1998 FORD F-150 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED ANTI FREEZE INTO THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER AS A RESULT THE ENGINE BLEW APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

Mileage: 77,000

HAD THE 7 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SHOOT OUT OF THE HEAD AND STRIP THE THREADS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG DISLODGED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD AND HE PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD BOLTS WERE ROTTED, CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO LEAK INTO THE CABIN. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

Mileage: 188,000

FAILURE WAS IMMEDIATE, FORD F150 FUEL TANK STRAPS. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD APPARENTLY THE TANK STRAPS GAVE WAY AND THE FUEL TANK DROPPED. BEFORE COMING TO A STOP AND AFTER CATCHING SOME UNEVEN PAVEMENT, FUEL TANK WAS PEALED OPEN AND LOSING ABOUT 8 GALLONS GAS. FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND THEY CLEANED UP SPILL. BOTH STRAPS BROKE AND FUEL TANK IS UN-REPAIRABLE. UPDATED 08/05/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS A LEAKING POWER STEERING GEAR BOX, BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED, THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE GEAR BOX, THE MUFFLER HANGERS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS AND SHOCKS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/11/1*JB *TR

Mileage: 174,200

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD KNOCKING. THE CONTACT MOVED OFF THE ROADWAY TO EXAMINE THE NOISE. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD FRACTURED AND POPPED SHOT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WOULD NEED TO BE THREADED AND COILED. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED UNDER AT OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

Mileage: 85,000

# 5 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY 1998 FORD F-150 5.4 LTR ENGINE. RETURNING HOME FROM ALABAMA. I HAD JUST GOTTEN THROUGH CHARLOTTE, NC WHEN I HEARD THE SOUND OF A VERY BAD EXHAUST LEAK. WHEN I STOPPED AND LIFTED THE HOOD I COULD SEE THE COIL PACK BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. I HAD TO PAY A TOW TRUCK OPERATOR $420.00 TO TOW ME HOME. TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS JUST TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THE 5.4. IT WILL COST ABOUT $300.00 OR MORE TO REPAIR WITH A HELI COIL. (THAT'S IF IT IS REPAIRABLE WITH A HELI COIL). HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE FINAL BILL YET. ALSO, FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE PLUGS WHERE REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2009 BY THE CARLOT GARAGE WHICH I PURCHASED THE TRUCK FROM. *TR

Mileage: 177,489

I AM THE UNHAPPY OWNER OF A 1998 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE. IT SLUNG A ROD THIS MORNING AS SOON AS I STARTED IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AN FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 98 4.2L'S DUE TO FAULTY GASKET. I'VE READ ALOT OF STORY'S ABOUT THE SAME TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ENGINES. THERE IS A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING READY TO SPEND 3 OR 4 GRAND FOR FORD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES. ISN'T FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTS THAT THERE TRUCKS HAD COMING OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

04/17/2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM OUR FORD F-150 XLT WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF IN OUR DRIVEWAY OF A SINGLE DWELLING HOME. WE AND NEIGHBORS HEARD MULTIPLE EXPLOSIONS THAT SHOOK OUR HOUSE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK WAS ALREADY ENGULFED IN FLAMES SHOOTING UP 12+ FEET. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY. WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT THE ENTIRE FRONT HALF OF THE TRUCK WAS GONE, BURNT INTO THE FIBERGLASS TOPPER, BLEW OUT ALL BUT TWO BACK WINDOWS AND MELTED ALL WIRING BACK TO THE REAR SHELL WINDOW. THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINS IS THE BACK HALF OF THE TRUCK AND BACK TIRES. *TR

Mileage: 169,000

NEW SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED AT 70,000 MILES ON MY 1998 FORD F150. A FEW WEEKS LATER A SPARK PLUG (CYLINDER #4) WAS EJECTED FROM ITS THREADS, CAUSING GAS VAPORS TO FILL THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE CABIN. AFTER THE LOSS OF POWER AND THE NEED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG (THE SPARK PLUG SEEMED TO BE REINSERTED WITHOUT PROBLEMS), IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE UNTIL 5 WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND ANOTHER MISS FIRE WAS RECORDED BY THE CODE READER. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON (CODE READER SHOW CYLINDER #4 MISS FIRE) WITH A LOSS OF POWER. NOW A HELICOIL KIT WILL HAVE TO BE INSTALL AT A COST OVER $117. IF THE HELICOIL KIT DOES NOT WORK, THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE TO BE SOLD FOR AT FRACTION OF WHAT ITS VALUE WOULD BE WITHOUT THE FOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS, OTHERWISE IT COULD BE USED AS MY REGULAR DRIVER- THANKS FORD! *JB

Mileage: 71,506

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD F-150 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND THE SPARK PUG HAD BLOWN OUT. CYLINDER #3 ORIGINAL PLUGS. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, DROVE TRUCK IN TOWN AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, THEN WOULD NOT TURN OVER NEXT DAY, RADIATOR COOLANT IN CYLINDERS, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, ENGINE OIL OK, COOLANT LEVEL OK. TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 151,571

THE EXHAUST HEADER BOLTS ON MY 1998 F150 PICKUP RUSTED AND FAILED. TO REPLACE THESE $2 STUDS, A LENGTHY REPAIR IS REQUIRED WHERE THE HEADS HAVE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STUDS THAT HAVE BROKEN FLUSH WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS HAVE TO BE DRILLED OUT. AN INTERNET SEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM INDICATED THAT THOUSANDS OF FORD VEHICLES WITH THE 5.4 ENGINE AND ALUMINUM HEADS ARE AFFECTED. THE EXHAUST LEAK FUMES COME INTO THE VEHICLE AND ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FIRE. I HAVE READ REPORTS OF REPAIR BILLS REACHING $2000. I'M COLLECTING INFORMATION ON HOW TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF AS I DO NOT HAVE $2000 TO GIVE TO THE DEALER. THIS IS A DESIGN FAILURE THAT SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

I HAVE A 1998 F150 PICKUP WITH A 5.4 ENGINE THAT IS KNOWN TO HAVE A DEFECT IN GETTING THE #4 SPARK PLUG REMOVED. THIS IS A $1200 TO $2200 REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE BY FORD NOT THE CONSUMER. THIS PLUG HAS IS SUPPOSE TO BE GOOD FOR A 100K MILES, I HAVE 97K. ALL MECHANICS KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE TO BUY A SPECIAL TOOL TO TRY TO REMOVE THIS PLUG. PROBLEM IS IF IT DOESN'T WORK THEN THEY HAVE TAKE THE ENGINE APART TO DO THIS. THIS IS WERE THE PROBLEM LIES. FORD IS ACTING LIKE IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AND/OR I SHOULD GET OVER IT BECAUSE IT IS A 1998 OUT OF WARRANTY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WON'T KNOW THIS UNTIL THEY REACH 100K MILES AND WANT TO REPLACE THIS PLUG. IN ALL MY YEARS I HAVE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS ON ANY VEHICLE. THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A MANDATORY RECALL SO THE CONSUMER DOESN'T KEEP GETTING SCREWED FOR SUCH A HUGE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

1998 FORD F-150 MUFFLER BOLTS SHEARED OFF ON BOTH SIDES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MUFFLER BOLTS CAME OFF OF THE ENGINE SIDES. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 90,866 MILES, AND THE REAR WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. *JB

WHAT ISN'T WRONG WITH THIS TRUCK? WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON IT...SPARE TIRE FELL OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN, INTERIOR LIGHTS RANDOMLY STAY ON, BOTH DOORS ARE RUSTING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM, KNOB TO REGULATE TEMPERATURE FELL OFF AND ASSEMBLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT, FRONT BRAKES CALIPERS STUCK AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS RUSTED OFF TWICE, TRANSMISSION WENT UP AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES, RADIATOR RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE HEADLINER IS FALLING DOWN OFF THE CEILING. I'VE PROBABLY MISSED SOMETHING BUT CAN TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD. *TR

Mileage: 86,000

FORD ISSUED TSB 99-20-7 COVERING COOLANT LEAKS IN 1999. I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MAY OF 2008. THE PROBLEM IS THAT FORD RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM YEARS AGO FAILED TO RECALL OR INFORM THE OWNERS. THE RESULT WITH THE VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY IS A LOWER HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT COSTING $1500-2300 IF THE ENGINE HAS NOT SEIZED IF THE ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCE HYDROLOCK (ENGINE SEIZURE) REPLACEMENT COSTS ARE MORE THAN $4000. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PERSONS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. I'M INCLUDING WEBLINKS TO REVIEW. HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224&PAGE=1&PP=15. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AT 7AM, MY 1998 FORD F-150 WAS ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE APPROXIMATELY 10PM ON THE PREVIOUS EVENING. *TR

Mileage: 121,111

A SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF THE BLOCK IN MY 1998 TRITON 5.4 F-150. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S HAPPENED AND HOPEFULLY THE LAST. LOOKING IT THE PROBLEM ONLINE I'VE REALIZED IT'S A COMMON OCCURRENCE. MY WIFE AND TWO KIDS WERE IN THIS VEHICLE AND WITH A HOLE IN THE BLOCK SHOOTING OUT UNBURNED GAS TO THE LIVE SPARK PLUG IT COULD HAVE BEEN A REAL PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE FORM OF A RECALL, IF NOTHING ELSE TO INSPECT AND IF THE PROBLEM DOES EXIST, FIX IT. WOULD AN INSPECTION REALLY FIND THE DEFECT THOUGH? FROM WHAT I'VE READ IT PRETTY MUCH HAPPENS ALL AT ONE BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY FOUR THREADS HOLDING THESE PLUGS INTO THE BLOCK. HOPEFULLY THE PROBLEM DOES GET ADDRESSED SOONER THAN LATER, IT'S NEVER TO SOON TO CORRECT A PROBLEM DEALING WITH THE SAFETY OF HUMAN LIFE. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

I AM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS OF FORD CUSTOMERS WITH A F150 4.2L V6 1998 THAT HAVE A BLOWN ENGINE BECAUSE OF A LEAKY GASKET. MY TRUCK HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT, BOUGHT IT USED FROM A DEALER IN '05 WITH 72,000 MILES ON IT. RAN GREAT UNTIL I WENT TO START IT IN THE MORNING ONE DAY AND WHITE SMOKE POURED OUT THE TAIL PIPE AND IT KNOCKED LIKE CRAZY. I HAVE BEEN SAVING FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TO FIX IT, WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT STRETCHES ACROSS THE BOARD. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

1. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS 2. I HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS AND 3 COIL EJECTIONS FROM CYLINDER HEAD SO FAR 3. RETHREADING THE CYLINDER HEADS WITH HELICOIL KITS HAD TO BUY NEW SPARK PLUGS, AND NEW COILS I HAVE ONE COIL AND SPARK PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 145,000

