. which was the low for the overnight. i have noted that this failure has been cited by others at the nhtsc site as well as some ford internet bbs sites. i also noted that an investigation was initiated by nhtsc but has been closed already, i would suggest perhaps prematurely since failures are obviously still occurring. there has been no acknowledgement to consumers by ford motor co. of this problem or suggestions of what corrective action to take if failure occurs in heavy traffic at 65 mph. *ak

	The torsion bar on this broke while the vehicle was parked, making a loud gun like sound. dealer has been contacted. *ak
01/01/1999		1
	After backing out of a driveway torsion bar broke. dealer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of warranty and they would only repairs at consumer's cost. also, parts are on a national back order. consumer would like some help in this matter. *ak
03/19/1998
	While driving about 40-45 mph the torsion bar in the front end snapped in half, causing owner to lose control of truck. the truck is being repaired. *ak
02/04/1998		1	12/10/1997
	Left front suspension torsion bar failure.
01/21/1998		1	11/20/1997
	Torsion bar broke.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR
08/01/2002		2	10/01/2097
	Lower ball joints needed to be replaced for the second time. stabilizer bar fell off for the second time
10/19/2001
	Stablizer bar broke , bolts fell to the ground. contacted dealer, and dealer stated no recall on vehicle. please add vin. *ak
04/27/2000		1	08/01/1998
	Front torsion bar/stabilizer bar snapped completely in half, front end of truck dropped 1'9. dealer said this was the tenth in for this problem, car is undriveable and put a lot of stress another parts.
08/15/1999		1
	Consumer experienced steering problem and was unable to back out of parking space due to stabilizer failure. nlm
02/18/1998		1	08/01/1997
	Stabilizer bar failed, causing truck to collapse on front tires with no way to steer.
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
04/15/2002		2
	Bearings in front of vehicle have been coming apart when consumer was driving. consumer lost control. contacted ford motor company, and they were not willing to do anything.akthe original and replacement parts have both failed. the wheel was on the verge of falling off. jg
06/01/2000		1	12/12/1996
	After feeling vibration in truck about a month ago, it was taken to a wheel alignment shop. mechanic stated that the front wheel bearings were damaged. the part was only available through ford. the part was on back order for about three weeks before repair was made. ak ml
06/03/1997		1
	Making sharp left turn heard loud metal noise. noticed front end dropped. mechanic did not find problem at first. noticed upper control arm had bent. had front end aligned, wheel bearings had overheated/rotors warped. needed truck checked. *ak
SUSPENSION - MULTIPLE AXLE
10/01/1996		1	07/01/1996
	Rear wheel bearing seal failed.
SUSPENSION - REAR
08/22/2003		1
	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
09/30/2001		0
	Consumer was traveling 50mph, just came though a four way stop, entered intersection, and rear in came apart/ brakes went to the floor , and abs braking system malfunctioned. vehicle started sliding ,and brake pedal went all the way to the floor. *ak
08/02/2001		1	03/01/1997
	Leaf spring assemblies middle left rear leaf spring separated after proceding past stop sign. once separation occured, middle leaf spring rotated into left rear tire, causing damage down to metal belt of tire. vehicle towed to dealership. dealership would not cover damage of leaf spring or tire, repair cost: approx. $450.00. recall 98v161 was performed on leaf spring assembly to prevent leaf striking gas tank, but did not prevent leaf from rotating out to tire. middle leaf spring was rusted on broken end and had been broken for some time, maybe even when recall service was don on it.*ak
12/28/1999			12/01/1999
	Clunking noise in right rear of vehicle...manufacturer doesn't know what it is. *ak

	Sway bar linkage broke twice, causing loss of vehicle control. please give any further details. *ak
06/24/1998		1	08/22/1997
	Vehicle and steering wheel experience vibration while driving, tires have been replaced(at 17616 miles) and balanced, however the vibration still exists, consumer states that something sounds loose in the rear. *slc
07/20/2000		2	03/01/1999
	No summary
01/02/2000		1
	Consumer's son was traveling about 70mph on the highway there was a blowout, and felt vehicle was jerking. consumer was facing the opposite side of the highway. got out of vehicle and saw rear on passenger's side was damaged, and rubber tread had come off the tire. also, muffler pipe was hanging from the vehicle. there was front end damage. ak ml
			08/01/1999
	After i purchased my truck, it developed avibration in the rear end. i replaced the tires that were on it when i purchsed it with multi mile wild spirit. the vibration continued. next i replaced all the rims with new ford expedition rims, and the vibration continued. next, i replaced the shocks on all four corners, and the vibration continues. the tires have been balanced a total of 7 times in 10 months. the vibration occurs between 58 and 75 mph. *ak
01/14/1999		0
	When accelerating to take off truck jerks and causes consumer to go sideways. mechanic said that it was a problem with the rear end. *ak
03/01/1999		1	03/01/1997
	No summary
		1	12/01/1997
	Tire broke off from the frame axle causing the vehicle to spin resulting in collision. yh
01/02/1999
	Vehicle was making noises while driving. the entire rear was making high pitch noises. took to dealer & mechanic replaced rear end & rotated tires. *ak
03/18/1999
	When driving at a speed of 40 to 45mph there is shaking coming from the rear of the vehicle. dealer can't find solution. *ak
		1
	Rear end suspension locked up causing consumer to hit windshield.
