10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 72
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
80,352 miles

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problem #94

Oct 122012

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford F150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph the air bag warning light illuminated. Within a couple of weeks the cruise control was not operating while driving at approximately 65 mph. The dealer was contact who stated that the vehicle was not under a recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 122,000. Updated 12/5/12 the manufacturer was contacted but, did not offer any assistance.

- San Lorenzo, CA, USA

problem #93

Jan 082011

F-150

  • 125,000 miles
On January 8, 2011, 1997 Ford F150 XLT lariat burned and totally destroyed our home and Toyota Tacoma in carport.fire marshall and firemen stated appeared to originate from F150 in carport. Forensic investigator from state farm (representatives from Ford present after demand from state farm) stated fire started by defective cruise control component (confirmed by X-ray) after locating in debri under vehicle. Ford acted as if they could care less - guess not since not even an appology for our loss as much cannot be replaced. State farm now in the process of suing Ford to recoop their loss. We were never notified by Ford of this defect and nearly lost our lives.

- Doddridge, AR, USA

problem #92

May 072007

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles
Ford F150 fire caused by cruise control deactivation switch. Vehicle in garage, vehicle totaled and garage damaged.

- Myaka City, FL, USA

problem #91

Apr 202007

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1997 Ford F150 pickup truck, the fire appeared to have started under the hood in the engine. The insured stated to the firemen that it looked electrical. This model of truck has been known to burn due to a faulty cruise control switch. They included a copy of the recall notice from Ford. The insured was not sure if the recall was ever completed. They stated the cruise control had not worked in some time.

- Montgomery , AL, USA

problem #90

Jan 132007

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
At around 5:45 pm est 1/13/2007 my husband was working on our computer while my son and I watched a movie. The doorbell rang and I went outside to find my husband's 1997 Ford F150 with flames shooting high out of the hood. I grabbed my son and came back inside and screamed for my husband. He grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to put out the fire but it was far too involved. A neighborhood kid had been walking by and saw the fire and rang the doorbell - he waited with us down the street for the fire trucks. I called 911 and evacuated the house and ran down the street. The fire department arrived within 5 minutes or so - while we waited there were several minor explosions but the fire department was able to extinguish the fire before it got to the house (only a few feet from the truck) or the other car parked right next to the truck in the driveway. The truck is completely destroyed - the hood and windshield are gone - the interior is black and devastated and the tires are melted - the paint is gone - it looks nothing it did a few hours ago.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #89

Dec 282006

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
My truck Ford F150 1997 was parked on front driveway and get on fire by itself. Engine was cold and truck was idle for more than 4 hours. Damage was total. Fire marshal was at the scene and get to the conclusion that fire was caused by cruise control switch.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #88

Aug 182006

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles
I drive an imported F150 from 1997 (4X4, 5.4 engine). Last week my cruise stopped working. After inspection and surfing the net, I came to the conclusion that the problem is the same a lot of F150 had (have), oil leak to the cruise-connector. A friend of mine who owns a garage, inspected carefully and came to the same conclusion. I wrote to Ford.com to ask for help to get the problem fixed. No reaction. I only ask for the replacement parts I need and the necessary instructions to do the repairs, not more. Perhaps you can help me to get the problem fixed. I love that truck and I just want to keep driving as safe as possible. For the moment I disconnected the cruise (as recommended on a lot of Ford-forums).

- Gingelom - Belgium, 00, USA

problem #87

Jul 082006

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 121,000 miles
I had the 05S28 Ford recall performed on my F150 on 9/12/05 - they did not disconnect my cruise control to wait for the new harness - they installed a brake kit - at christmas time - I went home to Minnesota and had problems with the cruise control on the way back - when I got home I called the dealership and they said that there was a problem with something with the cruise in northern climates icing up and if it didn't stop when I was home in Oklahoma to call them back - it didn't do it anymore so I didn't call back. On July 8th I went to broken arrow and after I shut my truck off and parked it - it caught fire and burned to the ground. Only took about 8 minutes to burn. Everything from the cab back window forward is burned to a crisp. The fireman said they were writing it up as engine electrical malfunction. Everything on the drivers side is gone - the battery is completely melted away - the intake manifold is melted - there is more missing and melted on the drivers side - so the fireman suspect it started there on the drivers side in the engine compartment. There were no injuries. The fire was so hot that it melted some pallets of pvc pipe that were stacked about 8 feet from where I parked the truck and they fell over on top of the truck and one of the firemen. They got him out and he was uninjured. I lost my truck, the fireman got my trailer unhooked with minimal damage, I lost most of my tools and a lot of personal belongings. Police came but left it up to fire department to write a report.

