10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,000 miles

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problem #7

Apr 082003

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles
Hood pops unlocked while driving.seat belts on front seats do not retract fully when unbuckled, hang on floor between seat and door. Upon opening of door, the loose belt loop falls past the door seal area and upon door closure becomes lodged between door and jamb. When vehicle re-entry is made by driver or passenger, and belt is put on, a false tension is achieved by door jamb seal. This leaves up to 10 to 14 inches of loose belt that feels like it is actually tensioned as to protect the occupant. This loose belt slack continues as the belt extends and retracts in normal, non inertia locked mode. Only upon heavy breaking, or forward force by occupant does the belt slip past the lower door jamb seal and extends the belts reach. This can cause a fatality for one of the following four reasons. First, on frontal impact, the belt allows the driver or passenger to be thrust forward and either come into undue contact with the dash or steering wheel. Secondly, the falsely tensioned belt allows the driver or passenger to be propelled too close to a deploying front airbag, causing undue frontal contact with airbag which can result in increased injury or death. Thirdly, on pickup truck models equipped with key deactivated front seats occupied by children, the loosening belt can reach the youth passenger seat occupant right into windshield. And fourth, in passenger pickup truck models, with the air bag turned off by key switch, untensioned belt does not restrain a baby / child car seat, likely causing the seat to be rendered ineffictive and possibly more hazardous if it were not used at all.he belt assemblies made for Ford by TRW. This condition was evident when vehicle was less than year old, got progresssively worse, first incident fall 1997. I was first titled owner, bought demo. Elbow injury in 2003. I'm a former mi. Lic.master mechanic.I have tested for this problem in similar Ford vehicles on used car lots and have observed same effect in many Ford F-150's.

- Macomb, MI, USA

problem #6

Feb 122002

F-150

  • miles
Driver's seat belt had twisted, not allowing seat belt to retract all the way to the housing. Had contacted dealer for the problem.

- Curpus Cristis, TX, USA

problem #5

Jul 252000

F-150 4WD

  • miles
The seat belt retractors do not reel in the seatbelt. This allows the seatbelt to be caught in the door when it is closed. This will damage the seatbelt, making it ineffective in an accident. In addition the seatbelt has been caught in the lock mechanism making it impossible to open the driver side door from the inside of the truck. This a clear and present safety hazard to the occupants of the vehicle. The seat belt retractor needs to be fixed.

- Westfield, NJ, USA

problem #4

Nov 241998

F-150 4WD

  • miles
Driver seat belt does not retract properly, factory wiring harness for trailer has no running lights. 4 wheel drive failure have had in the shop 6 times. Center console does not lock in down position.

- Laingsburg, MI, USA

problem #3

Mar 251999

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer was about to stop and was rearended by a truck. In return, consumer's vehicle rearended a third truck. The seat belts did not hold driver or passenger, and neither air bag deployed.

- Shefield Lake, OH, USA

problem #2

Sep 051998

F-150

  • miles
Vehicle was involved in a collision at 45mph. Upon impact, the airbags did not deploy, and the seat belt restraints did not retract, resulting in minor injuries. The manufacturer has been notified.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #1

Nov 161996

F-150

  • miles
Failure of the driver's side air bag, consumer was involved in a head-on collision and the driver's side air bag did not deploy and the seat belts did not hold, causing injuries to the driver and passenger.

- West Hazleton, PA, USA