11/06/1998		2	06/01/1998
	Mr. ridgley, this is in concern to the e-mail i received from you about the overload springs on my truck. my truck was bouncing real bad, so i took it to the dealer about 4 weeks ago. they supposedly looked it over real good and found no problems. i had a blowout on the highway and noticed the spring was cocked about 20 degrees in the wheel and the overload spring was broke. i called the dealer the next morning and he told me to bring it back in. when i took it in, they finally conceded that something was wrong and ordered a new spring assembly, but told me they couldn't give me a loaner car and said that it would be okay to drive. i had a new spring assembly installed a week later. today, while installing new shocks, i noticed that the right side is now broke in the same spot, where the spring assembly bolt is at. i called the dealer and they said that they are having problems, but that i shouldn't worry about it, unless it gets worse. i guess they want me to wait til i wreck the damn thing. i know of alot of people who are having these problems. feel free to call me anytime. by the way, i really need to know if it is okay for me to drive the truck?
05/01/1997		1	09/01/1997
	Rear passenger side wheel broke off the shaft.
09/29/1997
	Consumer had 2 defective rear ends on vehicle in less than 1100 miles. now at 5k miles vehicle needs another rear end. the vehicle is currently at the dealer.consumer states that the paint on the rear end is burning off. the dealer synthetic high performance oil to endure the temperature. the rear end is taking more heat but the end still gets hot. *ak
09/01/1996		3
	While driving on a dirt road at 35 mph, the left rear tire blew out. in addition, rear frame was bent because three dealers had modified truck by putting on overloads. also, rear springs/shocks were defective/leaking. *ak
08/25/1996		1	08/21/1996
	Right rear axle shifted, causing rear end of truck to sway out of control.
SUSPENSION - REAR - SHOCK ABSORBER
		1	04/01/1997
	The rear suspension, springs/ shocks failed, resulting in vibration. *yc
		1
	Shocks are not sufficient causing extreme vibration in the rear of vehicle at 60 mph or over.