- Vinita, OK, USA

problem #86

Jan 152005

F-150 4WD 6-cyl

  • miles
1997 F150 caught on fire. Eight months after the consumer's vehicle caught on fire he received a recall on the cruise control deactivation switch (05S28) which indicated that eh deactivation switch could overheat and result in a fire. The consumer submitted pictures to the manufacturer and had the vehicle inspected at the dealer. The manufacturer refused to provide and financial assistance stating that the truck was too badly damaged to determine what actually started the fire.

- Somerset, KY, USA

problem #85

Jan 192006

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 223,000 miles
On the night of Jan. 19, 2006,1:30 am, we were awoken by an explosion. My husband and I jumped up and starting running toward the front door window and realized that our 1997 Ford F150 was inflamed. My other vehicle was parked directly in front of the truck, meaning that the gas tank was about 1-2 feet away from the truck. The first thing I did was called 911 while running around trying to put clothes on. My husband was outside with a water hose trying to put a huge fire out. Which knowing in my mind that any moment we could all blow up. By this time I hurried and got my 5 month old baby, and my other 2 children and ran out of the house. While my husband is still trying to hold a huge fire down with a hose pipe, I am watching the top of my carport burn the fire dept. Arrives and takes control of everything. (great job mcfd you are greatly appreciated) after the fire was out. I thanked the lord for my family lives. The next day I realized the damages we had. First, we have no truck, our carport is damaged, and our other vehicle has some burned damages. Aprx 2 weeks later Ford has got in touch with us and has denied our claim. They told us that the truck was so burned that the fire was undetermined. Thank you Ford for our time in need when it is not our fault.....people get on the computer and check for recalls on your vehicles and get it taken care of because Ford in not fessing up. Since the fire we have learned that our 1997 Ford Expedition also had the same recall(speed control deactivation switch) knowing that the Expedition had that same recall I could not sleep at night with it parked in my drive way. Trust and believe it is now sold. There will never be another Ford in my drive way.

- Morgan City, LA, USA

problem #84

Dec 232005

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,215 miles
The contact stated there is a NHTSA recalls campaigns 05V388000 and 98V007000 regarding the vehicle speed control and the accelerator pedal. The vehicle has the same problems as indicated in the recall; however, it is not included in the recall due to the VIN. No repairs have been made.

- Petersburg, VA, USA

problem #83

Dec 132005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,000 miles
The contact stated after activating the cruise control the vehicle accelerated. The cruise control would not deactivate with the off switch or the brake pedal. Pressure was applied to the brakes hard for approximately a mile and a half. He was able to get the vehicle to the shoulder and turn off the ignition. When the vehicle was turned back on the engine was idling high. The contact disconnected the fuse for the cruise control. The vehicle has not been seen by a service dealer or an independent repair shop.

- Oak Grove, MO, USA

problem #82

Dec 052005

F-150

  • miles
Our 1997 Ford F150 burned Dec 5,2005. The fire proceed to our 1993 chvy Blazer parked in front of it and then proceed to our home. We received a recall letter around end of Sept beginning of Oct. For the speed control sensor. The recall was voluntary and parts would not be in until Nov. Our cruise control did not work, we were not real concerned at the time. We received a postcard the week before the fire, still stating a voluntary recall and now parts were not to be in until February 2006. No where on these recalls are the danger of a fire discussed. I think this recall should be mandatory!! we came home around 7:00 pm and the fire started around 3:00 am our Blazer only had liability and probably will not be covered. The insurance is processing two claims ( 2 - $1000 deductibles) and we also have an medical claim for our daughter going in for toxic smoke inhalation. We had 6 payments to go, now we will be lucky to purchase one decent vehicle and definitely need two, we both work! Ford needs to step up and take care of the consumers! I have my doubts that we will purchase another Ford. My grandfather hauled new cars for Ford for years, but I have no loyalty when I find websites galore about this recall and nothing is happening. How many people need to suffer or die before this is taken care of!!

