10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 62
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 84,314 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 was an electrical fire in the wiring harness connected to the master cylinder (brakes). No damage was done due to quick reaction but it left the brakes without power and the truck without brake lights. The problem is believed to be related to the "switch fire" problem that resulted in a wide-spread Ford recall. The vehicle in question is a 1997 Ford F-150 4X4. Truck was purchased from lease-holder and full warranty was transferred to me. I have received several recall notices but not the one associated with this problem.
- Mililani, HI, USA
Vehicle was parked in driveway with doors locked and ignition in the off position. No one was near or in the vehicle. Looked out window and noticed what looked like mist from a water sprinkler from the front side of truck. Looking closer, I realized it was smoke and then saw flames from the tire well and under the hood by the windshield wipers. Called 911. The fire department arrived very quickly, putting the fire out. Their assessment was it was an electrical short which had caused the fire. The fire caused the hood hydraulic lift to explode like a rocket, hitting the windshield, cracking it and then shooting off into the yard. The frames inside the engine housing by the drivers tire burnt the housing completely away. The wiring has been completely burned and melted away inside the engine compartment. All the plastic fluid containers melted, the entire engine housing, engine and all electrical components under the hood were burned up or damaged in some way by this fire. The truck will not start or run. None of the lights work, radio, heat, air or power functions work. The truck is totally inoperable. I contacted the insurance company and they directed me to this site to look for fire related defects and to file a complaint. The truck has not been repaired as it is beyond repair since all the wiring and most of the insides under the hood have burned up or melted.
- Wichita, KS, USA
The truck started having electrical problems, which would come and go. These problems became more severe and numerous as time went by. At first it was just the warning lights coming on and then things like the radio coming on in the middle of the night and no one had the key even in. It would also shift into 4-wheel for no reason. These would only happen once in a while. Then one day when I went to go to work I opened the door and everything came on just opening the door. I got in and put the key in and tried to start the truck but there was nothing. I then noticed the smell of electrical items burning and immediately took out the key. I called the local Ford dealer and ask if they knew what was going on. They immediately replied that these trucks have a problem with the windshield leaking on the GEM module and fuse box. When I took the truck in to have it looked at they said the starter, solenoid, and fuse had all burned up. The fuse box also had burned at several fuse locations and had to be replaced. When the new parts came the mechanic noticed that they now had plastic covers on them to help prevent moisture from getting to them. Now all this stuff burned up in my truck while sitting in my garage at night without it even having the key in the ignition. I'm concerned that this could have burned my house down with me and my family in sleeping. Now if the dealership knew this was a problem how come this was not a recall item. It cost me just under a grand to fix not to mention my wife won't let me park it in the garage anymore because she's afraid of a fire.
- Lapeer, MI, USA
Fire to my 3 days parked Ford F-150. Luckily was not parked inside the garage and was in my gated outside parking. Only frame is remaining....bad...
- Danville, CA, USA
1997 Ford F150 Dec. 7, 2005 - air conditioning continued running with engine off. Dec. 8, 2005 - engine repeatedly trying to turn over with truck in park with ignition off and no key in ignition. I disconnected the battery and had it towed to dealership.
- Temple Terrace, FL, USA
Our 1997 Ford F150 pickup truck had been turned off for at least 6 hours, sitting in our parking lot, when it caught fire on the night of June 23, 2005. The key was not in the ignition. Upon hearing the fire and coming out to the parking lot to investigate, we called the fire department, who came and extinguished the fire. No other cars or buildings caught on fire, although some nearby hoses and bottles of automotive fluid were damaged.
- Comer, GA, USA
1997 Ford F150. Consumer received NHTSA recall 05V388000. Vehicle was parked and caught on fire. The vehicle had been parked for about 30 minutes. It had been sitting for several days prior to the fire, , and then it was driven for a short time. Consumer was not at home, and the fire department was already there putting the fire out when the consumer arrived back home from dinner.
