Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 041601 | 11/14/2005 | 05228 | 10018745 | Wds cop kit diagnostic tip - coil on plug (cop) ignition systems - engine misfire or rough running. *tt | 01/12/2006 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 07212 | 10/01/2007 | 10023943 | Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6l 2v, 5.4l 2v, or 6.8l 2v engine--spark plug thread repair procedure--not covered under new vehicle limited warranty. *nj this includes f-53 motorhome chassis. updated 2/23/10. *pe | 02/20/2008 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 04/10/2012 | 102000 | ||
| Truck has a 4.2 liter, v-6 engine. a week prior to incident the truck was driven then parked in a my garage. on the incident day i tried to start the truck but heard only a loud, hard knock when the starter engaged. the engine would not turn over. the battery voltage checked out ok. i had the truck towed to a local repair shop. the starter was removed and checked out ok electrically. the mechanic manually rotated the engine backward 1-1/2 turns (he could not rotate it forward) then tried to start it but the engine again made a loud, hard knock sound. the mechanic though the timing chain failed or a push rod was bent. however, since the truck ran fine the last time it was used i felt the problem developed during its last use and last cooldown. i concluded a gasket failed (or a head cracked) allowing coolant to leak into one or more cylinders during its last cooldown. i had the truck towed back to my garage. i removed all spark plugs and found coolant draining from the passenger side front cylinder which was causing hydrolock. i rotated the engine backward 4-1/2 turns then forward 9 turns. the engine now turned freely. a total of 4 to 6 ounces of coolant came out of the cylinder. i spoke with a mechanic who checked the ford alert system and found a posting for the 1997 4.2l v-6 engines that indicated they are prone to intake manifold o-ring failures. i found many reports of similar failures for this year and engine type. i intend to check in with the local ford dealership to get their take on this problem and find out why i wasn't notified about a recall. | |||
| 03/23/2012 | 161000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that after parking the vehicle, he heard the horn sounding off. the vehicle engulfed into flames soon thereafter. the fire department was notified and extinguished the flames. the fire chief stated that the frontal area on the driver | |||
| 03/23/2012 | 161000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that after parking his vehicle he heard his horn sounding off. after looking out the window he noticed that the vehicle was engulfed into flames. the fire department were contacted and the fire chief advised him that the drivers side frontal area was the cause of the fire. the vehicle had not been inspected. the manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 161,000. the vin was unavailable. tb | |||
| 03/15/2012 | 200000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire while parked. no one was injured from the fire. the fire department was contacted to extinguish the fire. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and took a complaint. the contact did not know what caused the fire. the failure mileage was 200,000. sm. | |||
| 03/15/2012 | 200000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated while vehicle was parked the vehicle caught fire. no one was injured from the fire. the contact called the vehicle department to put out the fire. the contact called the manufacturer regarding the fire and filed a complaint. the contact does not know what caused the fire. the failure mileage was 200,000. jo | |||
| 08/08/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact started the vehicle and a spark plug ejected from the head of the engine. the contact shut the vehicle off and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. the local mechanic confirmed the blown spark plug as well as a coil, and advised replacing the engine. the contact called the manufacturer to order the necessary parts for repairs and the manufacturer advised that there were only two engine heads available in the country. the vehicle was not repaired. the contact believed the vehicle to be unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 100,000. the vin was not available. kmj | |||
| 08/08/2011 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated while starting the vehicle a sparked ejected out of the head of the engine. the contact shut the vehicle off and had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. the local mechanic notice the blown spark plug and coil. the mechanic stated the engine head needs to be replaced. the contact called the manufacturer to order a part and the manufacturer stated there are only two engine heads in the country. the contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the failure mileage was 100,000. jo | |||
| 06/25/2011 | 197690 | ||
| I last drove my truck on 06/20/2011. when i woke up to feed my animals i heard a sound like a bird caught under my truck. i looked under the drivers side fender and saw flames. i popped the hood and saw the master cylinder was on fire. i grabbed my fire extinguisher from my barn and put the fire out. | |||
| 06/02/2008 | 30000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that when starting the vehicle he noticed that the engine would start knocking and making a loud noise. the vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic and they advised him that it was a defective motor and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not replaced. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. | |||
| 06/02/2008 | 30000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that when starting the vehicle the he noticed that the engine would start knocking and making a loud noise. the vehicle was inspected by different independent mechanics and they advised him that it was a defective motor and needed to be replaced. the vehicle has not been replaced. the manufacturer was not contacted. the failure mileage was approximately 30,000. tb | |||
| 03/16/2011 | 132000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that while driving, he heard a knocking noise and the vehicle stalled. the contact was unable to restart the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to his residence. a mechanic inspected and stated that the coolant leaked from the intake gasket inside the cylinder in the engine which caused the failure. the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle had not been repaired. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the current and failure mileages were approximately 132,000-bk | |||
| 12/27/2010 | 190000 | ||
| 1997 ford f150 4.2 liter engine leaked water into the engine from a faulty bottom intake manifold side gasket. the repairs cost 1486.00. noticd that many people online have complained about this same problem and became aware this has been an ongoing issue with this same make and model of vehicle. | |||
| 11/22/2010 | 61850 | ||
| Purchased a used 1997 ford f-150 truck from a private one owner person, the truck had less than 58,000 original miles, this truck has a 4.2 liter v-6 engine, wich was well maintained. after driving the truck for less than 4 months of owning it the engine suffered a catostrophic engine failure due to a defect in engine gasket, torque sequence and other specific specs, have not been notified of this problem from ford motor co. as of yet. the engine suffered what is called hydrolic-lock and when the engine cranked up it bent piston rods in the motor and the piston skirts are now hitting the crankshaft, requires a total engine rebuild or new engine replacement. | |||
| 11/22/2010 | 180000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the vehicle was parked and shut off for approximately 1 and a half hours when he was alerted the vehicle was on fire. the fire department appeared on the scene to extinguish the fire. the vehicle was not moved from the location and was not examined for the cause of failure. the failure and current mileages were 180,000. sm. | |||
| 04/05/2010 | 150000 | ||
| 1997 ford f150 truck. spark plug ejection problem. 3rd time. every time it has happened, no warning, driving regular, then it blows out. popping crackling horrible. 2 times same one, this 3rd time same side but different spark plug. been helicoiled by a licensed professional, paid dearly. | |||
| 02/05/2010 | 1 | ||
| 1997 f150 brakes locking up and engine coolant leak into motor. *tr | |||
| 07/17/2009 | 151000 | 1 | |
| Truck caught on fire in the middle of the night. *tr | |||
| 12/25/2008 | 106071 | 1 | |