- Wellington, OH, USA

problem #81

Nov 182005

F-150 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact states there is NHTSA recall 05V017000 on the vehicle concerning the cruise control. The parts needed for recall repairs were not available at their local dealership. The contact spoke to the manufacturer, who confirmed that the parts are not available at this time. Updated 01/11/06.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #80

Nov 082005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The contact stated the solution for cruise control was not available until further notice. The cruise was disabled as part of NHTSA recall 05V017000. He has not contacted Ford.

- Jenison, MI, USA

problem #79

Oct 302005

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 150,000 miles
1997 Ford F-150 truck was parked next to my home & hadn't been driven this day, after returning home after being gone for the day I found that my truck had caught on fire! after talking to neighbors & got details they had told me that the fire looked as if it had started somewhere between the rear of motor & the dash. After looking at the recall site for this yr. Truck I found information that leads me to believe that the recall for this vehicle could have been the problem & as I have not received any letter from Ford on this matter as of this date.

- Red Bluff, CA, USA

problem #78

Oct 072005

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
Consumer concerned with vehicle recall over heating and catching on fire. Consumer received recall notice on the underhood speed control deactivation switch. The consumer has disconnect the cruise control deactivation switch. The consumer believes that the real problem is a porous switch on the master cylinder that allows brake fluid to get into the bottom of the connector thus creating a resistance that will cause the connector and switch to overheat.

- Venice, FL, USA

problem #77

Oct 162003

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 97,000 miles
The contact stated vehicle burned two years ago on 10-16-03. She was told at that time that vehicle was not included in any recall. She received a recall notice in the mail on 9-26-05 concerning the scds. She has contacted Ford numerous times, and they have not contacted her at all. Today was the fifth phone call she made to them. The vehicle was parked when it burned. The fire originated under the hood. The fire department was called and they said the fire did originate under the hood. The truck was totaled. The consumer did not have fire and theft insurance at that time. She contacted Ford, and they told her there was no recall, and urged her to contact her insurance company. The contact E-mailed pictures of the truck to NHTSA in Washington, DC in May 05. The contact stated that in may-05 someone from NHTSA called her, and it was then that she E-mailed them the pictures. She reported of having no problems with the cruise control at the time of the incident. But her husband stated that the cruise control was not working two weeks prior to 9-1-03. She reported her husband was having problems getting the truck out of park. The same day the truck burned.

- Crestwood, IL, USA

problem #76

Sep 112005

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles
After driving and parking the vehicle it caught on fire on September 11, 2005. The driver's side left front tire exploded due to the heat. This was what had alerted the consumer to the fire. When the fire marshall inspected the fire he said it was due to cruise control. The fire caused damage to the consumer's home and another vehicle. The consumer received recall 05S28 on T September 23, 2005. The vehicle was beyond repair. The consumer was in contact with the manufacturer.

- Grapvine, TX, USA

problem #75

Sep 242005

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 222,000 miles
The consumer stated the 1997 Ford F150 caught on fire and burned on 9-24-2005. The consumer stated that the fire looked like it started under the hood. The only thing left of the truck was the rear end. The entire cab of the truck was destroyed. There were no problems on the truck, everything was working. The cruise control was not used in the truck. The truck had been parked for five hours. The owner was going to take pictures today. The fire department ruled out arson. Fire and police reports were taken.. the dealership has been contacted. The dealer said they would send the complaint to the claims department. The manufacturer was contacted also. Ford told the consumer that they would send the complaint over to their law department. There was additional property damage. The Lexus next to the truck was damaged.

- Hallandale, FL, USA

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