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 LITER V6. THIS HAD BEEN A GREAT TRUCK AND HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE OTHER DAY I NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AND THEN THE I THREW A ROD. DID NOT THICK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME, BUT LATER I WAS CHECKING ON THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. I HAD BEEN REGULAR FORD CUSTOMER, BUT NO MORE. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

MY 1998 FORD F150 TRUCK EJECTED A SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RPM'S. NUMEROUS WEBSITES HAVE STATED THE HEAD DESIGN IS FLAWED AND ONLY ALLOWS 3 THREADS TO CATCH. UPON EJECTION OF THE SPARK PLUG THE THREADS ON THE ENGINE HEAD ARE REMOVED. FORD HAS A NEW DESIGNED ALUMINUM HEAD TO OMIT THE PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T IT BEEN MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH A RECALL? NOT ONLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE, DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY LOSING POWER, BUT A BAD DESIGN. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

1998 F-150 5.4L TRITON I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK FOR 2 YRS. AND PUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. CURRENTLY AT 124,000. OTHER THAN MAINTENANCE (NOT INCLUDING SPARK PLUGS) HAVE CHANGED BOTH CV SHAFTS AND BEARINGS IN THE FRONT. FEB. 3, 08 WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR PRECURSOR IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG FROM THE HEAD STRIPPING THE THREADS. IT OCCURRED VERY QUICKLY WHILE COASTING DOWN HILL AT 55 MPH. NOT HARDLY WORKING THE ENGINE. I KNEW WHAT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY, I HAD BEEN WITH A FRIEND WHEN HIS 2000 F 150 4.6L BLEW A SPARK PLUG FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS. THIS ACTION ALMOST STALLED MY TRUCK OUT BEING AT LOW RPM TO BEGIN WITH IT RATTLED VIOLENTLY. I WAS AFRAID MY 10 YR OLD BROTHER AND I WOULD HAVE TO WALK FOR HELP. NOT FUN IN NY IN FEB. A PASSERBY CAME TO OUR AID. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED HOME BY A FRIEND. STILL TRYING TO FIND A SUITABLE AND AFFORDABLE REPAIR. THOUSANDS OF THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO VARIOUS WEBSITES, DEALERS, AND EVEN TO FORD. SOME INSTANCES HAVE RESULTED IN FIRES DESTROYING THE WHOLE VEHICLE. IGNITED BY A STRAY SPARK PLUG AND FUEL MIST FROM THE CYLINDER. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BY FORD. MOST REPAIRS RUN $2,000 - $4,000 EACH TIME A PLUG A SPIT. MANY VEHICLES HAVE UNDER 100,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 124,320

MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 12/30/2007. IT HAD RUN A LITTLE ROUGH AT START UP FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO 12/30/2007. THEN ON THAT DAY A LOUD KNOCK IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THERE WAS A HISTORY OF THE 4.2 ENGINES HAVING PROBLEMS. AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH IT YET. I BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS ENGINE. IF THEY KNOW IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM TO START WITH. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LEFT LOBE WOULD NOT FIRE AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

Mileage: 42,000

I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150, WHICH HAS A 5.4L ENGINE. AT 100,000 MILES THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW. THEN ON A TRIP BACK FROM IDAHO FALLS IDAHO THIS MONTH TO MY HOME IN LINDON, UT THE #1 PLUG BLEW. BASED ON RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE SECOND TIME MY PLUG BLEW, I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY ICE COVERED HIGHWAY (I-15 JUST NORTH OF BLACKFOOT, ID). WHEN #1 WENT THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH AND MY SPEED DRASTICALLY DECREASED. THIS COMBINATION MADE ME LOSE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY POSSIBLY ROLLING MY TRUCK. LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES NEAR ME. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE AND THE OVERWHELMING INCIDENTS, I THINK IT IS TIME SOMEONE TOOK ACTION AGAINST FORD. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A DEATH! IF NOTHING IS DONE, THEN THE GOVERNMENT IS AS MUCH TO BLAME FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT A KNOWN SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

1998 FORD F150- 66,000MI. DEVELOPED A SERIOUS OIL LEAK FROM THE HEAD. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON AND FORD IS WELL AWARE OF IT'S RECURRENCE. BESIDES COSTING $2000.00 TO REPAIR, IT IS LEAKING HEAVILY ONTO AN EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING SMOKE AND POTENTIAL FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 65,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AS THE FIFTH AND SIXTH CYLINDERS. THE REPAIR HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,250.

Mileage: 89,250

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD F150 FROM CAR MAX IN LAS VEGAS. I ALSO PURCHASED CAR MAX'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO JIFFY LUBE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DROVE IT HOME, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1 MILE. JIFFY LUBE DID NOT NOTE ANY PROBLEMS WHEN THEY SERVICED THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO USE IT. JUMPING IT DID NO GOOD, THE BATTERY WAS NOT LOW. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO CAR MAX IT WAS TOWED ON A FLAT BED TRAILER, SO THE WHEELS NEVER TOUCHED THE GROUND. I CALLED CAR MAX THE NEXT DAY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD IT SCHEDULED TO LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CALLED ME THAT FOLLOWING DAY AND ASKED IF THE TRUCK WAS SMOKING WHEN I LAST DROVE IT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS NOT AND THAT IT DROVE FINE. THEN THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND CONTINUED TO ACT AS THOUGH I HAD CAUSED IT. ON MY NEXT DAY OFF, I RODE MY BICYCLE TO CAR MAX AND CHECKED THE TRUCK'S ODOMETER AGAINST THE MILEAGE JIFFY LUBE WROTE ON MY RECEIPT. THERE WERE 28 MILES PUT ON MY TRUCK SINCE THE OIL CHANGE. CAR MAX WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, EVEN THOUGH THEY BLEW THE MOTOR IN MY TRUCK, BUT DENY IT. MY SON HAD DONE MOST OF THE OIL CHANGES ON THE TRUCK, SO I HAVE NO PROOF OIL CHANGES WERE DONE, SO CAR MAX DENIED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I CALLED FORD AND I WAS TOLD THERE IS NO SUCH ISSUE ON THE TRUCK, EVEN THOUGH FORD CHANGED THE HEAD STARTING WITH LATER 1998 MODELS, DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MY ASKING HOW THEY CAN DENY AN ISSUE, WHEN THEY PUT OUT INFORMATION TO THEIR DEALERS ON STEPS TO TAKE WHEN SERVICING THE F150. SHE ASKED WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO. I TOLD HER I WAS NOT ASKING FORD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR BECAUSE I AM PAYING FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. BUT I WOULD LIKE THEM TO CONTACT CAR MAX AND TELL THEM THAT THE MOTOR BLOWING UP WAS NOT MY FAULT, SO CAR MAX WOULD COVER IT, AS THEY SHOULD ANYWAY. SHE TOLD ME NO, BECAUSE THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE 1997 AND 1998 FORD F150'S. PLEASE HELP. *TR

MY 1998 FORD F-150 ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL-MAINTAINED. ON 8/10-07, THE COOLANT LEVEL LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I ARRIVED HOME. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL IMMEDIATELY AND THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR. I FILLED THE RESERVOIR AND PLANNED TO TAKE THE TRUCK IN TO THE MECHANIC WHEN HE WAS OPEN DURING THE WEEK. I ONLY DROVE THE CAR ABOUT 20 MILES THAT WEEKEND AND I MONITORED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND TEMPERATURE. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THAT MONDAY MORNING, LOUD KNOCKING CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT I'VE THROWN A ROD AND NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET WITH THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF TRUCK. APPARENTLY, THERE WAS A TSB REGARDING DEFECTS IN THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE (WHICH WOULD CAUSE A THROWN ROD), BUT CONSUMERS WERE NOT NOTIFIED, ONLY DEALERS. TSB99-20-7 WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED AS AN OWNER? NOW I NEED A NEW ENGINE, BUT I WOULD HAVE HAD THIS REPAIR DONE OR THE ENGINE CHECKED OUT IF I HAD SIMPLY BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD. WHY WASN'T THERE A RECALL NOTIFICATION, INSTEAD OF A TSB? TO DEALERSHIPS. UNACCEPTABLE. *JB

Mileage: 78,700

I LEFT MY 1998 FORD F150 PICK-UP TRUCK IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHILE I WAS AWAY ON BUSINESS. I LEFT ON MONDAY JULY 30. I WAS CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT AROUND 9:00PM AND NOTIFIED THAT MY VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE REPORT SUSPECTED EQUIPMENT FAILURE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING ELECTRICAL SHORT AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT, BUT VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOSS AND TOWED FROM PROPERTY. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

THE 1998 FORD F150 PICK UP TRUCK 4.2 LITER V6 ENGINE THREW A ROD DURING STARTUP ONE MORNING. THE ENGINE HAD 70,000 EASY MILES ON IT. NO TOWING, RACING OR HARD DRIVING. I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT A COST OF $4200.00 WITH A JASPER ENGINE AT MR. ENGINE BECAUSE FORD WOULD NOT HELP AT ALL UNLESS I PAID THEM $7500.00 FOR A NEW FORD ENGINE. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS SAME VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME IT COST ME $2200.00 AT 50,000 MILES TO REBUILD THE ORIGINAL, AND THE SECOND TIME $1800.00 TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL WITH A REMANUFACTURED JENNINGS TRANSMISSION AT 160,000. FROM ALL I HAVE HEARD FORD KNEW ABOUT THE ENGINE GASKET DEFECT AND STILL HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION ,AND BELIEVE THIS NEEDED TO BE REMEDIED BY FORD. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THOUSANDS OF 4.2 LITER 1997 THROUGH 1999 ENGINE FAILURES. I LOVE MY TRUCK, BUT WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT. *AK

Mileage: 70,000

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F 150 WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST , NO WARNING TRUCK WOULDN'T START FINALLY STARTED, BUT IT WAS KNOCKING YOU COULD SMELL ANTI FREEZE, CALLED TOW TRUCK AND THE ENGINE WAS GONE, ONLY HAD 79,000 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 79,222

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ONTO THE HEADS AND THE BOLTS HAS RUSTED. THE FAILURE HAS RESULTED IN AN EXHAUST LEAK, WHICH HAS BEGUN TO LEAK INTO THE CAP OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE BOLTS MUST BE DRILLED OUT IN ORDER TO BE REMOVED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 88,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Mileage: 84,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BUT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOWED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

Mileage: 17,000

HEAD GASKET FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 30,000

ENGINE FAILED DUE TO POOR QUALITY PARTS. COOLANT LEAKED INTO CYLINDER, CAUSING ENGINE TO SEIZE, CAUSING A BENT ROD, MEANING $3000. ALL COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD HAVE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND ISSUED A RECALL AND FIXED A SIMPLE GASKET, $400 PROCEDURE MAXIMUM. FORD CONTINUES TO DENY THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT HELP! *AK

