1997 Ford F150 XL review from North America

Other than routine maintenance...

At 40,000 miles the transmission needed to be replaced ($2,200).

At 46,000 miles both front calipers needed to be replaced ($400).

At 51,000 miles the horn burned out and needed to be replaced ($56).

At 80,000 miles both front calipers needed to be replaced again ($400).

At 83,000 miles the timing cover gasket began leaking engine coolant and was replaced ($650).

Throughout my owner ship of this vehicle I have had problems with:

the check engine light repeatedly coming on,

the rear drum breaks locking up leaving me stranded in various locations,

diagnosis computer needed to be replaced,

the entire body is rusting away because Ford did not properly rust proof the undercarriage,

the engine makes all kinds of incredible noises,

the engine likes to occasionally stutter, and hesitate as if it were about to stall.

Items about to fail or in the process of failing...

The air conditioning

The upper and lower intake gaskets risking total destruction of the engine by allowing coolant into the combustion chambers.

This vehicle suffers from major design flaws. Ford should be embarrassed that their vehicle can't hold up to normal use. This vehicle was pampered, but continued to literally fall apart. The worst part is that Ford will not address these problems. A partial recall was issued about the gaskets, but owners were not properly notified and the recall did not address many of the vehicles that had the defective product. These are serious and expensive mechanical flaws.

I am not the only one with these problems (especially the gasket problems) here is a link: http://f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?s

=5c9b9b8e26d8094a4d90d6484d4b4d23&threadid=

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