| My f-150 was running rough and had a check engine light illuminated. i took it to my local dealer for diagnosis and repair. they replaced the spark plugs, plug wires, and ignition coil for a cost of over $500. they stated that the #5 plug had been fouled with antifreeze. it ran fine for about a month, then upon starting my truck, a loud banging or rattling noise could be heard and the engine locked up. upon doing research on the internet, i found numerous people who claim that a faulty gasket design caused water to leak into one of the cylinders inspection of the cylinders showed coolant to be pooled in the front, passenger-side cylinder. certified mechanics attribute coolant in the cylinder to be due to a premature gasket failure. if not corrected, the problem leads to major engine destruction. documented effects of the coolant leak are worn out bearings and surfaces, and broken or bent connecting rods, necessitating an engine rebuild. ford sent a tsb to some owners of these engines to replace the faulty gasket but not to other owners. the knowledge of a faulty gasket design was withheld from some 1997 4.2l f150 owners. i never received notification, and like many people, have suffered catastrophic engine failure. average repair costs are around $4500 dollars. ford did not notify owners of known defects and ford technicians who should know better than anyone, did not notify me. *tr | |||
| 06/28/2008 | 1 | ||
| My 1997 ford f150 4x4 on the right cylinder head the rear spark plug came out while driving loss of power now i can not drive it makes weird noises is there a recall on this spark plug no longer fits in the head was this a bad flaw to the 4.6 duel overhead cam engine .do i have a claim with ford motor company thank you! *tr | |||
| 09/10/2008 | 175000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the vehicle caught fire in the driveway. the dealer advised the contact to bring in the vehicle for repair. the dealer called back and stated that the legal department did not approve the repair of the vehicle. they further stated that they sent the contact a recall notice, but he claimed that it was not received. the contact stated that they sent the notice to a different mailing address, which is why it was not received. the nhtsa campaign id number was unknown. the failure and current mileages were 175,000. | |||
| 07/19/2008 | 86500 | 1 | |
| Defective engine that causes the intake manifold gasket to leak coolant into the engine oil. i have had this replaced twice and am now in need of it again. *tr | |||
| 06/07/2008 | 132273 | 1 | |
| Vehicle running rough and smoking at start up. mechanic said #4 cycle getting coolant on spark plugs fowling out plugs. mechanic repaired heads and replaced blown head gasket/tuned up engine/ replaced fuel and air filter/ serviced fuel system / resurfaced heads. *tr | |||
| 05/18/2008 | 101000 | 1 | |
| Front engine cover gasket failure. currently being repaired, at an estimated cost of $1,400 dollars. *tr | |||
| 03/01/2008 | 72000 | 1 | 10/10/2006 |
| Noticed low oil pressure notice anti-freeze always low with no leak to be found started up one morning loud clicking noise could be heard. *tr | |||
| 03/13/2008 | 95843 | 1 | 04/04/1997 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact attempted to start the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. the engine turned over twice, but did not start. the contact looked under the vehicle and found a piece of metal on the ground along with an oil leak. the contact spoke with a mechanic and they stated that the motor needed to be replaced. the current and failure mileages were 95,843. updated 04/29/08. *lj the consumer stated the engine was replaced due to a fualty head gasket. updated | |||
| 08/19/2007 | 80000 | 1 | 10/10/1999 |
| Lower intake manifold side gasket failure. allows anti-freeze into number one cylinder. *tr | |||
| 02/07/2008 | 100478 | 1 | 06/12/1999 |
| I have a 1997 ford f150 with a 4.2 l engine that just turned 100,000 miles. i bought it second hand from a ford dealership june 1999 with about 45,000 miles on it. this truck was meticulously cared for over the years. after noticing that the coolant level was down after a a recent refill i refilled it again. i didn't drive the vehicle for about ten days but when i went to start it the engine made a clunk and wouldn't crank. i suspected the battery after a charge yielded the same results. the battery was replaced but still the same result and also after refinishing lead terminals and starter replacement. i checked the oil filler cap and there was a thick light brown substance i had never seen before on it and all the way down around the inside wall of the filler tube. i suspected a leak in the head gasket or elsewhere and went to the internet sites for clarification. after some research i realized i was far from being the only one with this problem. as i suspected the coolant leaks via the loose seal of the head gasket into one or more of the cylinders. it appears that this was a known defect and recall that ford never conveyed to all the owners of this model. *tr | |||
| 02/02/2008 | 70000 | 2 | 10/13/2001 |
| Engine failure. *tr | |||
| 02/04/2008 | 130000 | 1 | 04/23/1996 |
| Water discovered in the oil of 4.2l f-150 motor. *tr | |||
| 12/26/2007 | 35644 | 1 | 11/10/1996 |
| 97 f150 4.2 v6. started to run rough at start up but stopped after warm up. couple days later , i started truck and rod blew. towed in and was told i need another motor. had remanufactured motor put in $3500. *tr | |||
| 12/01/2007 | 101000 | 1 | 01/01/2001 |
| 97 f-150 4.2 intake gasket leaking resulting in damaged engine. *tr | |||
| 11/25/2007 | 38891 | 1 | 09/01/1997 |
| 1997 f-150 xl sb (truck) two days ago, i started the truck and noticed that a large amount of white smoke coming from the exhaust and there was a banging on the engine. i checked the fluid levels..all were within the correct levels..took it to a reputable mechanics..told me that ford should have recalled all of these trucks...he said that the front cover gasket had been compromised and that there was coolant leaking into the engine..i found a website where there were 100's of individuals who were having the same problem with this v-6 engine (4.2 l). i am appalled that ford would allow this to happen...oh, yes.... i never received a tsb regarding this matter..i bought this vehicle brand new in 1997 and i have only 38,891 miles on this engine....i am livid that i have been royally screwed!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr | |||
| 10/10/2007 | 93000 | 1 | 07/09/1996 |
| Check engine light came on and when mechanic service vehicle he informed me that coolant has leaked into the number four cylinder and that this engine has a history of head gasket failures. he can replace gasket but believes that this would only be a temporary fix. he would be willing to replace gasket for $1600 but he can not guarantee results, a replacement engine would cost approx. $4800. after researching this issue on the web it has become apparent to me that ford has long known of this problem but has failed to take any action to remedy this situation. *jb | |||
| 05/14/2007 | 125000 | 1 | 02/12/1999 |
| Engine threw rod, just like the few thousand other complaints i have seen on the internet. treated this truck like a baby, heard from a ford master mechanic that they knew about this problem already ,and he actually laughed as he told me i was screwed. happened one morning when to start it and bam blew rod. was full of oil, full coolant, wet spark plug amazing i come from a 4 generation ford family and because of this i will never buy a ford again. *ak | |||
| 02/10/2007 | 47000 | 1 | 07/10/2001 |
| I just got my 1997 ford f150 xlt with the 4.2l engine back yesterday, after paying $1430 for engine repairs. this truck only has 47,700 miles on it. i went out to the truck one day and turned the key, and - nothing. turns out to be hydro lock but i didn't know it at the time. i finally got it started, & got it into the dealer, and the technician thought it needed to be tuned up, plus i was having the heat fade at stops so he flushed & refilled the coolant. i mentioned that i was having to top off the coolant about once a month, but i didn't know where the coolant was going, and it wasn't showing up in the oil. i got it back, and it was still running really bad, so i dropped it off again 2 days later. this time he thought it was the coil pack. they had it again for another day, replaced the coil pack and a sensor. i go out to the lot and start it, and it was still running really bad. so, i go back in & get the technician, and he came out to check it himself, and he was amazed at how bad it was running. we took it for a ride, and it smoothed out a little, but it was still not right. i told him i would let him consult his boss, and call them back on monday. monday comes, and i go to start it to go to work, and - hydro lock again. so, i take my wife's car to work, and called them from there, and told them what it was doing. they were there within a half hour to get it. this time i get a call from the service manager, and he told me that he put his best technician on it, and would call. when he called, he told me that the head gaskets were leaking, and letting coolant into the cylinders. i said to go ahead & fix it. then they called me back the next day and told me that they found that the lower intake manifold was cracked, and letting coolant pour into the cylinders. i asked about getting a used intake manifold, and he said they would look for one, and they did find one. plus, they put in a new thermostat. *jb | |||
| 02/05/2007 | 44000 | 1 | 01/05/2004 |
| Hydro lock 1997 ford 4.2 v6 44,000 miles. *nm | |||