Mileage: 79,099

1998 FORD F-150 4.2L V-6 125,000 MILES . NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE. IMMEDIATE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE , BROKEN CONNECTING ROD, DUE TO HYDRAULIC LOCK, WHERE COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TECHNICAL BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WHICH INDICATED THAT AN IMPROPER GASKET WAS USED TO SEAL THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FROM COOLANT WHICH ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, CAUSING THIS FAILURE . ONE KNOWN IS AERA TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND ISSUED BY JASPER ENGINES. *AK ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED. ENGINE WAS REPLACED

Mileage: 125,000

I BOUGHT USED VEHICLE FROM THE BO'S AUTORAMA ON 6/2004 AND USED IT ONCE OR TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR. I STARTED TO USE IT REGULARLY IN APRIL 2005. FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS/WIRES BECAUSE OF WATER GETTING INTO THEM, AND CAUSING A MISS IN THE ENGINE ON 4/2005. THEN I HAD THEM SEALED ON 9/2005, THEN, REPLACED ON 12/2005 , AND THE PROBLEM TO THIS DAY, HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED, BUT I SPENT OVER $900 TRYING. THE TRANSMISSION AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES ON 5/2005, 6/2005, AND 7/2005. THE MUFFLER WAS REPLACED IN 8/2005, THE BATTERY DIED IN 10/2005, THE FRONT BRAKES WENT OUT IN 11/2005. SO LESS THAN 14,000 MILES FROM PURCHASE I HAD SPENT OVER $5OOO IN REPAIRS, AND STILL COULD NOT DRIVE IT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO BO'S BEUCKMAN FORD AND WILL NEVER DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN. THEY OVER CHARGED ME FOR LOUSY WORK. ALSO, FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE FIRST FAULTY REAR DIFFERENTIAL BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE FORD INSTALL IT. WHY WOULD I? THEY COULD NOT FIX THE ENGINE MISS AFTER 2 TRIES, AND CHARGED ME BOTH TIMES, AND IT TOOK THEM 3 TIMES TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

Mileage: 74,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CAUSING THE MANIFOLD TO SEPARATE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 115,000.*AK UPDATE 04/30/07*TR

Mileage: 115,000

UPON STARTING VEHICLE ON MY DRIVEWAY A LOUD BANG AND SUBSEQUENT KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM ENGINE. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT ENGINE FOUND WATER IN INTAKE CHAMBER AND BROKEN ROD AND PISTON. MECHANIC ADVISES AN ENGINE REBUILD WILL BE REQUIRED AND IS FAMILIAR WITH A HYDRO LOCK PROBLEM WITH THE 4.2 L FORD V6 ENGINES. *JB

Mileage: 64,000

MY 1998 FORD F150 AS SOON AS IT GOT TO 100,000 MILES THE OIL PUMP GOES OUT AND IT STARTS TO LOOSE COOLANT BUT NOT LEAKING IT ANY WHERE. AS I HAVE FOUND OUT THESE ENGINES BETWEEN 80,000 AND 100,000 DO THIS. MANY FORUMS READ THE SAME PROBLEM FOR EVERY 4.2L DOES THIS. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE (68,000 MILES) ON 1998 FORD F150 WITH 4.2L ENGINE. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT FAILURE WAS DUE TO OIL LEAKING INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH RESULTED IN BENT ROD. THROUGH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 1998-1999 BUT DID NOT NOTIFY CUSTOMERS. NOW THEY WANT $4000-5000 FOR NEW ENGINE. *JB

Mileage: 68,000

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1998 FOR F-150 ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN THE MORNING OF 02/09/07 HE HAD NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. AFTER A DAY OF DRIVING HE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO WESTERLY TIRE, AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 76000.*AK

Mileage: 76,000

1) AROUND MAY 2004, I NOTICED I WAS NEEDING TO ADD WATER TO MY 1998, FORD F150, 4.2L V6 QUITE FREQUENTLY. 2) WATER ENTERED THE BLOCK OF THE ENGINE, LONG STORY SHORT, MY MOTOR SLUNG A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN, IN TURN, COSTING AROUND $4,000.00 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX. 3) FORD KNOWS OF THE MANY, MANY FAILURES OF THIS PARTICULAR MOTOR WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED DURING THE YEARS OF 1997, 1998, AND PART OF 1999. I, LIKE MANY OTHERS, NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF NOTICE CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. I WOUND UP REBUILDING THE ENTIRE MOTOR DUE TO AN INTAKE GASKET MALFUNCTION THAT FORD COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED BY WAY OF A RECALL NOTICE. *NM

Mileage: 105,500

SPITTING OUT SPARK PLUGS. *JB

1998 4.2L V6 FORD ENGINE COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE CAUSING HYPERLOCK AND BLOW A ROD NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD POP SOUND WAS HEARD AND A PISTON OR ROD STARTED KNOCKING LOUDLY. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE RADIATOR BELT, INSPECTED THE WATER PUMP, CHECKED THE PLUGS, THEN NOTICED LIQUID COMING FROM THE EXHAUST INCLUDING ANTI-FREEZE. A LOCAL PARTS STORE INFORMED THE CONTACT OF HYDRO LOCK PROBLEMS WITH THAT ENGINE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA.

Mileage: 136,000

FIRE, TOTAL LOSS TO FORD F150 PICKUP. PICKUP SAT IN DRIVEWAY FOR 4 HOURS SINCE DRIVEN AND CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND SAID IT WAS EITHER ELECTRICAL OR ENGINE RELATED. *NM

Mileage: 120,000

ENGINE HARD TO START,SMOKED AFTER IT DID, GASKET FAILURE CYLINDER FILLED WITH COOLANT CAUSING CONNECTING ROD TO BEND OR BREAK. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 127,073

1998 FORD F-150 4.2L V6 ENGINE, ENGINE HAS BURNED COOLANT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, ENGINE RECENTLY STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, TWO MECHANICS HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BAD PISTON AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 122,000

VEHICLE BLEW OUT THE #3 PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG. REPAIR OPTION IS TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEAD $3500 OR USE HELICOIL REPAIR TO THE INDIVIDUAL CYLINDER. BLOWN SPARK PLUGS ON TH 5.4 TRITION IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM AND I'M SHOCKED THAT FORD IS NOT COVERING THIS PROBLEM. I TOO BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE COVERED UP THIS PROBLEM BY A RE-DESIGN THAT CORRECTED THE DESIGN FLAW IN LATER VEHICLES. *NM

Mileage: 110,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR BODY WORK, IT SAT FOR 2 WEEKS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED FOLLOWING THE 2 WEEKS, THE ENGINE NOISE WAS LOUDER THAN NORMAL, AND THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK. A PRIVATE MECHANIC WAS CONSULTED, WHO DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. ALSO, THE DOORS HAD CRACKED ONE HALF INCH FROM THE CORNER OF THE WINDOW SEAL. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THE CRACKS WERE DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE DOOR.

Mileage: 47,000

ROD THROUGH ENGINE WALL. MILEAGE 102M. *NM

Mileage: 102,000

1) ROUGH IDLE, WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPE, FAILURE OF BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. 2) HYDRO-LOCKED ENGINE, UN-REPAIRABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. 3) QUOTED $3500 FOR REBUILT ENGINE, NO ACTION YET TAKEN. *JB

Mileage: 196,000

1) ROUGH IDLE, WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPE, FAILURE OF BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. 2) HYDRO-LOCKED ENGINE, UN-REPAIRABLE ENGINE DAMAGE. 3) QUOTED $3500 FOR REBUILT ENGINE, NO ACTION YET TAKEN. *JB

Mileage: 196,000

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2 V6 I PARKED IT TWO DAYS. LATER I WENT TO CRANK IT (IT WAS LOCKUP) I HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS ON THIS MODEL ENGINE AND FORD NEW ABOUT IT BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ITS SO BAD MY LOCAL JUNK YARDS WILL NOT EVEN CARRY THE 4.2 V6 USED ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE LEAKING HEAD GASKET I AM ON A FIX INCOME AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY TRUCK THAT I THOUGH WOULD LAST SEVERAL YEARS. *JB

Mileage: 97

1998 FORD F-150 4.2L HYDROLOCK ISSUE. ANTIFREEZE IN THE #1 CYLINDER. MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT COVERED BY FORD. ENGINE USELESS UNTIL REPAIRED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AT THE FACTORY. NEED TO REPAIR ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 90,521

ON A 1998 FORD F-150 2WD PICKUP WITH A 4.2L ENGINE........ INITIAL OVERHEATING DUE TO LOW ENGINE COOLANT. REFILLED COOLANT AND KEPT LEVEL AT APPROPRIATE WORKING LEVEL. FROM A COLD START ONE MORNING HEARD LOUD KNOCKING SOUND FROM ENGINE. BROUGHT IT IN TO GET IT CHECKED BY LOCAL MECHANIC, WHICH ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. PURCHASED A RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINE AT APPROX 125,000 MILES ON OLD ENGINE. *JB

Mileage: 127,528

MY TRUCK HAD A DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET, THE SAME PROBLEM THAT SO MANY '97 - '98 F-150 OWNERS HAVE HAD. (SEE WEBSITE: HTTP://FORUMS.TREEMEDIA.COM/FB/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=224) COOLANT LEAKED INTO MY ENGINE DUE TO FORD'S FAULTY GASKET AND RUINED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, FORCING ME TO SPEND $3400 ON A NEW ENGINE. THE WEBSITE MENTIONED ABOVE HAS HAD OVER 45,000 HITS, WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. FORD IS FLEECING ITS CUSTOMERS. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

1998, FORD, F150, 4.2 LITER V6. @ APPROX. 92,000 MILES. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED. GASKET FAILURE LED TO COOLANT IN NUMBER 4 CYLINDER WHICH CAUSED THE NUMBER 4 PISTON CONNECTING ROD TO BREAK, ALSO DAMAGING THE PISTON. THE DEFECTIVE GASKET, BENT ROD AND PISTON HAD TO BE REPLACED, MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF DOLLAR REPAIR. NO NOTICE FROM FORD INDICATING POTENTIAL PROBLEM OR THAT ANY PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE (I.E. GASKET REPLACEMENT) MAY HAVE AVOIDED COSTLY ENGINE FAILURE REPAIR -OR- REPLACEMENT. A PRODUCT AND HIGHWAY SAFETY CONCERN IN THE CONTEXT THAT HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *NM

Mileage: 92,876

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IN A WRITTEN REPORT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE. EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. ADDITIONALLY, A PRIVATE FIRE INVESTIGATOR WAS HIRED TO INVESTIGATE THE INCIDENT AND CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION AS THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NHTSA #05V388000 CONCERNING THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH PRIOR TO THE FIRE. SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS WERE CONTACTED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REMEDY. THE DEALER'S ASKED THE CONTACT NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY WHEN RECALL PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS NOT DISCONNECTED IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS IN WORKING ORDER. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO FOR UNRELATED PROBLEMS. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 150,000

