1997 Ford F-150 Structure

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE CRACKING ON WINDOW BEZEL JUST ABOVE LOWER REAR CORNER OF WINDOWS. POTENTIAL FOR STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF PASSENGER SAFETY CAGE DURING COLLISION. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. REDESIGNED DOORS FOR '99 MODEL YEAR. WILL REPLACE DOORS ON VEHICLES STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN ERROR.

THERE IS A SMALL CRACK DEVELOPING ON THE LEFT DRIVERS DOOR AT THE END OF THE BELT MOLDING NEXT TO THE WINDOW ABOVE THE DOOR HANDLE. I BELONG TO THE INTERNET DISSCUSSION LIST DEDICATED TO THE LATE MODEL FORD TRUCKS AND THIS SAME DEFECT HAS BEEN FOUND ABOUT BY OVER 100 PEOPLE ON THIS LIST. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THIS DEFECT PERSONALLY ON JUST ABOUT EVERY 1997 F150 THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT IN MY AREA.

PROBLEM: THE CENTER CONSOLE ARMREST IN THE FRONT BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION FOR USE. THIS ARMREST CONTAINS A SINGLE, RECESSED CUP HOLDER LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ARMREST WHEN IT IS IN THE DOWN POSITION. ANY CUP CONTAINING A LIQUID, SUCH AS HOT COFFEE, CAN BE PROPELLED INTO THE BACK SEAT AND CAUSE POTENTIAL SEVERE INJURY TO A PASSENGER. *AK

ARM REST IN THE CENTER OF THE BENCH SEAT DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION, AS IT DOES IN THE UP AND LOCKED POSITION. THIS ARM REST ALSO HAS A RECESSED CUP HOLDER. PASSENGERS GAINING ENTRY INTO THE BACK SEAT VIA THE THIRD DOOR, PLACE THEIR HAND ON THE BACK OF THE ARM REST FOR SUPPORT, THE ARM REST FOLDS UPWARD AND ANYTHING IN THE CUP HOLDER IS CATAPULTED INTO THE BACK SEAT. FORD CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM IN THE 98 AND NEWER MODELS, BUT WON'T CORRECT IT FOR THIS 97 TRUCK.

FRONT DOORS DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS HAVE CRACKS IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE DOOR

FRAME FAILED. *YC

ARMRESTS FAIL TO LOCK DOWN.

CENTER ARM REST/CONSOLE LOCKS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION, BUT DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWNRIGHT POSITION.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CARDBOARD PART THAT DAMPENS THE SOUND (ROAD NOISE) FROM COMING INTO THE CAB, FELL DOWN ON TOP OF THE MUFFLER AND VECHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, CONSUMER STOPPED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. DEALER WILL INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CENTER ARM REST/STORAGE CONSOLE DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THEREFORE, DRINKS PLACED IN INTEGRAL CUP HOLDER CAN BE LAUNCHED INTO BACK SEAT IF SOMEONE PLACES WEIGHT ON THE REAR PORTION OF THE ARM REST.

CRACK IN THE RUBBER MOLDING ON DOORS OF VEHICLE.

FRONT SEAT CENTER ARM REST DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. ON SEVERAL OCACASIONS, BACK SEA TPASSENGER'S HAVE INADVERTENTLY LEANED ON BACK OF ARM REST, CAUSING IT TO SUDDENLY MOVE IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS LOSE THEIR BALANCE WHEN THE ARM REST COLLAPSES.

THE METAL ON THE OUTSIDE OF 2 FRONT DOORS IS CRACKING NEAR THE BOTTOM BACK CORNER OF THE WINDOW. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

THE METAL THAT GOES AROUND WINDOW FRAME ON BOTH DOORS IS CRACKED. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR WILL BE REPLACED. *AK

THE CENTER CONSOLE ARM REST DOES NOT LOCK IN THE DOWN POSITION.

THERE IS GRASS/WHEAT AND WEEDS THAT PACK IN TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CROSSOVER, CATCHES ON FIRE. THE SPARKS IN THE FIELD, CAUSING THE FIELD TO CATCH ON FIRE. TUCKER FORD HAD TRIED TO CONTACT FORD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH WHEN HE SMELLED A BURNING SCENT. THEN HEARD A BANG AND RAN OVER THE OBJECT. THE OBJECT THAT FELL OFF WAS A WHEEL WELL SCHROUD OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. *AK

CENTER CONSOLE/ARM HOLDER/CUP HOLDER DOES NOT LOCK IN DOWN POSITION WHICH CAUSES ANY DRINK WHICH MIGHT BE IN THE CUPHOLDER TO BE THROWN INTO THE BACK SEAT WITH MINIMAL EFFORT. ALSO, WHILE CLIMBING INTO THE TRUCK VIA THE 3RD DOOR IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS ARMREST TO BE USED AS A HAND HOLD WHICH AT A CRITICAL MOMENT GIVES WAY, AND CAUSES A PERSON ENTERING THE CAB TO FALL IN BETWEEN THE SEATS.

GRAB BAR ON VEHICLE IS POORLY DESIGNED, CONSUMER HITS HEAD ON BAR

WIND NOISE FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOOR A-PILLAR AREA OF THE SUPERCAB.

CENTER ARM REST MALFUCNTIONED.

CRACKED CHASSIS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

POOR INSTALLMENT OF RIGHT DOOR SEAL, ALLOWING ROAD NOISE TO ENTER VEHICLE ABOVE 55 MPH.

CONSOLE BETWEEN 60/40 BENCH IS POORLY DESIGNED, LOCKS IN UP POSITION. *AK

DOOR PANEL FAILED.