| 12/23/2006 | 100000 | 1 | |
| This week the engine in my 1997 f-150 blew. the plugs were wet. coolant leaked. i went on the internet to see about purchasing an engine and i found a website called fight back with david horiwitz. there are 27 pages of complaints that are exactly the same as mine. http:www.forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.phpt=224 you need to see for yourself. it is unbelievable. *jb | |||
| 03/04/2004 | 96380 | 2 | 02/04/2002 |
| Coolant running low,started my truck and it started knocking very loud,and the engine locked up almost instantly,had to have engine rebuilt and now it is knocking again. *nm | |||
| 10/19/2006 | 178000 | 1 | 06/01/2002 |
| On occasion, truck would hesitate, taking a bit of tlc on the gas pedal to clear it up. one occasion, in traffic, attempting to avoid a near miss, i accelerated through this. white smoke began pouring out the tail pipe. head gasket failure. limped home. engine hydro-locked. diagnosis = replace head gaskets ($2,100) in this same 'weak' 4.2 v-6 or replace motor ($2,500) with newer 4.2 v-6. replacement will be done tomorrow. ford faulty engine / gaskets - not my fault. my problem though. *jb | |||
| 08/26/2006 | 85700 | 1 | 11/02/2001 |
| 1997 ford f-150 4.2l v6. engine failure. broken rod following hydro lock. problem preceded with coolant leak and replacement of timing chain cover gasket. *jb | |||
| 08/14/2006 | 1 | 10/15/2004 | |
| Ford f-150 v-6 4.2l motor coolant caused the motor to throw a rod. *nm | |||
| 04/26/2006 | 90000 | 1 | 05/02/1997 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle lost power intermittently while driving at any highway speed. this happened more often while towing something behind the vehicle. the engine spewed coolant onto the engine block. the vehicle has been to the dealership five times. the heads have been changed once; the reservoir system has been changed twice. the egr valve has been changed twice. however, the problem still persists. | |||
| 03/09/2006 | 82000 | 1 | 03/09/2005 |
| I have a 1997 ford f-150 with a 4.2l v6 engine that has failed with 82,000 miles. it is my understanding this failure is due to coolant leaking into the engine due to an engineering flaw. it is also my understanding the ford motor company is well aware of this problem but chooses to except no responsibility and leave the consumer with the burden of engine replacement for $4000 to $5000. i also understand the failures are not an isolated problem but are being experienced by thousands of ford f-150 truck owners with the 4.2l v6 engine. it seems to me that if a problem is this wide spread and the manufacturer refuses to be accountable a government agency should step up and represent as well as protect the people to something that amounts to out and out consumer fraud. *nm | |||
| 04/07/2006 | 222000 | 1 | 05/01/2002 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while stopped at an idle, the engine oil pressure decreases to zero followed by a grinding noise within the engine compartment. the vehicle was seen by an independent repair shop for inspection. the mechanic determined the engine needed to be replaced. | |||
| 12/15/2005 | 145000 | 1 | 04/10/2005 |
| 97 ford f-150 4.2, blew a rod and they tell me that is gone cost me about $4000 to replace the engine. *jb | |||
| 03/04/2006 | 74996 | 1 | 12/10/1996 |
| 1997 ford f150 4.2l v 6 engine. engine hydrolocked. #4 cylinder full of coolant bending connecting rod and other catastrophic failure. poor gasket design by manufacturer allowing coolant to leech into combustion chambers. information readily available on the internet regarding multiple failures of the same type for the same engine type. manufacturer will not remedy problem. $4000 repair cost to an engine that has less than 75k miles on it. *jb | |||
| 12/11/2005 | 70126 | 1 | |
| I own a 1997 ford f150 with the 4.2 v-6 motor. the truck had 70, 126 miles when it suffered hydrolock. i drove the truck on a wednesday, and it was running fine. friday evening when i tried to start it, i thought the battery had gone dead. i pulled the battery out and had it tested, and it was ok. installed the battery and again attempted to start the truck, when i heard an unusual kick back. i was able to get the truck started, but there was white smoke coming from the exhaust and the smoke had a sweet coolant smell. i performed some internet research and found the information about the hydrolock problems. i pulled the intake manifold and found a crack in the gasket. i then pulled the left side head and found the number 4 connecting rod was bent. i pull the motor and performed a complete rebuild. *jb | |||
| 01/19/2006 | 137000 | 1 | 10/28/1999 |
| No known event leading up to failure. engine made a loud exploding noise and started popping after explosion. the dealership explained that it was a blown spark plug and that the head had to be replaced. cost $1600.*ak | |||
| 04/15/2003 | 73700 | 1 | |
| The truck had a knocking sound. the vehicle was taken to the mechanic who stated that the front cover gasket and manifold side gasket failed allowing coolant to leak into the cylinder. at cold start, the coolant in the cylinder caused the piston rod to break. he also stated that the engine would cost $4000. to replace. *nlm *tt | |||
| 12/15/2002 | |||
| Consumer states while driving the vehicle and without warning.the vehicle caught on fire. ts | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 01/21/2008 | 61474 | 1 | |
| I recently noticed a loss of coolant and foamy engine oil. i found an online forum explaining this as a problem called hydrolocked.ford has known about this problem since 1999 an has issued a tsb 99-20-7 and onp 99b29.why has ford motor company not been held financially responsible for this ? *tr | |||
| 02/22/2007 | 66988 | 4 | 01/29/2007 |
| 1997 ford f150 4.2 v6 oil pressure falls to zero after warm up... with warning. i was deceptively sold this problem without warrantee just last month. my truck has only 66k miles and now i discover a big ongoing problem... just by placing this top line in any seach engine you'll reach... http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224 that is 400 hits of the same problem which leads to engine failure. even if its repaired prior to failure. | |||
| 10/20/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1997 f150 4.2l v6 60k miles water in cylinder warped rod. engine no good. cant afford to spend 5k dollars to try to repair engine. *nm | |||
| 02/28/2006 | 107000 | 1 | 09/01/2002 |
| Coolant leak. *nm | |||
| 02/23/2006 | 90448 | 1 | 10/18/2000 |
| I own a 1997 ford f150 with a 4.2l 6 cyl engine and i am having the same problems with coolant leaking and water pump gasket failures as tens of thousands of other owners of this make and model ford truck. my truck has 90,000 miles and i am paying $1200 dollars to have this problem rectified. ford has issues tsb's on this issue since 1999 and nothing is being done to reimburse or protect the consumer from this recognized failure. this should be an official recall and reimbursement made to owners who have paid to have this condition rectified. *jb | |||
| 01/18/2006 | 70000 | 1 | 02/18/2001 |
| Gasket failed on 4.2 liter ford engine, causing a rod to break. i was never notified of the gasket recall in 1999. it's going to cost me $3000 to fix. ford should be liable for this. there are thousands of others just like mine out there.*ak | |||
| 04/14/2005 | 140000 | 1 | 08/08/2002 |
| I had purchased a used for f-150 for the dealer it went through inspection and was working very well. however after about six months of use it started to loose coolant, but dot visibly. it would run hot , i would add coolant and continue. then in april of 2005 the engine locked up and had to be replaced. the mechanic said that the engine had hydrolocked and would need to be rebuilt. *nm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 11/10/2005 | 89000 | ||
| I have a 1997 f150 4.2 v6 that i purchased new from ford. i noticed that it was losing coolant, but could not find a leak. in 2005, with only 89000 miles on the vehicle i started it up one afternoon when i was on my way home from work and it was running rough. i drove it home and parked it and went out approximately an hour later and started it up and it had a very loud rod knock. i was just researching rebuild kits and rebuilt engines when i came across all the posts about hydorlock. i now know that this was a situation that ford was aware of, but did nothing to correct and left people like myself with a vehicle that was well maintained and did not last. unfortunately, i did not have the means to repair and the vehicle has been sitting all this time. i think they should have taken responsibility when they found out and people like myself would have had protection on our investment. | |||
| 12/09/2010 | 91848 | ||
