1.) engine failure on 1997 Ford F150 4.2 V6 with only 84442 miles replaced motor at personal expense $4019 2.) engine died on 10-02-1003 had towed back to dealer and they said it was "not" related to the replaced motor and it was electrical - personal expense $300 3.) enigne begins running rough on 6-6-2005 - diagnosis faulty coil assembly, plus and plug wires "not covered under the rebuilt engine 36,000 mile warranty - personal cost: $600

- Madison, WI, USA

I've noticed that coolant is leaking into my engine (burning from the exhaust) and that Ford issued a recall for the intake manifold gaskets, but I was never notified. Had I been notified, I could have had this problem corrected in 2001.

- Fairborn, OH, USA

Started the truck one morning it had a rough idle but seemed to smooth out. Drove it out to a jobsite and parked it for a couple hours. Started it and white smoke came out and there was a banging and knocking sound. Turned it off and had it towed to a repair shop. They told me I had thrown a rod.

- Richmond, VA, USA

I purchased a Ford F-150 in Jan 97 with 4.2L V-6 engine, I have followed the services religiously, on or around Jan 2000 I tooked the vehicle to local dealer in puerto rico because there was a recall for the front gaskets to be replaced, I contacted the dealer and ascheduled an appmt. I tooked the vehicle in the dealerd 4 days later they call me and said that the vehicle was done. I went to pick the vehicle up and notice that there was no work done to the vehicle. The attendant told me that they did not replaced the gaskets because the vehicle was not leaking so it did not needed the gaskets replaced. Came to United States since I am in the military in fort leonard wood. I started to notice a loss in coolant this concerned me and replaced the water pump then it started leaking from the timing chain cover gasket so I replaced the cover the gasket and the water pump gasket once more costing me around $900. Then this past winter one morning I went to start the vehicle and started to make this knoking knoice very loud knoice so I turned off and called the local Ford dealer here in St robert mo, dealer seller sexton they told me to bring the vehicle and then is when I found that the engine has broken a piston rod because coolant had gotten in the oil. They told me that it was going to cost me around $4,500 I told them that I had no money to pay for those type of expences. Then I found out that the engines were manufactured with defective gaskets. I contacted Ford for assistance and they said that they can not help me because the warranty in the vehicle is expired. To this should make no difference because this was a manufacturing problem not the owners fault my truck only around 73,500. Ford needs to be held liable for this they claimed that this vehicles spark plugs are to be changed at 100,000. Miles how is this if the engines are only lasting 73,500 miles. Please need your help on ensuring Ford is held liable for this. Thank you.

- St. Robert, MO, USA

Front engin cover gasket failed in line with recall 99B29 cost of recovery by dealer 4,700, it would appear recall was inadequate and resulted in engin failer.

- Scottsmoor, FL, USA

Engine failure of the 4.2L V6 in a 1997 Ford F150 truck. Broken rod on number 6 piston. This is an apparently known problem and is effecting many vehicles. Engine replacement is equal to the value of the vehicle. ($4000)

- Acworth, GA, USA

1997 Ford F-150 4.2L engine loss of engine performance and leaking engine coolant, loss of oil pressure. Driving at highway speed, 70 mph oil pump failed at 89200 miles causing engine to throw a rod and spin bearings. This resulted in engine failure. I purchased a remanufactured 4.2L engine from Ford to replace the failed engine. Ld engine core was turned in for credit.

- Rocky River, OH, USA

'97 Ford F150 V6 4X4 4.2L, 2000 recall to replace motor. Replaced by Ford. Replaced with same problematic engine. Ford knowing the problem with this engine had not been solved. Only 48,000 ml on recalled engine that was replaced. With only 48,000 ml on new engine, leads to manafold gasket leakage, head leaking and throwing a rod. Which allowed water in the oil. Dealership refuses to assist in correctiong this problem. Ford Motor Co. At fault replacing a recalled engine with same engine knowing the problem would arise again.