MY 4.2 V-6 IN MY 1998 FORD F-150 FAILED HYDRO LOCKED AFTER IT HAD RAN JUST FINE, LOOKING ONLINE I FOUND MY SELF TO NOT BE ALONE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND SOME QUITE COSTLY REPAIRS, I FOR ONE AM NOT IN THE POSITION TO REPLACE A MOTOR THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE. *JB

1998, FORD, F150, 4.2 LITER V6. LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKET FAILED. GASKET FAILURE LED TO COOLANT IN NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. COOLANT IN NUMBER 1 CYLINDER CAUSED THE NUMBER 1 PISTON CONNECTING ROD TO BEND. THE DEFECTIVE GASKET AND BENT ROD ARE CLEANED AND AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. A TOTAL ENGINE REBUILD WAS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

Mileage: 125,000

FAULTY FORD F150 4.2 6 CYL ENG LOWER MANIFOLD GASKET. *AK

Mileage: 113,000

(1) CAR WOULD NOT START ONE MORNING LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. I JUMPED THE CAR AND HEARD A LOUD CLATTERING SOUND FROM ENGINE. (2) LEAKING FRONT COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS IN A 4.2 L V-6 ENGINES CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. (3) CURRENTLY REPLACING ENGINE.*AK

Mileage: 134,000

FORD F150 1998 4WD 4.2L ENGINE 102,0000 MILES - WHEN STARTING TRUCK ENGINE IT WOULD RUN ROUGH THEN SMOOTH OUT. TODAY I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND. NOW IT DOESN'T START AT ALL. AFTER CHECKING SEVERAL WEB SITES I REALIZED MY TROUBLE IS NOT UNIQUE. LOOKED AROUND THE INTERNET BUT NEVER FOUND A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD RELATING TO THIS ISSUE. FURTHER RESEARCH SEEMS TO IMPLY A MAJOR DEFECT THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT FROM CLOSE TO THE BEGINNING OF MANUFACTURING WHICH THEY NEVER HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOUT. ACCORDING TO A COUPLE OF WEB FORUM SITES, FORD PUT OUT TWO TECHNICAL BULLETINS TO THEIR SERVICE PEOPLE BUT NOT TO THE END USERS/BUYERS (TSB #99-20-7) (FOLLOW UP TSB #99B209) THAT PRETTY MUCH ADMITTED THERE WAS A FAULT WITH A GASKET AND COULD RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE, AS MINE SEEMS TO HAVE DONE. THE RESOLUTION IS FOR THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY MANUFACTURING & FIX THEIR ERRORS. *NM

Mileage: 102,000

I AM ONE OF MANY OWNERS OF THE FORD F-150 4.2 ENGINE TRUCKS (OURS IS A 1998) THAT HAS ENCOUNTERED ENGINE FAILURE RESULTING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE DUE TO LEAKING HEAD GASKET. IT APPEARS FROM INFORMATION GATHERED FROM NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND FROM SPEAKING TO OTHERS THAT THIS IS A VERY OBVIOUS AND COMMON ISSUE THAT FORD HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE. WE ARE ASKING THAT YOUR AGENCY TAKE ACTION TO HELP INITIATE A CLASS-ACTION SUIT OR SOME HOW FORCE FORD TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. *JB

Mileage: 133,148

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F-150 4.2 V6 4X4 TRUCK, WHICH HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC HOW NOTORIOUS THIS MOTOR IS FOR THE PROBLEM THAT HAS ERUPTED WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OR ACTION. THE TRUCK STARTED MAKING A LOUD- KNOCKING SOUND ONE MORNING IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED THE TRUCK FOR WORK. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT FORD HAD A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT(ANTI-FREEZE) TO LEAK INTO THE OIL AND SPARK-PLUGS CAUSING THIS LOUD-KNOCKING NOISE WHICH IS A SPUN ROD BEARING. I KEEP REGULAR CHECK-UPS ON ALL ASPECTS(OIL LEVEL,COOLANT,ETC.) IF IT WERE A PROBLEM THAT I CAUSED, I WOULD ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY. IT IS NOT MY LACK OF MAINTENANCE , BUT A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG THE 4.2 V6 FORD MOTOR. FORD MOTOR CO. HAS MADE MY LIFE PURE HELL. I DO NOT HAVE $4,$5 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THEIR MISTAKE. I NOW STRUGGLE TO KEEP A JOB AND MAKE PAYMENT ON A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T RUN. ALSO,MY WIFE AND KID WHO DEPEND ON DADDY ARE READY TO LEAVE HOME BECAUSE HE IS A FAILURE( NO VEHICLE+NO MONEY=DIVORCE) ( NO TRUCK=NO JOB) !!!! ENOUGH OF MY PROBLEMS, BUT I'M NOW READY TO START LOSING WHAT MEANS MORE THAN ANYTHING IN LIFE TO ME AND THAT IS MY FAMILY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM BY SPEAKING WITH FORD MECHANICS ,REVIEWING WEBSITES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. FORD HAS FAILED AND NOW THIS INTERNAL DAMAGE IS LEADING TO MY PERSONAL LIFE. I'M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING. I HOPE YOU WILL HELP ME AND THE OTHER THOUSANDS OF 4.2 V6 OWNERS WHO DESPERATELY NEED ASSISTANCE, PLEASE! THANK YOU!! PS. I HOPE ONE DAY THE OWNER OF FORD,CAN SLEEP KNOWING MY LITTLE GIRL/WIFE WILL NOT ENJOY CHRISTMAS AS A FAMILY DUE TO HIS GREED TO FIX THIS ERROR ON HIS BEHALF. EVER SPEND CHRISTMAS MORNING BY YOUR(LONESOME)SELF MR. FORD? MERRY CHRISTMAS. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

ON MONDAY DEC 19 2005 WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND GRANDDAUGHTER, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 1998 FORD F150 VIN: [XXX]. SMOKE CAME OUT THE HOOD AND THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INTO THE CAB. THE FORD DEALER SAID THE PLASTIC PLENUM IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING RAW GASOLINE TO ENTER WHERE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE AND EXPLODED. THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY WITH THE NEW STYLE ALUMINUM MANIFOLD AND PLENUM. THIS COST ALMOST $1,100.00. I HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT FORD SETTLED A LAWSUIT 12/16/2005 IN WHICH THE PLASTIC PLENUMS CRACKED. BUT THIS ONLY COVERS A SMALL NUMBER OF FORD CARS AND NOT TRUCKS. THE DEALER SERVICE MGR TOLD ME THAT FORD HAS DEVELOPED A NEW ALUMINUM PLENUM THAT REPLACES THE OLD PLASTIC ONE AND I SHOULD HAVE NO MORE TROUBLE. MY QUESTION IS WHY I CANNOT BE REIMBURSED FOR A PLASTIC PLENUM THAT CRACKED, THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THEY ARE BAD, AND WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 106,888

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY 1998 FORD F-150 HAD STEAMY WHITE EXHAUST UPON START AND IT WOULD LAST UNTIL SUFFICIENT WARM-UP. AT THAT POINT, I DID NOT THINK ABOUT IT MUCH. AT ANY RATE, I WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR TWO WEEKS AND UPON MY RETURN FROM MY TRIP, I GOT IN MY TRUCK AND TRIED TO START IT AND THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY SO, I TRIED TO JUMP START IT TO NO AVAIL. NEXT, I TRIED PUSH STARTING IT AND INITIALLY THE WHEELS LOCKED UP BUT EVENTUALLY IT STARTED. FROM THAT POINT IT WAS FINE HOWEVER, IT WASN'T UNTIL FRIDAY THAT I TRIED TO START IT AND AGAIN IT WAS HARD TO START. WHEN IT DID IT STARTED RATTLING INDICATING A POSSIBLE BENT PUSH ROD. UPON CALLING AN ENGINE MECHANIC, HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RISE IN 4.2 LITER V-6 ENGINE FAILURES BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT. IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT I STARTED DOING INTERNET RESEARCH AND CAME ACROSS TSB 99-20-7 AND ONP 99B29. AT THIS POINT, MY TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP BEING DIAGNOSED AND I'M SURE THE MECHANIC IS GOING TO TELL ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE. *JB

Mileage: 97,000

CONSUMER TURNED FORD F150 ON AND VEHICLE HESITATED THEN CRANKED AND BEGAN RATTLING. HEAD GASKET LEAD WATER INTO THE CYLINDER. *TS REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN# DP05005. *SC

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F150 PICKUP. WHIILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. NO WARNING AT ALL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED 650 MILES BACK TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. *AK

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 FORD F-150 4.2L XLT. A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION UPON STARTING MY ENGINE. ONCE THE ENGINE STARTED, IT STRUGGLED A LITTLE AND THEN SMOOTHED OUT ONCE I BEGAN TO DRIVE. THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO RUN FINE, ONCE STARTED, BUT CONTINUED WITH THE SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2005, I ATTEMPTED TO START MY TRUCK AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER RIGHT AWAY. I LET THE TRUCK REST A MOMENT THEN AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE. THE TRUCK STARTED UP, THEN I HEARD THE SLIGHT HESITATION AND ALL OF SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHEREUPON I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A ROD KNOCK, WHICH SHOT DOWN THROUGH THE OIL PAN. HE FOUND COOLANT ON THE PLUGS AND WATER INTRUSION THROUGH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD INTO THE BLOCK. HE INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE HAD HYDRO-LOCKED. THROUGH RESEARCH I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THIS IS AN APPARENTLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IN 1999. I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH NOTIFICATION, ALTHOUGH I HAVE, IN FACT RECEIVED INFORMATION FOR OTHER RECALLS. I WAS NEVER SENT ANYTHING IN THE MAIL AND HAD NO IDEA OF THIS PROBLEM. IN ADDITION, I AM INFORMED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RECTIFY THIS MATTER WITH CUSTOMERS. I CURRENTLY HAVE 117,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND HAD TO PAY OVER $4,000.00 TO REPLACE THE LONG BLOCK. I HAD TO PAY TO REPAIR A PROBLEM THAT FORD OBVIOUSLY KNEW EXISTED. SINCE FORD WAS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF DAMAGING THE ENGINE AND DID LITTLE, IF NOTHING, TO INFORM ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS POTENTIAL DANGER, I FEEL THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD, AT LEAST IN PART, LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGE INCURRED TO MY TRUCK AND TO MANY OF THOSE, LIKE MYSELF, WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *JB