| 1997 ford 4.2l f150 - 91,000 miles vehicle properly maintained, babied it. it never had oil, coolent, or any engine problems. started vehicle and heard an engine sound pop, and noticed white smoke emitting from tailpipe. the gauges were reading all normal, as well as oil and transmission fluid levels. the check engine light came on. i immediately took the truck to my shop, they said without taking engine apart it sounds like a rod or bent crackshaft. they mentioned that it appears to be a common problem with ford 4.2 engines. it is now at the local ford dealer - they have not explained how this happened but that i need an engine rebuilt. really. thank you ford for standing behind your product. cheaper to buy a rebuilt engine? does it have the original engine gaskets? then i can expect to spend another $4000,00 in three years or just after the warranty expires. if you have an engine problem with the ford f150 4.2l just do an internet search! where is the class action lawsuit? | |||
| 11/22/2010 | 61850 | ||
| Purchased a used 1997 ford f-150 truck from a private one owner person, the truck had less than 58,000 original miles, this truck has a 4.2 liter v-6 engine, wich was well maintained. after driving the truck for less than 4 months of owning it the engine suffered a catostrophic engine failure due to a defect in engine gasket, torque sequence and other specific specs, have not been notified of this problem from ford motor co. as of yet. the engine suffered what is called hydrolic-lock and when the engine cranked up it bent piston rods in the motor and the piston skirts are now hitting the crankshaft, requires a total engine rebuild or new engine replacement. | |||
| 06/10/2005 | 100000 | ||
| My 1997 ford f-150 started to leak coolant into the cylinder. i decided to buy a brand new motor from ford back in 2005 because repair the leaking gasket was not worth it. there is a group of people saying that ford should have or indeed have recalled these motors and i never new about it. i was never informed when i took to a ford dealership. i paid $2500 for a motor ford should have paid as i am understanding from what i read online. | |||
| 05/29/2010 | 67000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. he stated that while driving out of his driveway at approximately 5 mph, he heard a loud noise which caused the vehicle to lose speed. he was able to drive it to a gasoline station where a local mechanic stated that the spark plugs detached from the vehicle and stripped the threads holding the spark plugs in place. the failure also caused the wires to melt; however, the vehicle was repaired with a coil spark plug kit. the dealer nor the manufacturer were contacted. the failure and current mileages were 67,000... | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 270000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. while the contact was at work she was informed that the front end of her vehicle had caught on fire. the hood of the vehicle, interior, and both front end tires were burned and damaged beyond repair.the fire department was called to extinguish the fire and the vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership or the insurance company. there were no prior warnings and the current and failure mileages were 270000. the vin number was unavailable. | |||
| 01/02/2010 | 132600 | 1 | |
| I was driving my truck and heard a loud pop, as if a tire had blown or drive component broke. my truck began to run rough and shake after the noise and continued when i came to a stop very shortly after the sound. it also continued after i came to a stop and put my truck in park. also, it increased in severity but lessened in time interval, of an obvious knock. i learned i had blown a spark plug out of my head, taking the threads in the head with it. the two options are to remove the head from the motor, which costs about what the truck is worth, or to fix it with the head on the motor and take chances that no metal shavings enter the cylinders. both options require a heli-coil for the head. i had to heli-coil my head to replace the spark plug since there were no threads for the spark plug to attach to. *tr | |||
| 12/29/2009 | 158264 | 1 | |
| Sparkplug blowing out. *tr | |||
| 01/10/2009 | 128000 | 1 | |
| My 1997 f-150 4.2l v6 with 128,000 miles started experiencing an unaccountable for water loss that quickly turned into a rough idle on cold starts and then very noticeable steam from the exhaust at what time it was taken in for repair with a suspected blown head gasket. dismantling the engine, there was water in the top end but there is no indication of head gasket failure and the heads have been pressure tested for leaks and turned out ok. it appears that the intake or intake gasket is the problem and upon online research it was discovered that ford has had prior complaints of intake and gasket failures. *tr | |||
| 06/18/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1997 ford f-150, wipers quit while using them in rain, head gasket leaks oil on exhaust which intern smokes and could possibly cause fire. *tr | |||
| 04/24/2008 | 102974 | 2 | |
| I purchased a ford factory motor 4.2v6 crate motor for my f150, back in 2004. the motor has 10,000 miles on it and has blown for the 2nd time during this trucks lifetime. i had it serviced because the check light came on. ford replaced the sensor and took it for a test drive and the service technician came back with blown motor, and will not fix it. their are currently hundreds of complaints against this motor and no one has had any luck with it. i would like to know if their is anyone that could help me with this matter. *tr | |||
| 04/05/2008 | 116000 | 1 | 05/08/2001 |
| I have owned a 97 ford f150 xcab for >7 yrs. i kept up on all maint & oil/fluid changes. i have cared for my truck as i have my own kids! it ran well on friday night (4/4/08) then on saturday morning husb turned the key and the engine started to bang loudly and spit out white smoke. there were no prior symptoms or engine warning lights leading up to this so i checked the internet to look into it. i came to find there are thousands of people this has happened to and that ford knew all about it! my truck has only 116,000 original miles in 10 years! not abused. apparently, ford issued a recall on a faulty gasket that allowed coolant to leak into the plugs/oil but it was not a recall i was offered or told of when we asked if there were any recalls on the vehicle over the years! today i found 2 more recalls 4 it on their site (not the gasket 1) that they didn't tell me of on 4/7/08 when asked 4 a vin when calling about the problem. i asked 4 the price of a rebuilt engine as they said they wouldn't fix a rod & quoted $5,500. when i asked if it was for everything, he replied no - parts can really add up, honey! i took great care of this truck! i opted to tow it to another accredited shop since they wouldn't give me a total price. not including 2 tows & paying $150 to diagnose i was quoted a min of $7,300 to fix w/rebuild +/- 12%. why should i have to pay 4 something that is fords fault? they made a faulty engine & left thousands of us to pay 4 it! i can either buy a new car or walk now! im handicapped w 2 disable adopt foster kids & husb who's a police officer! 1 income/ we rent, so wont qual 4 cash loan! please see this: http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/archive/index.php/t-224.html where other ford 4.2 owners noted same issue & their responses fm ford. we need help or direction on how to start/join a class action suit against them to get repairs done or $ to pay for it! *tr | |||
| 02/24/2008 | 78813 | 1 | 04/02/2003 |
| Engine locked up from coolant from intake gasket leak at 78813 miles fordfleet.com there was a recall for intake gasket but never received recall 1997 ford f150 4.2l engine. *tr | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 0 | 1 | 05/08/2004 |
| I have a 97 f-150, v-6 4.2l engine pickup. i have always a coolant leak coming from somewhere, but lately it has got worse. i've researched this subject and found that there are alot of ford owners with this same vehicle and engine with the same issue. loss of coolant. intake gaskets, headgaskets and timing chain cover gaskets. this is not only a consumer issue but a safety issue and it seems ford does not recognize the problem. i contacted ford and it was stated there was no recalls concerning this issue. you would assume that with a large population of ford owners having the same issues something would be done to rectify the problem. instead its left to the owner to conduct the repairs with a heavy financial costs. it can only be assumed ford is fully aware of the problem that consumers are having. why isn't anything being done? not only do i have the timing case leak, but now i have to worry about when my engine will seize due to intake or headgasket leaks. *tr | |||
| 02/14/2008 | 76200 | 1 | 12/06/1996 |
| Hydrolock on 1997 ford f-150 v6 4.2 engine. was not aware of any problems with the engine until the engine seized and was quoted $4500 for a new rebuild engine. i was curious of why the engine would seize and did some internet searches only to find it is a common problem with engine year and build. why was i never notified of the potential for this problem if so many others have experienced it, and what to watch out for if symptoms of this condition are evident? *tr | |||
| 01/17/2007 | 143000 | 4 | |
| '97 f150 4.2 v8 coolant leak, engine blown @ 140,000 after several head gasket repairs. *jb | |||
