I have a Ford F150 V6 4.2 with a blown engine. I started it one morning to a loud knocking and smoke from the exhaust. I understand this has been a frequent problem that Ford refuses to take responsibility for. My truck has 81,000 miles on it.

- Norman , OK, USA

: the contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, there was a loud knocking noise coming from the engine followed by the illumination of the check engine light as well as smoke from the exhaust. Although the problem persisted, the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer.

- Norman, OK, USA

I noticed my Ford 4.2L V-6 was losing coolant. But, there was no leaks externally. I went out to start it the other morning, and it would not turn over. I searched the internet, and found info on hydrolocking and bad gaskets. I removed all the spark plugs, and cranked the engine. Lots of coolant came out of cylinder 1. now, I'm looking at best all new gaskets, or possibly a new engine if the timing cover gaskets weren't replaced under the recall.

- Westlake, OH, USA

I have a 1997 F150 V-6 4.2L pick up truck. I have been loosing engine coolant and my engine oil leaks out. I have found that the lower intake gasket problem is very common with this engine type and truck. I found out that Ford had a recall on this gasket but they did not send me any information about it. The recall on the gasket expired in 2005 ( I was told by Ford). I only have 66,000 miles on this truck. Can you guys help me?

- Riverton, UT, USA

Re: 97 Ford F- 150 pickup w/ 4.2L V 6 it has come to my attention that this engine gives trouble w/ failing head gaskets. Mine failed at 86,560 mi. Engine coolant/antifreeze leaking into #S 3 & 6 cylinders so both sides of engine were affected Ford owes me $1765 dollars if they knew of this problem please help!

- St. Charles, MO, USA

1997 Ford F150 4.2L V 6 engine. Went to start the truck and it ran very rough. Cut it off and had it towed to the local Ford dealer, they said it had a bent rod and would need a rebuilt engine at a cost of $5,000. I did some research on the internet and found 100's of complaints about this engine all with the same symptoms. Now I'm stuck shopping around for a better deal on rebuilt engines than the Ford dealer provided.

- Vienna, VA, USA

My 1997 Ford F-150 has a loud tapping sound in the engine. It either broke a rod or a piston.

- Opelousas, LA, USA

Complete engine failure on 1997 Ford F150 4.2L 145K due to leaking gasket in engine, allowing engine coolant into engine, causing engine to freeze cylinder and throw a rod then engine completely stopped. I notices that engine coolant was disappearing and white smoke out of tail pipe, then check engine light went on, then soon after through a rod and engine seized up. My car now requires a new engine due to defective gasket allowing engine coolant into engine. This seems to be a recurring theme with Ford engines in this year.

- Alamo, CA, USA

1997 Ford F-150 intake manifold gasket failed along with a ton of other people. Had to pay a hefty repair fee. There were no events leading up to it, just saw white smoke coming from my tail pipe. Luckily I caught it real quick and it only cost the me repair of the entire gasket. A lot of times it is a whole new engine. My repair cost $500.

- Cary, NC, USA

My truck was taken in for a brake repair the week of March 6- 10, 2006. We got the truck back drove it a 100 miles on the weekend with no problems. On Monday, 3/13/06, I noticed it missing after 40 miles an hour. My husband drove it to work the next day to see what I was talking about. He had the same problem. I took my son to work on Thursday and it was still missing. When on the freeway, I got it up to 65/70 mph when it just started slowly down. I could no longer give it any gas. I was able to pull onto a large shoulder where I had it towed into a transmission shop I trusted. On inspection, the transmission was flooded with water and coolant as well as the engine due to a faulty radiator. I had replaced the radiator April 11, 2005. This was not the first radiator replaced. This was the 4th radiator. I had the truck towed to the dealership that installed the radiator and was told that my engine and transmission had failed. I'm waiting for a call back with an explanation as to why. I was told that I would have to have an engine breakdown which would cost me, to find out why it failed. We have had numerous problems with the whole cooling system in general since 1999. Ranging from changed head gaskets, heater cores, radiators, etc. It has become apparent from reading on the fight back site: [forums.treemedia.com/fb/showthread.php?P=836&page=2&pp=15] that this a common unresolved issue with the Ford company. Apparently this is a common complaint that has yet to be taken seriously. I counted out 226 complaints on the NHTSA site under engine and engine: Cooling through E/E:C:exsys:manifold/header/muffler/tailpipe. I've always trusted the Ford company as my father-in-law retired from there. We always had great service until his particular dealership closed. I am not complaining about any one dealer as I've been to many different people to service my car when they closed. This seems to be a manufacture responsibility