Mileage: 117,100

I CHANGED MY SPARK PLUGS AT THE RECOMMENDED MILEAGE AND SINCE THAT TIME THEY DO NOT STAY TIGHT IN THE CYLINDERS. THEY LOOSEN UP AND I HAVE TO RE-TIGHTEN THEM EVERYDAY SO THAT THEY DO NOT BLOW OUT OF MY CYLINDER HEAD. *JB

Mileage: 140,000

98 FORD F-150 WITH 4.2L WITH COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOST ALL OF THESE ENGINES AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I NOTICED MY TEMP GAUGE IN THE RED AND MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AT ZERO. THE "CHECK OIL" LIGHT WAS LIT AS WELL. THE TRUCK AT THE TIME WAS RUNNING FINE, NO NOISES FROM THE ENGINE AND NO SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. I PULLED OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE NEAREST SHOP WHICH HAPPENS TO BE A FORD DEALER; DIABLO FORD IN PITTSBURGH, CA. ON 09/12/05, THE FIRST DAY THE SERVICE DEPT WAS ABLE TO GET TO IT, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER TELLING ME THAT BOTH HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE PULLED AND DISASSEMBLED TO CHECK ENGINE BEARINGS, CONNECTING RODS, VALVES AND PISTONS TO SEE IF THERE IS MORE DAMAGE THAN JUST BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. SO FAR THE QUOTE WITH INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS NOT DAMAGED IS $3200. THAT QUOTE COULD RISE VERY EASILY IF INTERNAL DAMAGE IS FOUND. SINCE THIS HAPPENED, I WAS ON THE FIGHTBACK.COM WEBSITE AND HAVE FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH 1997 TO 1999 F150 FORD TRUCKS WITH 4.2 LITER ENGINES. APPARENTLY, FORD HAS CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE HEAD GASKETS IN MID 1999, DUE TO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS FOR THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES. MY UNDERSTANDING IS FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE SHELLING OUT $3000+ TO REPAIR THEIR TRUCKS. IN SOME CASES, ENTIRE ENGINES WERE REPLACED FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD RECALL AND COVER THE COSTS ON THE ENGINES. IF I'M NOT MISTAKING, THE 3.8 LITER V6 SHARES THE SAME BLOCK AND HEADS AS THE 4.2. THE 3.8 IS FOUND IN A LOT OF FORD WINDSTARS AND TAURUS'. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING FAULTY ENGINES. *NM

Mileage: 89,500

DT: 1998 FORD F150. COOLANT IN THE OIL, AND SERIOUS ENGINE NOISE. THE ARE WHITE VAPORS FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION YET. UNABLE TO DRIVE AUTOMOBILE.*AK

Mileage: 60,500

DT: 1998 FORD F150. COOLANT IN THE OIL, AND SERIOUS ENGINE NOISE. THE ARE WHITE VAPORS FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION YET. UNABLE TO DRIVE AUTOMOBILE.*AK

Mileage: 60,500

CONSUMER'S REQUEST ASSISTANCE IN GETTING FORD TO REIMBURSE THEM FOR REPAIRS FOR FAULTY GASKET ON THEIR 1998 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK.*MR WATER LEAKED INTO THE OIL BECAUSE OF A FAULTY GASKET WHICH THEN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THE GASKET WAS RECALL IN 1999. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED AND NOTICE OF A GASKET RECALL. THE CONSUMER REQUEST THAT FORD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE FAULTY ENGINE. *NM

HEAD GASKET/ HEAD BOLT FAILURE AT 66,000 MILES. MECHANIC REPORTED IT DURING ROUTINE SERVICE. SAID 3 THINGS CAUSE THIS FAILURE. 1. LACK OF COOLANT (OVERHEATING), 2. DEFECTIVE GASKET OR 3. FACTORY DEFECT DURING THE MILLING THE HEAD. MECHANIC REPORTED THIS AS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF FORD TRUCK. SINCE THE COOLANT LEVEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED, THAT LEAVES THE OTHER TWO POSSIBILITIES. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED, PROBLEM WAS CAUGHT RIGHT AWAY. NO INDICATION OF PROBLEM BEFORE HAND. NO TSB ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT SOME FOR OTHER FORD VEHICLES IN SAME MANUFACTURING YEAR. SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER FORD 150S' WITH PREMATURE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. REPAIRS AT FORD DEALER WERE $2300 WITH LITTLE CHOICE TO GO ELSEWHERE. PROBLEMS WITH DEALER IN GETTING REPAIR DONE CORRECTLY, BUT THAT IS A DIFFERENT COMPLAINT. I HAVE SEEN OTHER RECALLS FOR DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS OVER THE YEARS, THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. *NM

Mileage: 66,350

FORD F150 HEAD GASKET LEAKED WATER INTO THE CYLINDER CAUSING BENT RODS.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR *JB

MY98 FORD F150 4-2L MOTOR THEW A ROD FOUND COOLENT ON THE PLUGS JUST LIKE THE HUHDREDS OF OTHERES BUT NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT TO THE PROBLOM WITH THIS MOTOR NOW ITS 3K TO 4K TO FIX IT I DONT KNOW WHEN THAT WILL HAPPEN BUT IT MAKE A GREAT LAWN ORNMENT I HOPE SOME ONE IS LOOKING INTO THIS THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME

Mileage: 947,250

LIKE MANY OTHERS, MY LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED AT 132,000 MILES, RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE #4 CYLINDER AND CAUSING A HYDROLOCK CONDITION. I REPLACED THE MOTOR. PRIOR TO THE HYDROLOCK, I HAD NOTICED COOLANT LEVELS DROPPING FOR A YEAR OR SO PRIOR BUT THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AND JUST PERIODICALLY TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, I NOTICED LOTS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST.

Mileage: 132,300

DT: CONSUMER SAID THAT SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING IN VEHICLE AT ABOUT 30 MPH UP HILL. THIS HAPPENED IN THE DAY TIME. CONSUMER SAIDTHAT HIS VEHICLE WAS IN GARAGE TO BE REPAIRED. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHICH CYLINDER. CONSUMER DID REPORT THIS TO FORD.*AK

COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE DUE TO A FAULTY DEISGN OF THE FRONT COVER GASKET CAUSING A BENT ROD DUE TO UNCOMPRESSIBLE COOLANT IN THE CYLINDERS.

Mileage: 75,000

OVERNIGHT HYDROLOCK CONDITION, CAUSED BY FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS, CAUSING IMMEDIATE AND UNFORSEEN INTERNAL DAMAGE UP TO AND INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PISTONS, RODS, CRANKSHAFT, AND BEARINGS. WE WERE NON-INFORMED DUE TO FORD'S NEGLET TO SEND APPROPRIATE RECALL NOTICES FOR BOTH VEHICLES OWNED BY OUR FAMILY. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITHIN THE INTERNET COMMUNITY, AND ALTHOUGH FORD DID ISSUE RECALL NOTICES, WE DID NOT RECIEVE ANY TO OUR CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT IS TOO LATE TO TURN IN A RECALL. THE RESPONSE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM ETHICAL IN MY EYES, AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND BE OUT THE MONEY THAT THIS WILL COST THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THESE ARE HONEST, HARD WORKING CITIZENS THAT HAVE BELIEVED IN FORD FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM TO COME UP AND TO HAVE THEM NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, REMOVES ANY SHRED OF CONFIDENCE STILL REMAINING IN TODAYS MANUFACTURED GOODS.

Mileage: 86,000

OVERNIGHT HYDROLOCK CONDITION, CAUSED BY FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS, CAUSING IMMEDIATE AND UNFORSEEN INTERNAL DAMAGE UP TO AND INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PISTONS, RODS, CRANKSHAFT, AND BEARINGS. WE WERE NON-INFORMED DUE TO FORD'S NEGLET TO SEND APPROPRIATE RECALL NOTICES FOR BOTH VEHICLES OWNED BY OUR FAMILY. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITHIN THE INTERNET COMMUNITY, AND ALTHOUGH FORD DID ISSUE RECALL NOTICES, WE DID NOT RECIEVE ANY TO OUR CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT IS TOO LATE TO TURN IN A RECALL. THE RESPONSE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM ETHICAL IN MY EYES, AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND BE OUT THE MONEY THAT THIS WILL COST THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THESE ARE HONEST, HARD WORKING CITIZENS THAT HAVE BELIEVED IN FORD FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM TO COME UP AND TO HAVE THEM NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, REMOVES ANY SHRED OF CONFIDENCE STILL REMAINING IN TODAYS MANUFACTURED GOODS.

Mileage: 86,000

OVERNIGHT HYDROLOCK CONDITION, CAUSED BY FAULTY INTAKE GASKETS AND CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS, CAUSING IMMEDIATE AND UNFORSEEN INTERNAL DAMAGE UP TO AND INCLUDING DAMAGE TO PISTONS, RODS, CRANKSHAFT, AND BEARINGS. WE WERE NON-INFORMED DUE TO FORD'S NEGLET TO SEND APPROPRIATE RECALL NOTICES FOR BOTH VEHICLES OWNED BY OUR FAMILY. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITHIN THE INTERNET COMMUNITY, AND ALTHOUGH FORD DID ISSUE RECALL NOTICES, WE DID NOT RECIEVE ANY TO OUR CURRENT KNOWLEDGE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE APPARENTLY IT IS TOO LATE TO TURN IN A RECALL. THE RESPONSE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM ETHICAL IN MY EYES, AND MANY CONSUMERS ARE OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND BE OUT THE MONEY THAT THIS WILL COST THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THESE ARE HONEST, HARD WORKING CITIZENS THAT HAVE BELIEVED IN FORD FOR MANY YEARS, AND FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM TO COME UP AND TO HAVE THEM NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, REMOVES ANY SHRED OF CONFIDENCE STILL REMAINING IN TODAYS MANUFACTURED GOODS.

Mileage: 86,000

DT: THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THEY FOUND AN EXHAUST LEAK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE BOLTS CONTAINED CONDENSATION AND HAD RUSTED OUT ON BOTH SIDES. *JB

WATER LEAKED INSIDE ENGINE MIX WITH OIL CAUSING LOCKUP

Mileage: 112,674

1.WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES, RETURNED HOME. TRIED TO START MY TRUCK THE SECOND DAY TO BRING IN THE GARAGE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK!!! ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN !!!! 2.RIGHT LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD SIDE GASKETS FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO ENGINE OIL AND CYLINDER. ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY FORD WITH TSB ARTICLE NO. 99-20-7 3.ENGINE FAILURE, BENT RODS!!!!! HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE!!