| 07/20/2007 | 1 | 09/01/1997 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact stated that a rod punctured the oil pan and ruined the engine. the vehicle is unable to be driven and has not been to the dealer. he has discovered several other people who have experienced the same failure. the vin, speed, and mileage information were unavailable. | |||
| 07/13/2007 | 170000 | 1 | 09/01/2005 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. the contact noticed flames coming from under the hood while the vehicle was parked. the dealer has not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause the vehicle was deemed totaled. updated 09/05/07. *jb | |||
| 07/06/2007 | 110050 | 2 | 09/15/1996 |
| I own a 1997 f-150 ford pickup with the triton v8 4.6l engine. after having 10,5000 mile schedule service to replace spark plugs and tune up the number 4 cylinder plug began to pop-out of the block. so far no damage to the vehicle, but it was not fixed yet. i knew this was acommon problem that was investigated before, but i wanted to document that the problem continued, and ford needed to acknowledge the defect. i was told by my ford dealership that if i drove with number 4 cylinder misfiring for an extended period it may cause hydro lock or fire damage to the engine. that was pretty serious and sounded like an admission from fords dealers that there was a serious problem. the dealer has been very helpful, and was working to fix the problem so i have no complaint against the dealer. however, just because there hasn't been a fatality with this defect did not mean there shouldn't be an admission by ford of the design defect, and a recall to fix the problem without charge to the customer. *ak | |||
| 02/05/2007 | 136000 | 1 | 07/15/1999 |
| I went outside one early morning to start up my vehicle when i heard a loud pop that originated from the engine of my 1997 ford f-150 xlt. i took a look at the engine; however i am no mechanic. i attempted to start the engine again, but the engine would not turn. i later found out that the engine was locked because of the coolant leaking from a gasket into the cylinder causing one of the rods to bend. my mechanic informed me that the liquid was not allowing the rod to fully compress because of the pressure caused by the liquid. needless to say, he told me that the ford pick ups' engines have that problem and i would just be wasting my money repairing the original engine. he advised me to search for a rebuilt engine that had a warranty on it. due to the expense, my pick up is sitting there with a defective engine. this is the second ford i had purchased because i was so pleased with the first ford vehicle. however after this disappointment, i purchased a nissan instead. i make sure that i tell all my friends and relatives of this experience with ford and the unsatisfactory product they have put out. no wonder the toyota tundra and nissan titan are leaving ford behind! built ford tough, right.... *tr | |||
| 04/23/2007 | 98780 | 2 | 10/15/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. while driving 60 mph, the contact heard a loud popping noise coming from the vehicle's hood. he was able to drive the vehicle home, but was unable to restart the vehicle once he shut it off. the vehicle was towed to a mechanic who stated that coolant was found in the cylinders due to a cracked head gasket or a crack in the cylinder. the mechanic installed a remanufactured engine and there have not been any more failures. the current mileage is 99,600 and failure mileage was 98,780. | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 108000 | 2 | 06/01/1996 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. while driving 45 mph, the contact heard a knocking noise coming from the engine. the vehicle was brought to the dealer and the engine was replaced. as a result, the engine began to overheat and a significant lost of coolant resulted due to a reservoir failure. at 80,000 miles, the contact began to experience oil pressure failure, which the dealer stated was caused by a bent piston rod on the crank case. the manufacturer would not assist the contact because the vin excluded the vehicle from the recall. ford claimed to have only issued a partial level b recall. the failure originated 6 weeks ago, but has been ongoing since june of 2006. the technician suggesting waiting until the engine fails to have it replaced again. the current mileage is 850 and failure mileage was 108,000. | |||
| 01/26/2007 | 87559 | 2 | 07/10/1997 |
| 1. failure of ford motor company and dealer where vehicle was purchased new, family ford sales inc., florence, al to notify customer of defect with 1997 4.2 l v6 engine as published in ford service program, number 99b29 which could lead to engine failure through engine front cover gasket failing and polluting the oil with coolant, resulting in destroyed engine. further family ford sales inc. diagnosed this problem on this vehicle 11/20/02 and repaired it for $432.08 cost to owner. no mention of the ford no-charge service program or possible engine damage was given at this time. 2. failure of 1997 ford f150 engine with 87,522 miles due to a known failure to ford motor of faulty gaskets (lower intake manifold (ford tsb 99-20-7) and engine front cover gasket failing and polluting the oil with coolant (ford service program, number 99b29) neither of which were communicated to the original owner of the vehicle. this action caused $3,061.20 of damage due to replacement of engine long block 1/26/2007 the babbitt was removed from engine bearings, resulting in low oil pressure and engine oil light coming on which was diagnosed by family ford on 1/5/2007 (cost $73.50). again ford servicing dealer/oem selling dealer did not inform customer of any issues with this engine or earlier no-charge service program. failure to notify or fraudulent actions by the dealer and ford motor company have cost me over $3,500 and the lost time associated with this faulty product. vehicle vin is 1ftdf1827vnc63740. documentation to prove all claims are available for submittal. *nm | |||
| 09/27/2006 | 70000 | 1 | 05/01/2001 |
| My 1997 ford f150, 4.2l v6, has been losing coolant since about 2004. my son had a difficult time starting the vehicle one afternoon. finally i got it started and drove 5 miles home. the next afternoon the car started quickly but immediately started banging away. my mechanic says the engine is dead - bad rod. now i find out from the internet that this is a known issue with this engine but ford refuses to acknowledge it. trade in value on the car is zero because all the 2nd tier dealers know about the engine problem. i'm out the cost of a new engine (seems only fair after my 96 windstar needs new head gaskets because they wear out at 30k miles) apparently if you know a ford mechanic, he will tell you the motor has been bad since the day it was first manufactured. this motor should not have failed and had it not been for the faulty gasket leaking coolant into the motor it wouldn't have. from reading web sites i have found that ford issued a recall on the gasket and then pulled it. i never received a bulletin on the faulty gasket. don't expect to own another ford, but some financial help would sure soothe my frustration if someone wants the parts to use to acquire compensation from ford i can keep the dead engine for a couple of weeks. *jb | |||
| 04/03/2006 | 81200 | 1 | 01/03/1997 |
| Hydro-lock on 1997 ford f-150 with 4.2l v6 caused bent rod. engine had to be replaced. the ford on-99b29 was exercised in 2000 which was suppose to prevent this type of failure. *nm | |||
| 07/18/2005 | 85000 | 1 | 04/12/1998 |
| I have a 1997 ford f150 pickup. it has the 4.2l v6. i had 84,000 miles on the vehicle and had to replace the motor due to a bent rod. the rod damage was caused by a leaking gasket that allowed coolant into the cyclinder. when the truck was attempted to be started the fluid (does not compress) prevented the piston from full travel and bent the rod. this is a serious defect. ford is aware of this and denies everything. after this happened, i became aware of many many others with the same problem. *nm | |||
| 01/01/2006 | 100000 | 1 | |
| Normal use of 4.2 v6 ford engine oil pressure drops to 0 psig at engine idle after trying to fix the problem my self (25 years auto mechanic 17 years aviation tech) and searching the web for others with the same problem and there are thousands i have found the fix is rebuild or replace the engine $2000.00 - $6000.00 fomoco should share in this expense but i have not heard of anyone with help from ford i will state that many have been and will be injured momentarily. *nm | |||
| 05/24/2006 | 227000 | 1 | 11/11/2000 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 30 mph, the vehicle stalled and would not restart. the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. the contact determined the spark plug ejected from the cylinder head. the vehicle has not been seen by the dealership, but the manufacturer was alerted. | |||
| 05/15/2006 | 55000 | 08/27/1996 | |
| Started vehicle in driveway, loud bang, white smoke out of tailpipe, and knocking in engine. mechanic says the engine is ruined - bend rods. one owner vehicle with 55,000 miles. | |||