- Livermore, CA, USA

Engine failure, Ford 4.2L V6 1997 with 102,000 miles. Started engine and loud clanging noise from front of engine also large plumes of white smoke from exhaust. Brought my truck to Ford dealer for service and was told best solution was to replace engine. Truck is currently at dealer. I went to on-line to research engine problems associated with this and found 21 pages of similar complaints. The symptoms were exactly the same for each one. Only the mileage varied. Some claimed a Ford re-call was issued for a gasket problem to correct coolant leaking into engine causing internal failures. I did not receive this recall. Please investigate what can be done to have Ford take responsibility for my (and the others) engine failure. It is very costly. Thank you.

- Pittsford, NY, USA

My Ford F-150 4.2 L engine threw a rod on March 8 2006, with less than 61K miles on the motor. The failure was due too water seeping into the cylinders from a defective gasket. I have maintained this vehicle per Ford's printed manual and have the records to prove it. The result of the problem has cost me over 3,000 dollars for an engine replacement. I expect Ford Motor Co. To reimburse me for my damages financially. I spoke with a service manager at a local Ford dealership and he said he has never known of Ford to reimburse a customer in this type of situation. Therefore I decided to file this complaint. My truck is now being repaired by an independent service garage.

- Goose Creek, SC, USA

Engine failure bad gaskets leaked colant into engine threw a rod.

- Mound, MN, USA

I own a 1997 Ford F-150 purchased in 2000 from a Ford dealership. I never received the onp recall about a failure in the front cover gasket and now I am facing costly repairs. Furthermore the repairs were never conducted on my vehicle prior to my purchase despite knowledge of the recall.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

: the contact stated while driving up to 40 mph the engine leaks coolant into the cylinders causing the engine to smoke. The dealership was alerted. However, no repairs have been made. The consumer has since paid for the repairs at his expense. A faulty intake manifold caused water to enter the combustion chamber and produce steam. Updated 03/09/06.

- Buckhead, GA, USA

1. loss of coolant 2. pressure test showed front gasket leaking 3.front gasket replaced at cost of $1000, may have lower intake gasket leak now, all common service issue, needs to be recalled.

- Lockport, IL, USA

1997 Ford F150 4.2L V-6 when first starting engine cold it would miss bad for up to 30 second and then would clear up and run fine. Started loosing antifreeze with no external leakage, eventually engine steamed from exhaust. The next morning I started truck and the engine made a loud knocking noise and I found that the coolant reservoir was empty. I turned the truck off immediately and I was never able to get the engine to turn over again. Upon removing the engine and checking the connecting rods I found that the number 1 rod was bent and the bottom of the piston was broken off from it hitting the crank shaft. I am in the process of replacing the engine.

- Powhatan, VA, USA

Blown head gasket in 1997 Ford 4.2L V6.

- Redding, CA, USA

This concerns a 1997 F-150 Ford pickup with a 4.2 L 6 cylinder motor. I've had to add coolant to it for several months and couldn't find a leak or any in the oil. Five days ago while trying to start it the motor gave a loud bang and white smoke boiled out. Now it knocks like a bent or broken rod and blows white smoke out of the tail pipe. I found a website on the internet where dozens of people with trucks having the same motor are all having the same problem between 76000-110000 miles. Mine has 109,000 miles and from the reports, Ford is trying to put all of this on the dealers and the dealers are just wanting to fix the motors @ $600 -$4000 dollars. The people with the problem say that it is a faulty head gasket and that they were recalled, but I never received that recall. I don't have the money to fix a motor that was faulty when I bought the thing.

- Winnfield, LA, USA

#3 spakplug blewout of my 1997 Ford F-150 with 5.4 liter engine. I have yet to repair this problem.

- Charlotte, NC, USA