The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the gear lever would not shift into park. To prevent the vehicle from rolling away, the parking brake was engaged in combination with a wheel block being placed in the front and rear of the vehicle. The vehicle had been repaired twice by a specialized transmission center at the owner's expense. On January 21, 2012, the failure recurred. The vehicle had not been repaired for the most recent failure. There was a recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number 97V171000 (power train) however, the recall campaign expired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.... updated 02/28/13

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

Transmission failure, truck has 112000 miles and the tranny would not shift to 3rd gear, the fluid and filter has been change 5 times more than recommended by manufacturer, I also had aamco install a larger transmission cooler. What happened to the tranny is the C clamp that locks the main drive in the transmission came off, and destroyed the od drum and gears I have always kept my vehicles well maintained and at a cost of $1,900.56 I feel that Ford should re imburse me for this, the truck has never hauled any heavy loads or pulling a trailer with anything heavier than a riding lawnmower. I have a 1970 Ford truck that is a better truck than my 1997. I could only imagine what would happen to a new truck if driven like the commercials they produce. I have always been a Ford man but they are changing my mind quickly. This truck has never been abused. It's absurd that a possibly $5 part could cause me almost 2 grand. I am about to buy a new truck and I will be shopping around and looking at consumer reports to make a decision.

- Canton, GA, USA

Pull gear shifter down to D1 and smoke and fire came out of the steering column: All of the instrument lights went out and the truck was unable to use the overdrive function. Replaced several fuses and tried again with the same results. I dismantled the steering column and noticed that the wiring harness is two short and routed around the steering column causing it to break everytime the truck is put into D1. Ford Motor Company nor any auto store have any parts to repair the problem. The truck is still available for inspection. I took my truck to a Ford dealer and they did not have a fix for the problem. They recommend that I not use D2/D1/overdrive.

- Port Republic , MD, USA

My non-commercial two wheel drive, 1997 F-150 with 59747 miles with 4.2 V-6 engine blew its 4R70W automatic transmission. I was not able to go forward but could go in reverse. There was no sign of failure and the tranny filter and fluid had been serviced two times. It cost $ $2121.52 to rebuild the tranny at a transmission repair shop. Ford's customer service center said there is nothing they can do and did not want to discuss anything with me or the tranny shop to find out more. Also the timing case cover gasket, brake calipers and speedometer have been replaced also.

- East Quogue, NY, 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

Recall 97V147000 concerning automatic transmission failure. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN although it experienced the same problem as those vehicles that were recalled. The gears would pop and make the vehicle jump.

- Gray, GA, USA

I am sending in a full letter to explain the "failures". it centers around tsb 99B29 and lack of owner notification of a bad front cover design that can lead to engine failure, which occurred in this case. Additionally, I had a tie rod failure that was not addressed under warranty, but later broke while driving. Also, my crank shaft pulley / dampener assembly fell off while highway driving (70 mph). There are other issues including door lock / key sticking. Campaign id number : 03V196000 component: Steering:gear box:shaft sector. The engine cover gasket failed. The serpentine failed, the transmission had an akward shift, the wipers operated periodically by themselves on high speed, there was little heat coming from the vents through the floor.

- Walker, MI, USA

The shifter cable was defective. It will not go into park and the consumer had to keep slamming it.

- Esperance, NY, USA

Recall 97V147000, transmission failed to shift out of park after vehicle was started. This was due to ta defect in the transmission shift cable. This vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

Automatic transmission failure of overdrive. Overdrive will go out all at once, loosing speed and becoming a hazard in middle of road.

- Berlin, MD, USA

Driving vehicle it hard shifts from 1 - 2 and sometimes from 2 - 3 at speed less than 30 mph and when down shifting from 2 - 1, brought vehicle to dick parker Ford dealer and had transmission flushed on recomendations. This did not solve the problem. Brought vehicle back and asked for it to be repaired at my cost. Was told that problem I stated was not what the mechanic was looking for. Restated the problem and took the mechanic for a test ride where he acknowledged there was a hard shift. Left vehicle with mechanic to be repaired. Next day I was told no diagnostics error codes were found and that I the owner should continue to drive the vehicle and that the problem would go away. (have dealer documentation stating this).

- Havelock, NC, USA

While in stop and go traffic all 4 truck wheels suddenly locked up which caused the truck to come to an abrupt stop. The dealership is currently servicing the truck to locate the cause of the failure. The dealer replaced the transmission with a remanufactured one.

- Golden, CO, USA

Engine failure, transmission failure

- Kent Lakes, NY, USA

After heavy snows the shift linkage in the automatic transmission on a 5.4L 4X4 will become plugged with snow. When plugged the shift selector can only be shifted back into neutral and not reverse or park.

- Laramie, WY, USA

Vehicle was bought in 2/01 and had approx one week when it stalled everytime it decelerated. Dealership (E-Z way auto sales) took vehicle back and replaced PCM at no charge to us. In 01/02 it started hesitating as if it were slipping out of gear. Does not do all the time-just unexpectedly.had transmission flushed (80$-01/31/01). Still sputtering--replaced fuel filter and air filter over the course of 2 months--problem was not major and did not happen all the time-just when you least expected it. Then in March it just stalled while my girlfriend was driving it and daughter was in the backseat at 60mph! took to local mechanic and they could not receive a diagnostic code-finally after two weeks of driving it to see if they could make it sputter or stall it happened and they receive a code for a egr valve which was fuel related--did not fix, cost 105$--took back to them and they kept an additional 2 weeks and said they gave up--could not diagnose. Took to local Ford dealer(tri-county Ford 05/02) and they had 3 days before it happened again. Replaced pfe sensor (192$-P0401) which I am told is the one which controls the valve that was replaced. Did not fix-returned to Ford dealer(05/02) and they had a few more days and received another code(P0605) and was told my PCM needed replacing. When I told the tech it was just done a little over a year ago he said it was probably a junked part. E-Z way will not fix. They said that the warranty was expired and it was up to Ford. Ford will not replace part, have already been that route. Said if it had been repaired at a certified Ford dealer the whole time maybe they could help and all parts have 12mth warranty. E-Z way offered 200$ toward the part but only if we take it to the place that originally replaced the part(which happens to be operated by the owner of E-Z ways brother). But no one will guarantee that this will fix our problem. Also, vehicle was sold to us without 2 major safety recalls being repaired.

- Hudson, NC, USA

Intermittently the vehicle will not shift from park into gear. The dealer inspected vehicle.

- Cyle, TX, USA

No summary listed for abov evehicle.

- Stockbridge, MI, USA

Automatic transmission is slipping gears. Vehicle's vibration decreases and increases at any speed between shifting gears. Also, vehicle is used for hauling, and adds pressure to transmission, delaying shifting to the next gear. The dealer was not contacted.

- Massillon, OH, USA

Metal shavings from torque converter filtered into transmission, causing transmission to go bad. Dealer contacted. Please add VIN.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

Vehicle would not come out of park. There was no warning. Took vehicle to dealer, dealer stated that brake light located above window, has a broken wire inside that caused gear to be stuck in park.

- Rohnert Park, CA, USA