| 05/17/2006 | 81000 | 1 | 11/21/2000 |
| I have a ford f150 v6 4.2 with a blown engine. i started it one morning to a loud knocking and smoke from the exhaust. i understand this has been a frequent problem that ford refuses to take responsibility for. my truck has 81,000 miles on it. *jb | |||
| 05/15/2006 | 80000 | 1 | 05/01/2001 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, there was a loud knocking noise coming from the engine followed by the illumination of the check engine light as well as smoke from the exhaust. although the problem persisted, the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer. | |||
| 05/10/2006 | 137000 | 1 | 10/12/2005 |
| I noticed my ford 4.2l v-6 was losing coolant. but, there was no leaks externally. i went out to start it the other morning, and it would not turn over. i searched the internet, and found info on hydrolocking and bad gaskets. i removed all the spark plugs, and cranked the engine. lots of coolant came out of cylinder 1. now, i'm looking at best all new gaskets, or possibly a new engine if the timing cover gaskets weren't replaced under the recall. *nm | |||
| 04/16/2002 | 86560 | 1 | 10/28/2001 |
| Re: 97 ford f- 150 pickup w/ 4.2l v 6 it has come to my attention that this engine gives trouble w/ failing head gaskets . mine failed at 86,560 mi. engine coolant/antifreeze leaking into #s 3 & 6 cylinders so both sides of engine were affected ford owes me $1765 dollars if they knew of this problem please help! *nm | |||
| 03/21/2006 | 145000 | 1 | |
| Complete engine failure on 1997 ford f150 4.2l 145k due to leaking gasket in engine, allowing engine coolant into engine, causing engine to freeze cylinder and throw a rod then engine completely stopped. i notices that engine coolant was disappearing and white smoke out of tail pipe, then check engine light went on, then soon after through a rod and engine seized up. my car now requires a new engine due to defective gasket allowing engine coolant into engine. this seems to be a recurring theme with ford engines in this year. *jb | |||
| 11/14/2005 | 104000 | 1 | |
| 1997 ford f-150 intake manifold gasket failed along with a ton of other people. had to pay a hefty repair fee. there were no events leading up to it, just saw white smoke coming from my tail pipe. luckily i caught it real quick and it only cost the me repair of the entire gasket. a lot of times it is a whole new engine. my repair cost $500. *jb | |||
| 03/13/2006 | 102000 | 1 | 09/01/1997 |
| Engine failure, ford 4.2l v6 1997 with 102,000 miles. started engine and loud clanging noise from front of engine also large plumes of white smoke from exhaust. brought my truck to ford dealer for service and was told best solution was to replace engine. truck is currently at dealer. i went to on-line to research engine problems associated with this and found 21 pages of similar complaints. the symptoms were exactly the same for each one. only the mileage varied. some claimed a ford re-call was issued for a gasket problem to correct coolant leaking into engine causing internal failures. i did not receive this recall. please investigate what can be done to have ford take responsibility for my (and the others) engine failure. it is very costly. thank you.*jb | |||
| 03/08/2006 | 60800 | 1 | 01/17/2001 |
| My ford f-150 4.2 l engine threw a rod on march 8 2006, with less than 61k miles on the motor. the failure was due too water seeping into the cylinders from a defective gasket . i have maintained this vehicle per ford's printed manual and have the records to prove it. the result of the problem has cost me over 3,000 dollars for an engine replacement. i expect ford motor co. to reimburse me for my damages financially. i spoke with a service manager at a local ford dealership and he said he has never known of ford to reimburse a customer in this type of situation. therefore i decided to file this complaint. my truck is now being repaired by an independent service garage. *nm | |||
| 02/17/2006 | 63000 | 1 | |
| I own a 1997 ford f-150 purchased in 2000 from a ford dealership. i never received the onp recall about a failure in the front cover gasket and now i am facing costly repairs. furthermore the repairs were never conducted on my vehicle prior to my purchase despite knowledge of the recall. *nm | |||
| 02/01/2006 | 112500 | 1 | 05/08/1996 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while driving up to 40 mph the engine leaks coolant into the cylinders causing the engine to smoke. the dealership was alerted. however, no repairs have been made. the consumer has since paid for the repairs at his expense. a faulty intake manifold caused water to enter the combustion chamber and produce steam. updated 03/09/06. *jb | |||
| 12/26/2005 | 122000 | 1 | 09/01/1999 |
| 1997 ford f150 4.2l v-6 when first starting engine cold it would miss bad for up to 30 second and then would clear up and run fine. started loosing antifreeze with no external leakage, eventually engine steamed from exhaust. the next morning i started truck and the engine made a loud knocking noise and i found that the coolant reservoir was empty. i turned the truck off immediately and i was never able to get the engine to turn over again. upon removing the engine and checking the connecting rods i found that the number 1 rod was bent and the bottom of the piston was broken off from it hitting the crank shaft. i am in the process of replacing the engine. *nm | |||
| 01/30/2006 | 102256 | 1 | 04/15/2002 |
| Blown head gasket in 1997 ford 4.2l v6. *nm | |||
| 01/25/2006 | 108750 | 1 | 04/19/1997 |
| This concerns a 1997 f-150 ford pickup with a 4.2 l 6 cylinder motor. i've had to add coolant to it for several months and couldn't find a leak or any in the oil. five days ago while trying to start it the motor gave a loud bang and white smoke boiled out. now it knocks like a bent or broken rod and blows white smoke out of the tail pipe. i found a website on the internet where dozens of people with trucks having the same motor are all having the same problem between 76000-110000 miles. mine has 109,000 miles and from the reports, ford is trying to put all of this on the dealers and the dealers are just wanting to fix the motors @ $600 -$4000 dollars. the people with the problem say that it is a faulty head gasket and that they were recalled, but i never received that recall. i don't have the money to fix a motor that was faulty when i bought the thing.*ak | |||
| 01/22/2006 | 122789 | 1 | 02/08/1997 |
| #3 spakplug blewout of my 1997 ford f-150 with 5.4 liter engine. i have yet to repair this problem . *ak | |||
| 09/10/2005 | 120000 | 1 | 04/06/1997 |
| My 1997 ford f150 with a 4.2l v-6 engine began giving me problems a few months ago. it began having an erratic starting problem. it then began to blow out white smoke out of the exhaust. i checked the coolant system with pressure gauges, and everything showed to be fine. i did this several times, because white smoke continued to come out of the exhaust. then i went to start it the other morning and it turned over the rod in the #4 cylinder is bent due to coolant in the cylinder. i have heard this happening to many people, and think that ford should step up and take responsibility! . the tech then explained that the f-150s have had a trend problem with these engines for years; coolant would leak into a cylinder causing too much compression resulting in a bent or broken rod. it cost me over $2000 for something ford knew was defective. i sent a letter (attached) to ford and received a call from customer service basically telling me it was the owner's responsibility. this vehicle was meticulously cared for according to the owner's manual but, because of an engineering problem with the manufacturer, the engine failed. i researched and found hundreds of stories like mine at http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224&page=1&pp=15 . i fined it extremely unfair that i and hundreds if not thousands of others have to bear the financial burden of replacing a defective engine. these vehicles should have been recalled years ago. *jb | |||
| 12/27/2005 | 129738 | 1 | |
| My 1997 ford f150 with a 4.2l v-6 engine began giving me problems a few months ago. it began having an erratic starting problem. it then began to blow out white smoke out of the exhaust. i checked the coolant system with pressure gauges, and everything showed to be fine. i did this several times, because white smoke continued to come out of the exhaust. then i went to start it the other morning and it turned over and fired once. then it made a real loud banging noise, and would not crank again. i continued to work with it, and finally got it to crank again, and it was knocking. the knocking sound was coming from the oil pan. i pulled the engine out, and took it apart. the rod in the #4 cylinder is bent due to coolant in the cylinder. i have heard this happening to many people, and think that ford should step up and take responsibility! *nm | |||
| 12/30/2005 | 129000 | 1 | |
