10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 10 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 3,996 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
There are cracks right next to the windows on both doors. They appear to be stress fractures. There have been numerous news reports on this problem.
- Conway, AR, USA
Door crack at curve of window on rt & left door
- Cleveland, TN, USA
No summary.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
A crack appears in the door sheet metal at the lower rear of the belt molding on driver's side.
- Fairfax, VA, USA
Many other trucks have this same crack, some on both doors
- Somerset, NJ, USA
Exterior door sheet metal is cracking at lower rear edge of window.
- Pacific, MO, USA
No summary
- Dorena, OR, USA
The doors (driver & passenger) have stress cracks next to the windows. We have spoke to bison Ford regarding the matter. We were informed, by bison Ford, that since we are passed our warrant (3years/36000) that Ford Motor Company agreed to pay $500 and bison Ford agreed to pay 10%, leaving the remainder to the consumer. The cost to repair just one door is $486.63. Thus leaving $375.93 that the consumer would have to pay, if both door were cracked like our's. this price is just to weld the cracks and repaint. We feel that this is a manufacture's defect and that the consumer should not have to pay to have the vehicle repaired properly. I have a real concern for the integrity of the door if we were involved in a side collision. I fear that the door/window would not hold up and possibly cause serious injury. Bob has looked at 10 to 15 (F150 1997 & 1998) and has found that all but one was had crack(s). While we were in Colorado recently we went to the Ford dealership there and were suprised that they did not know about these stress cracks. They had 6 vehicles on their lot and only one of they didn't have the cracks. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter. Helen morin
- Great Falls, MT, USA
There is a small crack developing on the left drivers door at the end of the belt molding next to the window above the door handle. I belong to the internet disscussion list dedicated to the late model Ford trucks and this same defect has been found about by over 100 people on this list. I have also found this defect personally on just about every 1997 F150 that I have looked at in my area.
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
No summary
- Orlando, FL, USA
A crack has started in the exterior skin of the door at the lower right hand corner of the window opening (looking at it from outside the truck). The crack is currently about 3/8" long and first appeared approximately 3 months ago. I have looked at dozens of '97 and '98 F150's and almost all have had a crack in exactly the same location as mine. Some were much longer. Others also had this crack in the passenger side door as well.
- Rochester, NY, USA
Crack on door near window, just above door handle may cause metal to tear easier than if it was a solid piece. This crack can be found on most 1997 F-150's. went to dealership to investigate and found 95% of trucks on used car lot to have the same crack.
- Southgate, MI, USA
Doors have fractures in door frames above&behind door handles, under the thicker weather stripping of the side windows. They are stress fractures that mat have come from the operating of the glass going up & down. Anyway this is a problem for safety & metal stress failure the metal will come apart in a crash in the door area. Design flaw at best is what I see here, which be looked into by someone. Thank you terry E. thompson
- Winchester, IN, USA
I am a member of a mailing list on www.F150online.com & there are about 2000+ members on this list. I am an active daily member & so far I have about 50 emails/people compiled that have these cracks developing. This is definitely a mfg. Defect. I also was at cover Ford in austin tx. On sat. Having warr. Work done & 11 of the F-150's on the used lot had cracked doors also. From 97-99 models ! the service mgr. Said what I expected, "never heard/seen that before". we are getting "no help from Ford" on this. Just that typical computer generated reply. Here is the address of a site that shows the exact crack that we all are getting. This can be a structural safety issue if it gets alot worse. Please help us... arrowaranch.com/truck/crack.html thank you, we'll be looking forward to your reply. Sean steele
- Round Rock, TX, USA
Driver's side door is developing cracks around the window area of the door, which could compromise the integrity of the door during side impact. Dealer says whole door needs to be replaced.
- Gladstone, MO, USA
One-half inch stress crack on driver's door on lower-rear window area. Paint is peeling and rust forming.
- Huntingtown, MD, USA
I was told of a door cracking problem, I asked the local service rep about it, he told me that there was a cracking problem and that Ford was fixing those vehicles within warranty, but they haven't decided on a fix for out of warranty vehicles. If the doors are weak enough to crack form routine driving, are they strong enough for occupant protection? especially if both doors are cracked and form the evidence of rusting, at least for some time..
- Union Star, MO, USA
The drivers side door sheetmetal is cracking from under the window trim near the lower corner of the window towards the edge of the door. Initially appeared to be a defect in the paint, now appears to be a crack in the sheetmetal
- Minneapolis, MN, USA
The metal that goes around window frame on both doors is cracked. The dealer is aware of the problem. The door will be replaced.
- Weston, OH, USA
- Jamesburg, NJ, USA