- Mena, AR, USA

I have a 1997 Ford F-150, with a 4.2 liter engine, and 82,000 miles on the vehicle. For the past few years I noticed a gradual decrease in the coolant level, however, I could not determine where the leak was occurring. Also, for the last three weeks leading up to the occurrence, I noticed the engine would knock when I would start it up. In October of 2004, after starting the truck, I saw white exhaust smoke and heard the #1 piston rattling. I have since found out that this is a common occurrence with owners of '96 thru '98 model Ford cars and trucks, with 3.8L and 4.2L engines. I have also seen Ford tsb's that prove they have known for about six years, that the front cover gaskets have a high incidence of failure, causing coolant to leak into the crankcase. Also, that the intake manifold gaskets can fail, which causes coolant to leak into the #1 cylinder. When an engine is started with water in the cylinder, the piston rod is likely to bed or break. The manifold gasket failure is responsible for my problem, as well as that of many other Ford owners. The remedy for the problem is an engine replacement, costing about $4,000. Ford Motor Company is not taking responsibility for this engineering defect, leaving many unsatisfied customers to pay for their faulty engines. I have not had my engine replaced yet.

- Waynesboro, GA, USA

1997 Ford F-150 front engine gasket is causing coolant to leak into the oil pan which has damaged the bearings. I now need a new engine. Ford had a recall issued for this problem in 1999 but I was never notified of the recall. They are not willing to honor the recall now. They state the recall time frame has expired.

- Nashville, TN, USA

120K miles, adding a little coolant occasionally, Ford dealer and local mechanic can find no reason, cranked car one morning and it threw a rod through the oil pan... engine was running smooth up to this point... Ford replaced a gasket for me out of warrenty when the truck stranded me 1500 miles from home...coolant had leaked all over parking lot at that time...now I face a $4,000 repair...I changed the oil every 3-4000 miles.

- Blackville, SC, USA

An engine rod went through the oil pan upon start-up.

- Deepwater, MO, USA

Gasket leaked water into crankcase of my 97 Ford F150 with a 4.2 engine. Had to replace the engine for a little more than $4000. Ford knows of problem but will not compensate cost. There are a lot of angry Ford owners out there with the same problem. My Ford truck had only 68000 miles on it.

- Raynham, MA, USA

I had just arrived back in lakeland fl from a trip to the East coast. I stopped at a store to buy a few things and when I came out and started my 5.4 liter F- 250 light duty truck it blew a spark plug on the passenger side. It was the second plug from the rear. My truck is a 1997 Ford with 100500 approximately miles on it. I had it towed to the Ford dealership that I bought it from for repair. The service manager said he had never heard of Triton engines blowing spark plugs. I happened to know a person that worked in the service department and according to that individual it was a common problem normally requiring a new head at a cost of around $3000 but some could be repaired by lnstalling a new plug if I was lucky. However Ford would not guarantee the installation of a new plug repair. Upon going online I found out that alot of other people are haveing the same problem and Ford is doning little or nothing about it. I found that prior to the plug blowing most people were hearing a knocking noise on a cold start. I had heard that the week prior to my plug blowing. After the repair the noise was gone for about 4 days. We had a cold front come thru and when I started my truck that morning the noise was back and much worse. I traded my truck as a result. No old parts were available. They discarded them. They also assured me that they had retorqued all the plugs. I had had all the plugs replaced at approx. 80,000 miles by a Ford dealer. Bigsert makes a kit for installing an insert in Triton engines. It comes complete with all the special tools required to do the job. If there is not a demand for such a kit companies wont go th the expense of disigning such a kit.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

Failed lower intake manifold gaskets in Ford 4.2 liter engines. I think enough of these have failed to require Ford Motor Company to issue a recall to repair or reimburse those of us who have already had the repair completed or had to replace our engines due to the failure.

- Fresno, OH, USA

"lower intake manifold side gaskets failed, allowing coolant to leak into engine oil. Issue is addressed by Ford with tsb article no. 99-20-7."

- Durham, NC, USA

Engine front cover gasket failed in line with recall 99B29. Ford does not include my truck, built 04/97 in recall campaign 99B29 indicating the original recall has been inadequate.

- Mentor, OH, USA

Engine front cover gasket failed in line with recall 99B29. Ford does not include my truck, built 05/97 in recall campaign 99B29 indicating the original recall has been inadequate. Lower intake manifold side gaskets failed, allowing coolant to leak into engine oil. Issue is addressed by Ford with tsb article no. 99-20-7.

- Zellwood, FL, USA

Lower intake manifold side gaskets failed, allowing coolant to leak into engine oil. Issue is addressed by Ford with tsb article no. 99-20-7.

- Hayward, CA, USA

Engine front cover failed in line with recall 99B29. Ford does not include my truck, built in 1996 in recall campaign 99B29 indicating the original recall has been inadequate.

- Hayward, CA, USA