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
08/13/2004	112136	1	08/01/1996
	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
01/01/2001		2	11/01/1996
	While driving, the left rear tire experienced a blowout, this was due to a broken leaf spring which had gouged the tire, approximately four months later, the same thing happened to the right rear tire. *slc
07/05/1999		2	01/01/2098
	Noticed broken springs 10/17/2001 right side spring was rubbing against tire very low speed 10 mph or less. *ak
05/30/2002		1	04/12/1997
	While driving, leaf spring that holds axle broke. vehicle frame dropped almost touching wheels. could have slashed the tires.ak consumer had the vehicle serviced the day the leaf spring broke. consumer believes this is the reason the rear pinion seal was leaking. consumer has pictures of the breakage that shows the rust at the broken site. both rear springs were replaced. the left spring was weak. jg
04/01/1999		1	02/01/1997
	Vehicle was serviced for safety recall 98s18, for rear leaf spring clips, however after the installation of the spring clips, the rear spring leaf assembly broke causing damage to consumers vehicle which resulted in having the tire replaced.*tt
07/20/1998
	Consumer 98v161000 repairs were done by dealer. after repairs were done dealer installed clip on forward end of rear springs. consumer stated apparently dealer did not replace springs on vehicle because springs broke. contacted dealer, and dealer stated he did what recall required. *ak
04/01/1999		1
	Rear leaf springs had to be replaced in 1999. currently, they need to be replaced again. there is recall 98v161000. but ford claimed this vehicle was not included due to vin. *ak
07/01/2000		1
	Rear leaf springs broke which could come into contact with fuel tank, causing damage to the tank, and resulting in a fuel leakage. also, recall number 98v161000, vehicle not included. *ak
			01/01/2000
	Left rear lower leaf spring loosens and spins out from the ones on top of it.therefore the left side suspension is not fully supported.if truck is fully loaded failure of the suspension and left rear wheel lockup is possiable.i have read of this from various sources. *ak
03/05/2000		1	02/01/1997
	Consumer received manufacturer's recall notice r98s18/rear spring assembly: leaf. recall repairs were suppose to prevent the problem from occurring again. instead, rear spring leaf broke. dealership stated that consumer had done it, and that the warranty was only for 12 months. ak ml
12/24/1999		3	09/04/1994
	There is a broken rear spring which could cause the driver to lose control of vehicle. dealer has seen vehicle. radiator, engine mounts and head gasket have all failed. owner paid for repairs. ak ml
		1
	Rear leaf spring snapped under normal use, frame came down on the axle due to failure. mjs
08/16/1999		1	11/14/1996
	Rear spring leaf broke after recall repair causing the rear tire to shred . (98v-161) nlm
		1	04/01/1997
	The rear suspension, springs/ shocks failed, resulting in vibration. *yc
06/01/1999		1	06/01/1997
	My truck was independently disgnosed to have the exact problem that is discribed in nhtsa campaign # 98v161000. when i contacted ford they said that my vin # is not part of the recall. i don't understand...i have the exact problem on the exact vehicle of the recall and just because they have the ability to say that my truck is not part of the recall, ford can get off without fixing the problem. if it is that easy for the manufacturerto get off paying for safety related defects, the system is broken! *ak
01/20/1999		1	08/01/1996
	Rear leaf spring separation of lower leaf from upper part of spring. problem was resolved by dealer under warranty by replacing both rear leaf spring assemblies. the part that failed appears to be a shear pin that locates and mantains the alignment of the leaf spring layers. *ak
		1	10/01/1998
	Leaf spring was broken upon receiving truck. i did not know untill i was tring to load approx 150lbs of furniture, i have tried talking to dealership about problem, but they say it is out of there hands.
		6
	Consumer received three recall letters that have not been properly handled. manufacturer recall98s18/nhtsa recall #98v161000 for rear springs; /nhtsa recall #98v095000 for lugs: nuts, and manufacturer recall#97s86/ nhtsa recall#97v147000 for transmission cable. consumer has had vehicle in at dealer six times. *ak
12/14/1998
	Recall 98v161000, the rear leaf springs are cracked and out of alignment which may cause a loss of vehicle control. problem is described as in the recall, but the vehicle's vin # is not included in the recall. ak ml
09/03/1998
	Had called dealer after receiving recall notice in the mail 98v161000. was informed no parts available for the rear leaf springs on suspension. would need to order parts. *ak
12/15/1998
	Dealer refused to honor manufacturer's recall notice because manufacturer will not pay them. consumer informed dealer that is not his concern except for getting the recall repairs done. *ak
07/14/1998
	Consumer experiencing problem with dealer honoring mfr. recalls 98s-14 and 98s-18, concerning lug: nuts and rear leaf springs. consequence defects: can result in a wheel separation and fuel leakage. dealer notified, and informed consumer they would contact them when they can be available to do the work.*ak
		1
	Left rear spring broke.