| Leaking coolant internally due to known manufacturer defect in gaskets. there was no external leaks, just disappearing coolant levels and car overheating. after the coolant was topped off, i tried starting the car the next morning, the car wouldn't start due to hydrolock. when it did finally start, the engine produced a loud pinging sound (such as a rod knock). i am in the process of going further into the engine to assess damage. this is a know defect to the manufacturer as they have released a tsb to address the problem. of course this is only shared with the public after damage is done. please help! *jb | |||
| 12/12/2005 | 100000 | 1000 | 01/20/2002 |
| 1997 f-150 4.2 engine failure due to known (by ford) defect that allows coolant to leak in to engine and damage the engine. the vehicle (1ftdf1720vnb15589 failed at my son's school over 100 miles from home. this particular problem is well documented on the internet. unfortunately, we did not realize this until the engine failed. there are many ford customers anxious for government support to require a recall to help finance this very expensive (~$4,000) problem. *nm | |||
| 12/18/2004 | 71896 | 1 | 12/18/2004 |
| I purchased a 1997 ford f-150 from a jacksonville resident in december of 2004 about three weeks ago, i went out to start it and heard loud banging from the engine compartment accompanied by bellows of smoke from the exhaust, i had the vehicle towed to a repair shop and, after the tech checked it out, was in formed the engine was shot. he then explained that the f-150s have had a trend problem with these engines for years; coolant would leak into a cylinder causing too much compression resulting in a bent or broken rod. it cost me $4220.00 to replace an engine ford knew was defective. i sent a letter (attached) to ford and received a call from customer service basically telling me it was the owner's responsibility. this vehicle was meticulously cared for according to the owner's manual but, because of an engineering problem with the manufacturer, the engine failed. i researched and found hundreds of stories like mine at http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224&page=1&pp=15 . i fined it extremely unfair that i and hundreds if not thousands of others have to bear the financial burden of replacing a defective engine. these vehicles should have been recalled years ago. *nm | |||
| 12/15/2005 | 125000 | 1 | 06/18/2002 |
| Failure of spark plug on f150 1997 4.6l. no extra consequences except cost of repair of a feature that never should have failed. *nm | |||
| 10/28/2002 | 2 | 12/28/1997 | |
| 1. the front engine cover gasket on my 1997 ford f-150 was defective. there was a recall at one time on this problem but was checked by a ford dealer and nothing was found to be wrong. approximately 6 months later it had to be replaced. because the recall had expired ford would not replace it for free and so i had to have it replaced at my cost of $600.00. 2. air bags and seat belt restraints. my wife had a wreck in the same vehicle and the air bags did not deploy or did the seat belts lock up like they are supposed to. i tried to get ford to explain to me why that would happen and they said the insurance company would have to handle it. the problem was still not solved. also the abs did not work. *nlm | |||
| 05/02/2003 | 1 | 06/01/2001 | |
| My 1997 ford f-150 4x4 spontaneously burst into flames from the engine compartment after having been parked in my driveway for 12 hours over night. the engine had not been run, was not hot, and had no malfunctioning parts to my knowledge. i was awakened friday morning by a jogger beating on my front door screaming that my truck was on fire. it burned the engine completely, destroyed the hood, cab, and the entire of the front end of the truck before it could be put out by the fire department. the local fire marshal and arson investigator investigated the fire and found no signs of malfunctions. *jb parked the vehicle at 6:00 pm at around 6:00 am the next morning the vehicle caught on fire. the fire was coming from the engine compartment. the fire seemed to be hottest on the drivers side of vehicle. the tire on the drivers side was totally melted. the tire on the passenger side did not fail. shortly before the fire the cruise control stopped working. once in a while the check engine light would come on. at one point an interlock switch on the vehicle brake pedal was replaced because could not get the vehcile out of park. will e-mail pictures to bruce york. only aftermarket equipment was a stereo professionaly installed. the vehicle only had liabilty insurance. | |||
| 04/27/2003 | 73950 | 1 | 12/09/1996 |
| Incident = in 2000 ford motor company extended the warranty on ford f-150 pickups to cover a known design problem involving a gasket that kept coolant fluids from leaking into the crankcase and destroying the engine. they only offered to replace the existing gasket to make sure it wasn't leaking and then extend the warranty for another 12 months. just as they knew it would, approximately three years later (april 27) their replacement gasket cracked and coolant fluid leaked into the engine through the crankcase, and my engine seized up. damage resulting = my engine began to clatter, and i drove straight to a dealership. i am now having to replace the engine ($3,600.00 plus tax). in talking with the authorized repair dealer in clarksville, tn where the truck broke down and my usual authorized repair dealer here in nashville, apparently this is happening to many of the f-150's that received a new gasket and an extended 12 month warranty. again, ford knew there was a design problem (which by the way both places told me ford corrected in subsequent years) and only offered a band-aid approach to dealing with it. in talking with the ford motor company consumer affairs, i have request that the cost, or at least a portion of the costs, of my new engine be paid by ford. the repairs will be made tomorrow, april 29. needless to say, ford has not responded or offered to pay for my new engine. *nlm | |||
| 03/14/2003 | 110505 | 08/14/2001 | |
| Ford f150 v6 total engine failure. engine threw a rod on the #1 cylinder. vehicle has been meticulously cared for and not driven hard at all. the internet is abundant with complaints of this engine. *nlm | |||
| 02/07/2003 | 99500 | 1 | 01/10/1988 |
| Water was found in the oil during a routine oil change in aug 2002. the vin was traced back to be part of the timing chain cover recall. when the vehcile was brought to the dealer, the dealer claimed no knowledge of the recall. when ford customer service was contacted, they did acknowlege the recall, and that the vehicle was part of the recall. we never received the letter, and we were informed that the recall had expired and the repair would not be covered. we made the decision to pay $800 for the recall repair (which the dealer happened to have a kit in stock). six months later, the engine has apparently blown another gaseket (sounds like the manifold gasket from others experience) and filled the #1 cylinder with water. other internal damage is unknown, the engine will be replaced rather than repaired again. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 09/21/2007 | 125277 | 1 | 07/07/2006 |
| My f150 xlt 4.2l engine had been operating normally prior to 9/21/07. the truck was sitting at home and had not been driven for approximately one week when i went to drive it. as i cranked it, the engine suddenly began making a very loud clattering noise. i immediately shut off the engine and opened the hood to see if something was hitting the fan blade or some similar event. after inspecting the engine compartment and discovering nothing unusual visually, i again started the engine and again the same horribly loud noise continued. i was told by an auto mechanic who lives nearby that the noise sounded like a rod knock caused by catastrophic engine failure. after learning of the 99b29 recall on this 4.2 engine for front gasket defects that cause complete engine failure if not stooped in time, i contacted the original owner and learned that he had never been notified of any such recall, and he specifically stated that anytime he was notified of a problem he always took the vehicle to the dealer as instructed. in fact, his father worked at a ford dealership and his father sold him the truck and he still had no knowledge of any such recall. i had recently added engine coolant to the reservoir before the engine failure because it was very low, but i discovered no leaks anywhere nor anything else unusual so there was nothing appearing out of the ordinary. the engine is now ruined due to the faulty gasket because the vehicle owner was never notified of the defective condition. in fact, the original owner took the vehicle to a ford dealership more that one year ago on may 18, 2006 for an electrical recall (05s28, cruise control) and they should have and could have also fixed the defective gasket at that time, which would have prevented my total engine failure from ever happening... but they didn't. ford's failure to fix all recalled defects on 5/18/06 was inexcusable. ford owes me a new engine! *jb | |||
| 10/11/2006 | 104000 | 1 | 06/06/1997 |
| F150 ford right side upper head gasket failure. *nm | |||
| 07/17/2006 | 112000 | 1 | 02/09/1998 |