- Del Ray Beach, FL, USA
Engine fire near cruise control switch vehicle destroyed.
- Amarillo, TX, USA
My 1997 Ford pickup burned up in front of my house on May 29th. No keys were in the ignition. It had been parked for 10 hours.
- Glendive, MT, USA
On September 1, 2005 the caller said parked vehicle and 41/2 hours later it caught on fire. The vehicle was totaled. The fire happened without warning. The fire department came and a report was taken. A tree was damaged by the fire. Nothing else was damaged. Dealer gave caller the manufacturer's telephone number. Manufacturer said they would report it and get back to him.
- Sudan, TX, USA
I own a 1997 Ford F150 this truck was the most dependable automobile I have ever owned until August 31, 2005. The truck had been parked for almost 12 hours when it suddenly caught on fire and burned up. It appeared to be some kind of electrical fire.
- Riverview, FL, USA
1.well first the cruise control on my 97 Ford F150 went out. Then my brake lights went out too. Replacecd brake lights, then fuse went out in interior fuse box so, truck would not go into gear. Replaced fuse then it blew it again. Replaced again truck could now shift into gear. I went home parked truck the truck in drive way and did not move it for the truck for the rest of the day. Was waken up about 3 in the morning by cops telling me my truck was on fire. The truck ended up burnt everywhere but the bed total loss pretty much un drivable. Burned a 95 Caravan and part of a 2002 Ford Excursion. I know have I vehicle to move my kids that are in school and myself and my wife which also now has some serious nerve damage she has nightmares of other vehicle burning and can hardly sleep. Tried contacting Ford but C.S. department puts me on hold all day.
- Garland, TX, USA
Driving along 26 mile road and indian trail. Dash board began to smoke, I immediately pulled to the side of the road and got out of vehicle, as I exited vehicle the inside of vehicle caught on fire. I attempted to reach in to retrieve some personal belongs and burned leg (minor). Vehicle was engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds. Fire department was contacted and a policy report was filed.
- Harrison Twp, MI, USA
Our '97 Ford F150 spontaneously caught fire after my husband returned home from work. He had been home approximately 30 - 45 minutes when there was a loud knock on our apartment door. When I looked out the window, I saw a huge fire at the base of the stairs. I told my husband and he grabbed our daughter and left the apartment. I called 911 to report the fire and I left the apartment as well. While waiting for the fire dept., there were other bursts of fire while the engine compartment was in continuous blaze. The fire dept. Determined the fire was electrical in nature.
- Stafford, TX, USA
Truck was parked in driveway. Neighbor alerted consumer that smoke was coming from his vehicle. He lifted the hood and saw white smoke then put vehicle in neutral to move it away from his garage. After moving the truck he saw flames and put them out with water. Parts were replaced by Ford dealership in katy, Texas.
- Houston, TX, USA
1997 Ford F-150 ext cab 4X4 was parked in consumer's driveway. At 1:30-2:00 am the neighbors were pounding on the door. Consumer found truck on fire with fire department putting out the flames. Consumer is waiting to pick up fire report from investigator.
- Kansas City, MO, USA
The vehicle was sitting 20 min. There were no lights or warnings that a problem would occur. The vehicle was regularly serviced. The owner was inside the house and heard a pop sound and then looked outside and saw flames coming from a hole in the hood. Flames were about 2 or 3 foot high. There was a fire investigation #0002302 which states the origin of the fire was technical processing center and cause of fire was the ignition of an unspecified short circuit arch. Police report was filed. It was also reported to insurance company. Vehicle was a total loss. Vehicle has not had other problems before. The police report # 7619.
- West Springfield , MA, USA
Vehicle parked 5 days, caught on fire.
- Houston, TX, USA
My 1997 Ford F150 started on fire after being parked for 10 hours. The keys were not in the ignition.
- Glendive, MT, USA
- Hyrum , UT, USA