11/09/1998
	Had received recall notice in the mail (98v161000). notified the dealership. was informed that parts were not available for the rear leaf springs. has not received anything from the manufacturer. would call owner when parts do become available. *ak
09/01/1998
	Recall 98v161000. recall notice was received, dealer has been contacted and cannot remedy the problem because proper replacement materials are not available. problem still exists.*ak
10/20/1998
	Dealer claims no parts are available. consumer has been waiting for over 60 days. has also been in contact with dealer over dozen times. *ak
10/25/1997		1
	Truck does not have enough leaf springs on rear end to keep truck level, rear end too low/front end too high, caused truck to sway/lose steering control; dealer recmmended installing helper springs. *ak

	When driving, especially when turning left noticed loud banging noise on driver's side when rear leaf spring shifts, zone rep has inspected, and stated it's not a safety issue, dealer replaced rear leaf spring, problem persists, also, drove along with zone representative in same year model, noise was twice as loud, dealer says it's a common problem. *ak

	Left rear leaf spring unraveled when hitting bumps, noticed thumping sound, rear fishtails, resulting in high/low speed instability. *ak
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY - LEAF
01/28/2004	97112	2	11/15/2000
	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
	29000	1	01/26/2000
	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
04/12/2003	62435	1	06/07/1997
	On april 12, 2003 while driving my 1997 ford f 150 super cab pickup vin 2ftdx08wxvca78856 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
01/01/1999
	Consumer states that vehicle was taken in for a recall on the rear leaf spring clip to prevent leaf spring from puncturing tank. consumer states feels that recall was not properly corrected. please provide any further information. mr
06/01/2002
	Consumer noticed extended stopping distance. vehicle was inspected, and discovered that rear leaf springs were bent and needed to be replaced. both rear leaf springs were replaced one year ago. *ak
10/06/1997		2	03/11/1997
	Leaf springs shifted when the truck was new. ford replace them, but they didn't fix the cause of the shifting. there is nothing to hold the leaf springs together. when inspecting the truck several years later, noticed the same problem had happened again.
12/30/1997		2	10/01/1996
	The rear leaf springs have separated and the clips that hold them together are coming off and are loose on the springs. *ak
			04/01/2001
	Left rear leaf spring, bottom leaf, is misaligned, i read that many people with 1997 f150 2 wheel drive pick ups are having the same problem.*ak
05/12/1999		1	08/01/1997
	In may 99 heard rattle from left rear. found spring clamp missing bushing, no big deal. but did notice bottom leaf was kicked out on aft end (and kicked in of fwd end) appx 1/4 to 3/8. while dealer replace lugs: nuts on recall said leaf spring no big deal. i wrapped loose clamp in tape to stop rattle. now in 11/99 while washing car i noticed lower leaf is kicked out considerably farther, now measuring a full 1. i have contacted ford cac, and the dealer will probably install a kit per sb99-6477. however, i view this as a very big problem/safety issue because the ford tsb kit only replaces the existing clamp for the two uppoer leafs. the lower leaf is adjusted back into place. internet research shows numerous people with same compaint. this is not a satisfactory solution. in my current situation the lower leaf, at a 1 aft kickout, is contacting the fwd inside and aft outside u-bolt. there can be no other outcome to this than for the spring to exert enough force over time to weaken both u-bolts to the point of failure. in my case i'll be watching like a hawk. however were it not for the initial rattle i doubt that i would have ever seen the problem until at some point in the future when my axle fell off. i've been happy with the truck and ford in general until now, but i feel like they need to wake up and address this. looking at chevrolet trucks they have what seems to be a better design philosophy; the chevrolet truck has square u-bolts, threads down , which straddle the leaf spring assemblies with close tolerance to keep the stack together on top of axle. ford's design has the u-bolts on either side of the spring stack, threads up, and relies on the compression force to keep the stack together instead of the u-bolt itself. i would encourage you to look at this issue; over time as these trucks acquire more mileage there may be some u-bolt failures. *ak
10/01/1998		1	06/01/1997
	Bottom leaf separates on both sides of rear spring assemblies & points outward at rear. loud clunking, rattling & vibration in steering column & dashboard. 2 general tires blew out within 250 miles.
10/01/1997
	Misalignment of both right and left side rear spring leafs.
SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY - SHACKLE
	77000	1	08/28/2003
	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