Mileage: 74,234

HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 V6 FORD F-150 PICK UP, REGARDING COOLANT/WATER LOSS, SO HAVE CONTINUALLY DONE COOLANT MAINTENANCE. STARTED THE TRUCK UP LAST SATURDAY 5/7/06 AND THE ENGINE MADE AN AN AWFUL SOUND, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THE DAY BEFORE. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC YESTERDAY, AND THEY SAY THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH WILL COST $4,000.00 PLUS. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FROM F-159 V6 OWNERS, 1997-2000. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPOSSESSED, AS I STILL OWE $4,000 PLUS ON IT. I CANNOT AFFORD THE REBUILT ENGINE REPAIR, AND NOW HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO, I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND LOOKING FOR WORK. FORD COMPANY NEEDS TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS, AS THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY F-150 OWNERS. A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS CURRENTLY ON-GOING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO A CONSUMER WEBSITE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN JOIN THIS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

Mileage: 130,000

HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 V6 FORD F-150 PICK UP, REGARDING COOLANT/WATER LOSS, SO HAVE CONTINUALLY DONE COOLANT MAINTENANCE. STARTED THE TRUCK UP LAST SATURDAY 5/7/06 AND THE ENGINE MADE AN AN AWFUL SOUND, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST. THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THE DAY BEFORE. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC YESTERDAY, AND THEY SAY THE ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH WILL COST $4,000.00 PLUS. I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS FROM F-159 V6 OWNERS, 1997-2000. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPOSSESSED, AS I STILL OWE $4,000 PLUS ON IT. I CANNOT AFFORD THE REBUILT ENGINE REPAIR, AND NOW HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. ALSO, I AM CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED AND LOOKING FOR WORK. FORD COMPANY NEEDS TO DO RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS, AS THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO SO MANY F-150 OWNERS. A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS CURRENTLY ON-GOING IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO A CONSUMER WEBSITE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN JOIN THIS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.

Mileage: 130,000

WHEN I STARTED MY 1998 FORD F-150 TODAY, A GREAT DEAL OF NOISE OCCURRED AND FINALLY A ROD SHOT OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUCK'S OIL PAN. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 72,000 MILES ON IT. UPON INVESTIGATION, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 4.2 LITER ENGINE. APPARANTLY FORD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX IT. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE HEAD GASKET GOING BAD PUTTING COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE CREATING THE FAILURE. PLEASE HELP OTHERS SO THAT WON'T HAVE TO SHELL OUT $2,500 FOR A NEW ENGINE OR POSSIBLE GET HURT FROM FLYING PARTS!

Mileage: 72,000

I HAVE AN FORD F150 WITH THE 4.2 V6 ENGINE. I HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-5,000 MILES. IN 2001 I NOTICED IT WAS LOSING COOLANT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED TWICE SINCE THEN. COMING HOME FROM WORK YESTERDAY, I NOTICED THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO 0 EVERYTIME I STOPPED AND THE ENGINE IDLED. TOOK IT TO PERSONAL MECHANIC AND HE CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP. HE WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WAS GETTING READY TO BLOW. THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR AND MINE HAS LASTED MORE THAN MOST. I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB OTHER F150 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDERS AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE. MINE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE GONE OUT BEFORE NOW, BUT I CHANGED THE OIL REALLY WELL. NOW I'M OUT $4,000 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

STARTED VEHICLE AND HEARD A CLANGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. IMMEDIATELY TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD FOR SOURCE. HAD A RELATIVE TO START THE TRUCK WHILE I EXAMINED THE ENGINE FOR CAUSE. SHORTLY AFTER 2ND START AND STOP, OIL BEGAN DRIPPING UNDER VEHICLE. HOLES HAD BEEN KNOCKED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND OIL PAN. I HAVE THE 4.2L V6 ENGINE IN MY FORD F-150. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE THROWN ROD.*AK

Mileage: 82,000

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A SPARK PLUG BLOWING OUT. *AK THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL PLUGS. ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMERS RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND TALKING TO SERVICE MANAGERS, THIS WAS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE ALUMINUM HEAD 5.4 L V8 ENGINE. THE YEARS THAT WERE AFFECTED WERE 1997-2002. *SC *JB

COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND 3 OTHER MECHANICS IN MY AREA. I HAVE A 98 FORD F150 WITH THE V6 4.2L MOTOR. IT HAS 120,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS AT 115,000. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3000 TO 4000 MILES AND THE COOLANT EVERY 3 YEARS. I HAVE LOOK INTO INTERNET FORUMS AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE 100S OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS - MOST WITH FAR LESS MILEAGE. *JB

Mileage: 115,000

CATATROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 52000 MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO 3.8L ENGINE TSB NOTICE. ON DISASSEMBLY BY PROFESSIONAL GARAGE THEY INDICATED HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS CAUSING THE CONNECTING ROD BEARING TO FAIL, (SIMILAR TO 3.8L FAILURES).*AK

Mileage: 52,000

PARKED TRUCK IN DRIVEWAY. RUNNING FINE. 2 HOURS LATER STARTED TRUCK. WHITE WATER VAPOR FROM EXHAUST AND ROD KNOCKING. INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING HYDROLOCK. REMOVED ENGINE REPLACED ROD PISTON AND BEARINGS. HAVE OLD PISTON AND ROD.*AK

Mileage: 109,000

COOLANT LEVEL DROPPING SLOWLY WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS. BLOWN LOWER INTAKE GASKET, FILLED CYLINDER AND BROKE # 2 CONNECTING ROD. *AK

Mileage: 105,000

MY 1998 FORD F150 4X4 BLEW 3 COILS WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER, CULMINATING WITH THE IGNITION COIL IN AUGUST 2004. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD I WAS BEING PUT ON A "RECALL LIST" IN CASE OTHERS HAD COMPLAINTS. WHEN THE COILS BLOW, THERE IS A HORRIBLE NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER DUE TO THE SPARK PLUG NO LONGER IGNITING THAT CYLINDER FOR THE ENGINE TO RUN OFF OF. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALL A WRECKER WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALL THREE COILS WERE REPLACED AND I STILL HAVE RECEIPTS. I TRADED THE VEHICLE IN DUE TO THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS IT BEGAN HAVING. *JB

FORD F-150 TRUCK EXPLODED AND BURNT TO A CRISP. *BF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. *TC *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER BUT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD F150. I WAS JUST DRIVING AT 45MPH AND THE NUMBER 8 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD OF MY TRUCK. JUST CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. PLUGS WERE REPLACED 15000 MILES AGO. IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE FORD TRITON MOTORS AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH BY TALKING TO PARTS STORES, THE INTERNET AND THE DEALER. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THAT NO RECALL WAS MADE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP?*AK

Mileage: 142,800

THIS COMPLAINT WAS RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. 4.2L ENGINE BECAME DISABLED AND BURNED A BEARING IN THE CRANK SHAFT. HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED BY FORD AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD AND THIS SIZE ENGINE.*AK

Mileage: 72,000

I TOOK MY 1998 FORD F150 V6 FOR A MINOR REPAIR AND WHEN I CHECKED WITH MECHANIC HE TOLD ME THAT HE FOLDED WATER IN THE OIL. MECHANIC INFORMED ENGINE NEEDS REPLACEMENT.*AK DID SOME RESEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE KNOWN ISSUE WITH CETAIN FORD ENGIINES AND I FELT I WS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH A LEAKING HEAD GASKET PROBLEM

SPARK PLUGS</A> BLEW OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS SITTING STILL. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE PLUGS WERE THE ORIGINALS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. *TC *JB

Mileage: 56,000

(1) NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. (2) STARTED HARD, HEAVY WHITE SMOKE OUT THE EXHAUST AND KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. ONSEQUENCES - #4 & #5 RODS IN CYLINDERS STRESSED. (3) CORRECTION OF FAILURE - 4.2L ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE. FORD WOULD NOT BACK UP EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OBTAINED TSB-99-20-7 AND THIS TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED 12/97. RECALL WAS THRU 5.1.97 AND ENGINE WAS PUT IN TRUCKS UNTIL 1.15.98.*AK

Mileage: 98,720

98 F-150 4.2 V-6, ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO MOTOR FROM FAULTY GASKET. FORD PUT A RECALL WHEN IT WAS NEW, BUT I BOUGHT MINE FROM DEALER USED, NOW THE MOTOR IS BAD, AND I STILL OWE QUITE A BIT ON IT. *AK

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE FIRED UP. CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A CHECK UP. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE RODS WAS BENT IN THE ENGINE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED.

Mileage: 55,000

I OWN A 1998 FORD F-150 WITH THE TRITON 5.4L ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES IT TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY BLOW SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN NONE OF FORD'S PUBLICATIONS THAT COME WITH THE VEHICLE DOES IT STATE THAT THESE SPARK PLUGS NEED TO BE RETORGUED AT A CERTAIN MILEAGE. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURED AT 91,000 MILES. FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW FACED WIT A $3500 REPAIR TO KEEP MY TRUCK RUNNING. DOESN'T SOUND "FORD TOUGH" DOES IT? I'VE DONE SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THESE PROBLEMS POSTED ON MESSAGEBOARDS. PLEASE DO SOMETHING, INNOCENT PEOPLE CAN NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BY FORD. WE BOUGHT FORD BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS A VEHICLE THAT WOULD LAST AND PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE. REPLACING A CYLINDER HEAD SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THIS ENGINE!! THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

Mileage: 102,000

I BOUGHT A 1998 F-150, 3 YEARS AGO. THE ENGINE BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING. MY WIFE DROVE IT TO WORK, IT RAN FINE. SHE STARTS IT UP TO COME HOME, AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING LOUD. SHE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. THE 4.2 ENGINE IS A LEMON, AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ FROM NUMEROUS PEOPLE, AND HEARD FROM MANY FRIENDS IS THAT THESE ENGINES ARE JUNK, AND FORD KNOWS THEY ARE. A FRIEND OF MINE WARNED ME ABOUT THESE ENGINES, HE HAD TO HAVE HIS REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 3 YEARS. 3 TIMES HIS ENGINE BLEW UP.. THESE THINGS ARE JUNK!!!!I THINK FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES, OR REFUND US OUR MONEY BACK ON THE PURCHASE PRICE. I AM VERY UNSATISFIED. *LA

Mileage: 92,000

I HAVE A 1998 F150 I BOUGHT NEW. I HAVE BEEN A FORD PERSON FOR MANY YEARS BUT WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD UNTIL THE PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSIONS ARE CORRECTED. AT 72,000 MILES I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. ($2,200), AT 92,000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IDLING WAS ROUGH BUT DROVE FINE. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC HE SAID TUNE-UP WOULD CORRECT IT. $400 LATER, STILL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND IDLE ROUGH. IT JUST STOPPED AND WOULDN'T START BACK UP. I'M HAVING TO REPLACE THE BLOCK ECT.. HAVING TO CONTINUE TO PAY A NICE VEHICLE PAYMENT EACH MONTH AND INSURANCE AND STILL NOT HAVING A VEHICLE TO DRIVE IS RIDICULOUS. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD!! KL. *LA

Mileage: 80,000

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, MY FORD F150 BLEW THE #2 SPARKPLUG AND CYLINDER HEAD AT 25,000 MILES. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN WITH THE SAME CYLINDER HEAD 60,000 MILES LATER. THE REPAIRS WILL COST ME $3000.00. FORD MOTOR CO. AT THIS TIME IS UNWILLING TO COVER THE REPAIRS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE 1998 TRITON V-8 ENGINES AS I AM SEEING ALOT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS BEING FILED.*AK

Mileage: 25,000

THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT AT 30,000 MILES WHICH CAUSED GASOLINE TO SPRAY ONTO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER BOUGHT A NEW ENGINE. CURRENTLY, AT 40,000 MILES VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

1998 F-150 WITH 75000 MILES. SPARK PLUG #2 BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 30 MILES/HOUR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF YOU DO A SEARCH ON WWW.GOOGLE.COM FOR "BLOWN SPARK PLUG" THE NUMBER ONE HIT IS FOR WWW.F150ONLINE.COM A FORD ENTHUSIAST GROUP. THIS SITE, LINKS TO LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVIING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS AN APPARENT DESIGN FLAW IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. ONLY 6 THREADS ARE HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN PLACE. SINCE A BLOWN SPARK PLUG ALMOST ALWAYS RESULTS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE COST TO THE CONSUMER IS AROUND $2000 - $3000 DOLLARS. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AT A MINIMUM.