| I bought a 1997 ford xl v-6 4x4 from noller ford in topeka, ks brand new . i was told this v-6 engine was the greatest thing ever invented by ford. i noticed that about every oil change i had to top off the coolant. i called topeka ford about this approximately 6 months after i drove the truck--i was told it was normal for this motor. i took their word. my son is in the military at nellis afb in las vegas nevada. he drove my truck there and called me last night saying the motor locked up.(it has about 112,000 miles on it) i called the las vegas ford dealership and talked with fernando and he informed me that there was nothing wrong with the ford v-6---please look into this!!!! i then called a former ford mechanic and asked him what my son could do---he stated that ford had many problems with the v-6 and most was due to some head gasket problems (or something like that) and many people have had their engines seize up due to this. i have read several websites with a lot of people having the same complaint as i do---why doesn't ford step-up? i have bought quite a few fords but if they choose not to fix this problem, this will be the last one. some ford owners have had ford send them a recall notice for the gasket issue---why haven't i???? my son is due to be deployed to iraq soon and he shouldn't have to worry about what will happen to this truck. he does not have the money to fix it, nor do i---fernando was quick to point out that for $4000 it could be fixed, i asked how he came up with a figure that fast and he refused to answer my question----what does that tell you???--this has happened to other people on a regular basis!!! *nm | |||
| 06/06/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1997 ford 150 v6 4.2 l engine failure, never received notification from ford about lower intake gasket recall, or the recall on the front cover gasket. both defects cause engine failure by hydrostatic lock, bending or breaking the connecting rod(s) in 1 or more cylinders. *nm | |||
| 04/28/2006 | 129600 | 1 | 06/14/1998 |
| 11/16/2005 ~ go in for a routine oil and lube. attendant gives me details, i have air filter replaced and coolant added because it was low. 2/23/2006 ~ go in for my routine oil and lube. i ask the attendant to look at the coolant, i tell him that it keeps getting low. sure enough he comes back and lets me know its very low, did i want to put coolant in it. 4/28/2006 ~ i go to my 97 f-150 to head out to an interview, shirt and tie, cup of coffee and paperwork in hand. put the key in the ignition and it wont turn over. it isn't the battery is dead won't turn over, its a i want turn over but i can't over and i call my mechanic. he arrives and gets out his jumpers to see if it is a dead battery. we look at the starter, electrical everything and can't seem to figure it out. he says to me, you don't have very low or little coolant, put some in the resevoir he asks me if i noticed anything odd, any hesitation the previous day, i tell him no, i literally drove 3 miles to go to the market and that was it for driving that day. he asks me to put it in reverse and we try and push it backwards to turn the motor over. it won't budge, at this point he says there has to be something in the cylinder(s), gas, water, oil, something and we'll pull the plugs and see what comes out. we pulled the plugs and coolant came pouring out of cylinder #2. i have pictures etc of the coolant and plugs. i found there are many people having issues identical to this within the same timbering of mileage and even the same cylinder. http://forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?t=224 http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473230 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ford_essex_v6_engine_(canadian)#4.2 my mechanic is now pricing a complete gasket kit and will need to take the motor apart to fix the problem. the motor sounds as if it is ok and we are going to try to remedy the gasket situation and see if we can't get it to run normally. *jb | |||
| 10/23/2005 | 75000 | 1 | 06/27/2001 |
| Bought a 1997 f-150 used in 2001 with 62,000 miles on it. i have put less than 15,000 miles on the vehicle in the 4.5 years i have owned it and changed the oil twice. i had noticed in the past that i would have to fill up the coolant, but could not find a leak. i also had problems with the heat going in and out. went to start the truck and it shook and came to a stop. started it again and there is now an awful banging/knock. i believe to be a rod or other internal part. have not had the problem diagnosed by a professional, but after reading the forums on the ford 4.2 liter engines i feel confident that i can self diagnose the problem as having to do with the coolant leak problems. i have not ran the engine and have not had the money to fix it or replace it. i can't believe the number of people that have had the some problem, symptoms, and outcome as me. they have to number in the hundreds-thousands. ford should not be able to get away with this and have to be full aware of the problems with their 4.2 motor. there needs to be a class action suit and a recall. on behalf of all the f-150 owners who have had this problem we need help to resolve this. thanks for your consideration and please inform me if anything happens or can be done as i have not found anything as far as a class action suit against ford. jb | |||
| 10/31/2005 | 1 | ||
| Spark plug blew out while running. i have only had the plugs changed once by the ford dealer. i have read on the ford f150 forums that this is very common on the 5.4 engine as they have very few threads holding the plug in. i am told ford fixed the problem in 2002 but has not recalled the earlier trucks. *jb | |||
| 12/16/2005 | 87000 | 1 | 05/24/2002 |
| 1. loss of engine coolant 2.engine damage knocking coolant in combustion chambers, engine knocking loss of oil pressure from defective gaskets, 3 .ford will not fix problem. *nm | |||
| 01/15/2005 | 135000 | 1 | 03/14/2000 |
| Lower intake manifold in 4.2l v6 (ford f150) failed (melted) allowing coolant to leak into a cylinder resulting in hydro-lock. the piston and connecting rod in that cylinder were damaged (piston skirt broken, rod bent). since then i have learned that ford has been aware of this problem almost since the truck was new ('97) and refused to provide any support to owners except where the gasket failed during the regular warranty period. as i understand it failure is inevitable, and even so ford did not make an attempt to contact owners regarding this problem. in my case ford's refusal to provide a warning of this problem turned a relatively inexpensive repair (replacement of the gasket) into over $1300 in parts and labor. *jb | |||
| 12/18/2005 | 102000 | 2 | 02/09/2001 |
| Leaking front gasket and/or intake gasket caused engine failure on a 1997 ford pickup v6 4.2 . i was not advise at no time of this potential problem and paid for the gasket repairs myself. only now after a major failure have i learned about the ford tsb 99-20-7 and/or on p99b29 and the dealer is leaving me stranded. i'm disabled, and nearly broke. also later in this form i don't know what oem is. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 04/18/2003 | 132000 | 06/01/1998 | |
| Crank shaft pulley broke 4 bolts and came off harmonic balancer on 1997 ford f150 causing loss of rower steering,alternator,and water pump functions. *nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 07/20/2009 | 124000 | 1 | |
| 1997 ford f150 with 4.2l engine. started car in the morning. made a grinding sound and stopped it. restarted the motor and it rattling loudly and stopped it again. the number one piston bent the connecting rod. *tr | |||
| 07/24/2006 | 100500 | 2 | 08/20/1997 |
| Manifold studs rusted away causing exhaust pipe to separate from manifolds. as a result of this failure, emissions portion of nys inspection was failed. repair is required to pass inspection, and is estimated by new country ford to be approximately $2200.00. i believe this to be an excessive expense as a result of the manufacturers poor design and quality of parts. *jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 01/25/2006 | 108750 | 1 | 04/19/1997 |
| This concerns a 1997 f-150 ford pickup with a 4.2 l 6 cylinder motor. i've had to add coolant to it for several months and couldn't find a leak or any in the oil. five days ago while trying to start it the motor gave a loud bang and white smoke boiled out. now it knocks like a bent or broken rod and blows white smoke out of the tail pipe. i found a website on the internet where dozens of people with trucks having the same motor are all having the same problem between 76000-110000 miles. mine has 109,000 miles and from the reports, ford is trying to put all of this on the dealers and the dealers are just wanting to fix the motors @ $600 -$4000 dollars. the people with the problem say that it is a faulty head gasket and that they were recalled, but i never received that recall. i don't have the money to fix a motor that was faulty when i bought the thing.*ak | |||
| 06/03/2004 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle engine exploded as consumer turned the key in the ignition. *mr a professional explained to consumer that the lower intake manifold failed. *la | |||