1997 Ford F Series Engine Problems

Which parts fail

• Engine
  6
• Engine › Gasoline
  5
• Cooling system
  3

Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  15%
• 25k–50k
  00%
• 50k–75k
  211%
• 75k–100k
  737%
• 100k–150k
  737%
• 150k+
  211%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford F Series owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The truck was parked in a strip mall parking lot. A few minutes later someone said that there were flames coming from the hood. The car was a total in 10 minutes. Four off duty firemen were there and could not put the flames out. Near by fire station was called. Its response was with in a few minutes. Truck was totaled.

Upon starting my truck, a loud banging or rattling noise could be heard. The noise was not present prior to that day. I shut it down and upon doing research on the internet, found numerous people who claim that a faulty gasket design caused water to leak into one of the cylinders inspection of the cylinders showed coolant to be pooled in the front, passenger-side cylinder. Certified mechanics attribute coolant in the cylinder to be due to a premature gasket failure. If not corrected, the problem leads to major engine destruction. Documented effects of the coolant leak are worn out bearings and surfaces, and broken or bent connecting rods, necessitating an engine rebuild. Ford sent a TSB to some owners of these engines to replace the faulty gasket but not to other owners. The knowledge of a faulty gasket design was withheld from some 1997 4.2l f150 owners. …

When I first bought the truck in 2001, the engine had approximately 82K miles. I was having a hard time starting and sometimes it would not start. At first the dealer thought it was the starter and they replaced it. They told me to take it to pepboys to get the starter replaced. When they started the car a mass of gray smoke come out of the tail pipe. Two days later the engine froze. Since I had a warranty agreement I took the truck to a local Ford dealer, they stated it had hydrolocked and the engine needed to be replaced. The warranty company sent out a short block and Ford completed the rest of the repairs. At the beginning of April, my daughter was using my truck and she drove it to my house and parked it out front. It sat for 2 weeks, when I went to start it, it would not turn over. Replace the battery and it still would not turn over. …

4.2 engine problem, the 1997 Ford f150 has 90,000 miles on it, as of this date the engine main bearing wore out. This vehicle has all ways been serviced, and with oil changes every three months or 3000 miles since I purchased it with 6 miles on it. And this was a one owner vehicle. I think the bearing were worn because of defective engine parts from the factor due to the leaking of lower intake gasket that Ford motor company recalled these vehicles. They replaced this gasket ,but still some of these vehicle have had coolant problems . Before the engines went bad it had to be replaced , and the cost of that engine I was approximately $4,000. I took the vehicle to Ford dealership ,and the engine was checked for compression, and the compression was low due to the bearings failure. Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Lights stay on continuously - have to remove fuses - back up lights and dome light won't go out. Daytime running lights stay on when vehicle is off. Both tie rod ends have fallen off (at different times) engine is gone. Inferior gaskets leaked coolant into the engine and destroyed main bearings. June 2001 front eengine seal leaked antifreeze onto ground. Two letters to Ford motor co (addressed to william clay Ford) have been answered by different people in the executive offices: duncan alderson and d kulla. Both have advised that Ford will do nothing about these problems even though I advised them I knew of their TSB's to their dealers advising that these trucks were assembled with defective gaskets in the engines. I now have a truck that I cannot drive and no assist in getting it fixed,

97 f150 began to have an unpredictable coolant leak, never going below minimum coolant level. Within the week noticed water in the oil and went to take the vehicle to a service station. When I started the truck there was a loud knocking, proving to be a damaged rod. Later research showed that this is common in the 4.2 liter v-6 engine due to faulty gasket. Ford ran a "campaign," but I never received any notification as to the problem.

Consumer request a response to a question he submitted to NHTSA re the 4.6 liter engine exploding in his 1997 Ford f-Series pickup truck. The vehicle's engine exploded as the consumer turned the key in the ignition.

Fire started in engine area after being parked for approximately 2 hours. Vehicle at a complete loss. Firefighters could not determine cause of fire other than it originating in middle of engine compartment.

Periodic low coolant levels with no visible leaks, progressively worse low oil pressure, trouble starting, steam in exhaust coolant leaking into cylinder caused bent rod and necessitated engine rebuild.

1. Loss of coolant 2. Pressure test showed front gasket leaking 3.front gasket replaced at cost of $1000.00 , May have lower intake gasket leak now, all common service issue , needs to be recalled.

NHTSA investigations

Engine complaints in other F Series years