Mileage: 75,000

MY ENGINE FAILED DUE TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION. ACCORDING TO FORD TSB 99-20-7 THESE ENGINES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH OBSOLETE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKETS AND/OR LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. WHEN THESE GASKETS FAIL, THE RESULTING DAMAGE WILL OFTEN CREATE THE NEED FOR AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. DUE TO THIS FAILURE AN ENGINE IS NEEDING REPLACING. AFTER LOOKING AT CASES ON THE INTERNET. I FIND FORD NOT CORRECTING A MAJOR DEFECT IN THERE PRODUCT. *AK

Mileage: 74,000

1998 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK WITH A 5.4 LITER TRITON ENGINE. WITHOUT ENGINE EVER OVERHEATING, A SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE PLUG'S THREADS WERE STRIPPED. ESTIMATE TO FIX IS ABOUT $2200.00 *JB

LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKET AND GASKET AROUND SPARK PLUGS LEAKING ALLOWING OIL IN CYLINDER. REPAIRED LESS THAN ONE YEAR AGO AT 30,000 MILES. HAS REOCCURED AT 33000 MILES. DEFECTIVE PARTS? *TT

Mileage: 30,000

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *NLM. *AK

THE CONSUMER DETECTED AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION COMING FROM THE TRUCK. WHEN THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD HE NOTICED THAT THE HARMONIC BALANCER AND PULLEY ASSEMBLY WAS ROTATING ERRATICALLY. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT A BOLT SHEARED OFF THE HARMONIC BALANCER. AS A RESULT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER, WATER PUMP PULLEY, BELT TENSIONER PULLEY AND DRIVE BELT. *JB *SCC *NLM

Mileage: 103,937

I WAS COMING FROM THE DOCTOR WITH MY WIFE WHEN MY TRUCK STARTS DOING A LAUD KNOCKING SOUND. I COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE TEMPERATURE, BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME I HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THAT IT DAMAGE A #1 CYL, BEND CONNECTING ROD, CRACK PISTON AND OF COURSE A BAD HEAD. TO FIX IT WAS OVER $2,500. I LIVE IN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY WITH A FIX INCOME SINCE FEBRUARY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY AND BARELY MAKE THE PAYMENTS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND HEAD GASKETS. I TOLD MY STEPDAUGHTER AND WE WENT ON-LINE SURPRISED TO SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS SINCE 1998 ON THE 3.8-LITER V-6 HEAD GASKET USED BETWEEN 1988 AND 1995 ON THE TAURUS, SABLE AND CONTINENTAL, AS WELL AS THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND WE THINK THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM NOT UNTIL WAY AFTER 1998 WHEN THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NOW 1998'S F-150 GOT EXACLLY THE SAME PRABLEM. I DON''T KNOW WHAT TO DO !!! I HAVE NOT CALL FORD CREDIT TO TELL THEM YET. ANNY SUGESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT [email protected]

Mileage: 81,095

I WAS COMING FROM THE DOCTOR WITH MY WIFE WHEN MY TRUCK STARTS DOING A LAUD KNOCKING SOUND. I COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE TEMPERATURE, BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME I HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THAT IT DAMAGE A #1 CYL, BEND CONNECTING ROD, CRACK PISTON AND OF COURSE A BAD HEAD. TO FIX IT WAS OVER $2,500. I LIVE IN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY WITH A FIX INCOME SINCE FEBRUARY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY AND BARELY MAKE THE PAYMENTS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND HEAD GASKETS. I TOLD MY STEPDAUGHTER AND WE WENT ON-LINE SURPRISED TO SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS SINCE 1998 ON THE 3.8-LITER V-6 HEAD GASKET USED BETWEEN 1988 AND 1995 ON THE TAURUS, SABLE AND CONTINENTAL, AS WELL AS THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND WE THINK THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM NOT UNTIL WAY AFTER 1998 WHEN THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NOW 1998'S F-150 GOT EXACLLY THE SAME PRABLEM. I DON''T KNOW WHAT TO DO !!! I HAVE NOT CALL FORD CREDIT TO TELL THEM YET. ANNY SUGESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT [email protected]

Mileage: 81,095

I WAS COMING FROM THE DOCTOR WITH MY WIFE WHEN MY TRUCK STARTS DOING A LAUD KNOCKING SOUND. I COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE TEMPERATURE, BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME I HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THAT IT DAMAGE A #1 CYL, BEND CONNECTING ROD, CRACK PISTON AND OF COURSE A BAD HEAD. TO FIX IT WAS OVER $2,500. I LIVE IN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY WITH A FIX INCOME SINCE FEBRUARY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY AND BARELY MAKE THE PAYMENTS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND HEAD GASKETS. I TOLD MY STEPDAUGHTER AND WE WENT ON-LINE SURPRISED TO SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS SINCE 1998 ON THE 3.8-LITER V-6 HEAD GASKET USED BETWEEN 1988 AND 1995 ON THE TAURUS, SABLE AND CONTINENTAL, AS WELL AS THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND WE THINK THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM NOT UNTIL WAY AFTER 1998 WHEN THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NOW 1998'S F-150 GOT EXACLLY THE SAME PRABLEM. I DON''T KNOW WHAT TO DO !!! I HAVE NOT CALL FORD CREDIT TO TELL THEM YET. ANNY SUGESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT [email protected]

Mileage: 81,095

I WAS COMING FROM THE DOCTOR WITH MY WIFE WHEN MY TRUCK STARTS DOING A LAUD KNOCKING SOUND. I COULD NOT FIGURE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE TEMPERATURE, BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME I HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET AND FOUND THAT IT DAMAGE A #1 CYL, BEND CONNECTING ROD, CRACK PISTON AND OF COURSE A BAD HEAD. TO FIX IT WAS OVER $2,500. I LIVE IN A SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY WITH A FIX INCOME SINCE FEBRUARY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALL THAT MONEY AND BARELY MAKE THE PAYMENTS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BEEN LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND HEAD GASKETS. I TOLD MY STEPDAUGHTER AND WE WENT ON-LINE SURPRISED TO SEE LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS SINCE 1998 ON THE 3.8-LITER V-6 HEAD GASKET USED BETWEEN 1988 AND 1995 ON THE TAURUS, SABLE AND CONTINENTAL, AS WELL AS THE 1995 WINDSTAR AND WE THINK THEY DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM NOT UNTIL WAY AFTER 1998 WHEN THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. NOW 1998'S F-150 GOT EXACLLY THE SAME PRABLEM. I DON''T KNOW WHAT TO DO !!! I HAVE NOT CALL FORD CREDIT TO TELL THEM YET. ANNY SUGESTIONS PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT [email protected]

Mileage: 81,095

STARTED VEHICLE, THEN COULD SMELL AN ODOR, ABOUT 30 SECONDS LATER IT SMELLED LIKE A BELT BURNING. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD AND SEEING A FIRE ON THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP WHERE THE 4 WIRES PLUG IN. I S/O ENGINE AND PUT OUT FIRE WITH EXTINGUISHER. *NLM

Mileage: 44,402

THE ENGINE FAILED WITH OUT WARNING. *JB

WE HAVE A FORD F150 CLUBCAB PICKUP. IT WAS PERFORMING FINE AND I CAME TO WORK AND WENT TO START IT AND IT WOULD NOT START. MY HUSBAND CAME TO HELP ME AND IT FINALLY STARTED BUT IT HAD A SEVERE KNOCK IN IT. HE TOOK IT TO THE GARGAE FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ENGINE. NO WARNING PF ANY SORT. IT HAD GREAT OIL PRESSURE , CHNAGED FREQUENTLY, COOLANT WAS FINE ETC. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT HAS A BULLETIN OUT ON IT FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL. WE NOW HAVE HEARD OF 3 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL PROBLEM AROUND OUR SMALL COMMUNITY. FORD SAYS THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT AS IT IS JUST A BULLETIN NOT A RECALL PROBLEM. THE GARAGES AROUND HERE HAVE TOLD US THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE. IF FORDS WOULD EVEN PAY HALF OF THE $3600 REPAIR WE WOULD BE SATISIFED BUT THEY TELL US NO.

THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT IN MY 1998 FORD F-150

I HAVE READ THROUGH THE INTERNET THAT MANY OF THESE 4.2L FORD ENGINES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKETS AS MINE HAS. *PH **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**770816

Mileage: 49,000

FORD DENIES THAT THE CYLINDERS HEAD ARE DEFECTIVE, YET I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET. DT

NO SUMMARY. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH A SPARK PLUG (CYLINDER #2) BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD CRACKING COIL PACK. DEALER ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT OF CYLINDER HEAD IS $3400. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT IS VERY COMMON IN F150'S PARTICULARLY WITH THE 5.4 V8 ENGINE. THIS IS A STOCK ENGINE, WITH FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 100K MILES. PLUGS SHOULD NOT BLOW OUT OF CYLINDER FOR NO REASON. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY DUE TO PROJECTILE OR RISK OF FIRE. BASED ON MY INVESTIGATION, FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. MORE INFO AT: HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=4ABD0A2337942B5D2ED89C308E5C3975&THREADID=88853 DT *TR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH WATER MIXING IN OIL PAN. ENGINE WOULD MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN FIRST STARTING OR INTERMITTENTLY. OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED BLOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WITH NO WARNING. *AK *JB

DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD THREADS THAT HOLDS THE SPARK PLUG FAILED. THE NON-FORD MECHANIC SAID THIS IS A RARE EVENT, SEEING ONLY 3 INCIDENTS ON THE 10 YEARS HE'S BEEN REPAIRING. HOWEVER, IT IS COMMONLY REPORTED BY F-150 AND LIGHTNING OWNERS. FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE REFER TO HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&POSTID=686548. *AK

TRUCK HAS HYDRO-CARBON IN COOLANT SYSTEM THAT RESULTS IN TRUCK OVER HEATING ON NUMEROUS OCASSIONS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

DEALER REPORTS COOLANT LOSS INTO OIL SYSTEM, STATES CAUSE IS DEFECT IN TIMING CHAIN COVER OR INTAKE MANIFOLD, 1997 TRUCKS WITH SAME ENGINE EQUIPED WITH DEFECTIVE TIMING CHAIN COVER, FORD ISSUED SILENT RECALL TO DEALERS TO COVER COST OF REPAIRES FOR 1997 TRUCKS, FORD CLAIMES DEFECT CORRECTED FOR 1998 TRUCK, DEALER STATES THAT EVEN IF COVER IS DEFECTIVE, FORD WON'T COVER COSTS FOR REPAIRES, I WONDER IF FORD COMPLETLY CORRECTED TIMING CHAIN COVER PROBLEM.*JB

NONE

ENGINE HAS A "SPARK KNOCK" DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION, EXTREMELY BAD ON HEAVY ACCELERATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FRONT INNER TIE RODS ON RIGHT SIDE BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TWICE BEFORE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER STILL DID NOT DO ANYTHING FOR CONSUMER TAKEN IT AGAIN TO DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE IN FRONT END WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED, THERE IS A NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START ENGINE, HEADLIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED, ENGINE IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS.*SLC

VEHICLE WOULD STALLS ONLY DURING RAINY OR MISTY WEATHER CONDITION. VEHICLE BEEN INTO DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. NOTICED ON DASHBOARD PANEL COOLANT GOING DOWN, . OVERFLOW HAD NO COOLANT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON BRAKES, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT GASKETS WERE LEAKING DUE TO A CRACK IN ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT VEHCLE WILL BE FIXED. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

LOST #1&2 CYL DUE TO WARPPED HEAD. ENGINE NEVER OVERHEATED. ENGINE PINGING AT LIGHT LOADS EVEN WITH 92 OCTANE GAS. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE MORE THAN A CHANCE OCCURANCE WITH THE TRITON ENGINE.*AK

LOST #1&2 CYL DUE TO WARPPED HEAD. ENGINE NEVER OVERHEATED. ENGINE PINGING AT LIGHT LOADS EVEN WITH 92 OCTANE GAS. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE MORE THAN A CHANCE OCCURANCE WITH THE TRITON ENGINE.*AK

THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND STALL WHEN STARTED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH THE ENTIRE TIME VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT ALL THE VEHICLE NEEDED WAS A TUNE-UP AND WAS ASSURED THAT AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE NORMAL, THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE SHOP AND THEIR ONLY ANSWER FOR THE PROBLEM WAS TO KEEP BRINGING VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIRS.*YH

MECHANIC CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSES OF LOUD NOISES WHEN STEERING AFTER ENGINE IS WARM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 TO 75 MPH WHEN ENGINE QUIT SUDDENLY AND WOULD NOT RESTART. OIL PUMP WAS CAUSE OF DEFECT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS SITTING AROUND ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES IN OFF POSITION AND CONSUMER SMELLED AN ANTI FREEZE ODOR BEFOR EXITING VEHICLE. AFTER RETURNING FROM SHOPPING ,VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE DEPARMENT WAS CALLED, CAUSE OF THE FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RECALL 98V007000/THROTTLE ICING: SPEED CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, AND INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO FLOOR. *AK 2 GOODYEAR WRANGLER AP TIRE'S TREAD IS COMPLETELY GONE, SIZE P255/70R16, DOT PDCUF8WR038. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE HAS A PING SOUND WHEN FIRST STARTED IN COLD WEATHER, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *SLC

OCTOBER 2000 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER REFUELING. OCCURED ON SATURDAY, CHECKED OWNERS MANUAL, "OK TO DRIVE, HAVE DEALER CHECK". TOOK TRUCK TO TOWN EAST FORD MONDAY, FORD CHARGED APPROX. $279.00 AND HERTZ APPROX. 70 FOR RENTAL. FORD STATED "SOMEONE DISCONNECTED YOUR MAF SENSOR". THAT IS NOT TRUE! ALSO THEY DID NOT COVER UNDER WARRENTY BUMPER TO BUMPER OR EXTENDED OR RENTAL VEHICLE. I THINK SENSOR DISCONNECTED SELF IF THAT IS WHAT INDEED HAPPENED. APPROX 1 YR. AGO THE BLINKERS, AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT WORK AT RANDOM. DON'T KNOW IF BRAKE LIGHTS OR BLINKERS WERE VISIBLY WORKING FROM OUTSIDE TRUCK BECAUSE IT WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. RETURNED TO FORD. SAID CAN FIX IT IF CANT FIND IT, ARE YOU SURE YOU DIDN'T HIT A BUMP, BRING IT BACK IF/WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. RETURNED AGAIN BECAUSE PROBLEM CONTINUED. HAD TO GET UGLY WITH THE SERVICE PEOPLE. I TOLD FORD TO KEEP IT, DRIVE IT UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS FOUND. THEY DID AND SAID THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION UNDER DASH. WARRANTY COVERED. I KNOW THIS TRUCK IS UNPREDICTABLE NOW. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REPORT THAT IN MARCH 2000 MY 33 YR OLD BROTHER WAS KILLED WHILE ON THE JOB FOR S&P UTILITIES, I BELIEVE NOW THAT THE TRUCK MAY HAVE STALLED ON THE RAILROAD TRACK HE WAS KILLED ON BECAUSE HE HAD OFTEN COMPLAINED ABOUT THE F150 1998 BOGGING DOWN AND STALLING. I ALSO THINK NOW S&P IS AWARE SINCE THEY HAD PEOPLE OBTAIN ALL OF THE MISSING PARTS FROM THE TRUCK AS SOON AS THEY COULD. HIS NAME IS JOHN CLOUD JR OF MESQUITE TEXAS. HE LEFT 3 KIDS AND WIFE.

ENGINE HAS KNOCK AT COLD START UP AND GOES AWAY AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP. I HAD CONTACTED THE ORIGINAL DEALER IN CA. WHENTHIS STARTED OVER A YEAR AGO AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I HAVE CONTACTED A FORD DEALER HEAR IN ATLANTA AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO BULLETINS OFFER ANY REASON OR ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. I HAVE TALK WITH A FEW OF THE WORKERS AT THE ATLANTA FORD PLANT AND ONE OF THEM HAVE THE SAME MAKE, YEAR, MODEL AND ENGINE AS I DO. HE STATED THAT THE PLANT IN KANSAS AND WINDSOR IN CANADA HAVE SAID THAT THIER WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADS ON THIS ENGINE. WHY IS IT THAT I CAN FIND OUT THIS INFORMATION AND THE DEALERS DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ON THIS. I LIKE MY TRUCK AND WISH TO FIX THE PROBLEM , BUT CAN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM FORD. IF YOU CAN GIVE ME ANY HELP I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

TRUCK WOULD STALL. CONSUMER LET TRUCK SIT FOR HALF AND HOUR, THEN STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT WILL STALL AGAIN. *AK

ENGINE KNOCK AND TICKING NOISE AT START UP,ROUGH IDLE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SEIZED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO LOWER END OF ENGINE BREAKING AND GIVING UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A "HEAVIER DUTY" ENGINE. *AK *ML

HOSE CLAMP CAME LOOSE, CAUSING COOLANT LINE TO LEAK ONTO COIL AND SPARK PLUGS. *AK

I HAVE BEEN TAKING MY TRUCK IN FOR "SPARK KNOCK" FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR NOW. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. THE FORD TECHNICAL REP. HAS LOOKED AT IT ATLEAST TWO TIMES. WHEN IN DRIVE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED YOU CAN GIVE THE TRUCK GAS AND IT WILL KNOCK. AND WHEN IT IS PULLING A TRAILER IT KNOCKS. I WISH TO GET THIS FIXED OR REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS AND TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT OR EVEN SLOWING DOWN VEHICLE WILL CHOKE A LITTLE THEN STALL. CONSUMER TOOK TO FORD. BUT DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK.

AS SOON AS CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. ENGINE IT IS RUNNING ROUGH AND DOWN SHIFTING. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

SPARK KNOCK I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT SINCE IT HAD 2000 MILES ON IT. I AM WORRIED THE THING WILL LOCK UP OR CATCH FIRE OR BLOW UP. IT HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED IT. THEY TELL ME IF I WAS IN CANADA THEY HAVE A BULLETIN ON THOSE MODELS FOR THE VERY SAME THING WHY NOT ON THE AMERICAN MODELS?

MUFFLER RATTLES WHEN ON IDLE.

TRUCK WAS ASSEMBLED WITH THE WRONG MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION WHICH CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO OTHER TRUCK COMPONENTS. NLM

VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED WITH WRONG MOTOR MOUNTS FOR STANDARD TRANSMISSION NOT AUTOMATIC. *AK

DUE TO DEFECTIVE THROTTLE LINKAGE AND PCV VALVE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IN WET AND COLD CONDITIONS VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES WITH NO WARNING. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLS, ALTERNATOR LIGHT COMES ON. TO RESTART VEHICLE, DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY HAVE NOTIFIED THE MANFACTURER. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

THERMOSTAT FAILURE. MGM

14 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR, THE TRUCK HAS JUST DIED OUT WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION OF ANYTHING BEING WRONG. MOST OF THE TIME IT TAKES 15-30 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE IS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, AND BLUE SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE EXHUAST.DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OR PROCEEDING TO TURN A CORNER THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 55 MPH TO 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT GIVING THE CONSUMER ANY PRIOR WARNING ,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN THREE VEHICLES OFF THE HIGHWAY ROAD, AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND GET BACK ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO FORD TEN TIMES AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

SERPENTINE BELT BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

IDLE PULLEY FAILED.

SERPINTINE BELT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND STEERING. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEALER HAS REPLACED BELT 3 TIMES, DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

EMISSION HOSE INCORRECTLY ROUTED AND RUBBING ON REAR OF AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR SUCTION FITTING WHICH HAS A SHARP 90 DEGREE EDGE. DEALER REPLACED AND CORRECTLY REROUTED HOSE. *AK

DEFECT IN ENGINE BLOCK, POSSIBLY CRACK OR DEFECTIVE GASKET. ENGINE OIL IS LEAKING ONTO HOT ENGINE.