1997 Ford F-150 defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 1997 Ford F-150. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion
  Engineering Analysis EA11006 · opened May 4, 2011 · closed Aug 19, 2011 · led to recall 11V385000

  One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and fail (break or separate).If one strap fails, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle…

• Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/Rust
  Preliminary Evaluation PE10036 · opened Sep 7, 2010 · closed May 23, 2011

  One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and break.If one strap breaks, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven, …

• SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
  Defect Petition DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006

  On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or t…

• ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
  Engineering Analysis EA05005 · opened Mar 22, 2005 · closed Aug 2, 2006 · led to recall 08V025000

  Ea05-005 is closed with ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in cert…

• STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION
  Engineering Analysis EA02001 · opened Feb 6, 2002 · closed May 29, 2003 · led to recall 03V196000

  See attached summary for technical details

• STEERING COLUMN
  Preliminary Evaluation PE01033 · opened Sep 17, 2001 · closed Feb 6, 2002
• REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGE
  Recall Query RQ98022 · opened Nov 13, 1998 · still open · led to recall 98V161000

  In july 1998, ford submitted a part 573 notification to nhtsa concerning broken rear springs on certain 1997-98 ford f150 trucks, with four-wheel drive.ford stated that fatigue fracture of the rear springs may occur if the spring are over stresses(sic) by vehicle overloading.the broken piece of the spring leaf may spla…

• ALLEGED LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL
  Engineering Analysis EA98018 · opened Aug 31, 1998 · closed Sep 30, 1999

  The details of information and data evaluated during this investigation are stated in the engineering analysis closing report, dated september 30, 1999.a safety-related defect trend resulting from interference by the floor mat with proper operation of the throttle in the subject vehicles was not identified during the c…

• TIE ROD END FAILURES
  Preliminary Evaluation PE98024 · opened Apr 21, 1998 · closed Jul 21, 1998

  There is no summary currently available

• LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL
  Preliminary Evaluation PE98021 · opened Apr 1, 1998 · closed Aug 31, 1998

  There is no summary currently available

• AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL
  Recall Query RQ98005 · opened Mar 13, 1998 · closed Aug 27, 1998 · led to recall 97V147000

  On september 4, 1997, ford filed a defect information report concerning approximately 15,000 1997 model year f-150 trucks, manufactured from february 16 through march 4, 1996, and built at the norfolk or kansas city assembly plants.these vehicles could have incorrectly manufactured automatic transmission control cables…

• ICE FORMATION IN THE THROTTLE BODY
  Recall Query RQ98003 · opened Mar 6, 1998 · closed May 22, 2000 · led to recall 96V251000

  There is no summary currently available

• INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR
  Preliminary Evaluation PE98009 · opened Feb 13, 1998 · closed Jun 30, 1998

  Three consumers have reported failure of one of the two front suspension torsion bars in the subject vehicles.in one case the failure occurred while the vehicle was in operation, and the vehicles were parked when the other two failures occurred.no crashes have been reported.torsion bar failures are considered to be fai…

• WHEEL SEPARATION
  Engineering Analysis EA97027 · opened Dec 24, 1997 · closed May 29, 1998 · led to recall 98V095000

  By letter dated may 6, 1998, the manufacturer advised nhtsa of its decision to initiate a safety recall of approximately 1,520,000 of the subject vehicles, including f-250 light duty trucks, and navigator vehicles built at the norfolk, michigan truck, kansas city, and ontario truck assembly plants between december 1, 1…

• WHEEL SEPARATION FROM VEHICLE
  Preliminary Evaluation PE97033 · opened Jul 14, 1997 · closed Dec 24, 1997

  In addition to the a failure report tabulations given above, the manufacturer reported that an additional 33 owner and field reports have been filed which refer to problems (lug not torque loss, lug bolt fracture) that did not involve actual wheel separation, but which may be potentially relevant events.the manufacture…

• FAILURE TRANSMISSION PARK ENGAGEMENT/LOC
  Preliminary Evaluation PE97019 · opened May 6, 1997 · closed Sep 16, 1997 · led to recall 97V171000

  By letter dated september 4, 1997, the manufacturer advised nhtsa that a safety-related recall action would be initiated to correct a potential failure of the transmission shift cable in approximately 15,000 of the subject vehicles.the suspect cables were supplied to ford by teleflex automotive and installed in the sub…

• SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION
  Engineering Analysis EA96020 · opened Aug 30, 1996 · closed Dec 24, 1996 · led to recall 96V256000

  Ford notified odi that they are conducting a recall to inspect and, as necessary, repair the seat belt anchorage attachments on 1997 ford f150 vehicles built from the beginning of production through april of 1996.odi's database contains one complaint alleging the center front seat belt anchorage was not bolted to the f…

• SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION
  Preliminary Evaluation PE96030 · opened Apr 18, 1996 · closed Aug 30, 1996 · led to recall 96V256000

  Odi's database contains one complaint alleging the center front seat belt anchorage was not bolted to the floor.ford submitted 28 additional field reports and warrant claims alleging that a seat belt was not bolted to the floor, not attached, not hooked up, or the owner complainted that the seat belt was loose.the caus…