Hey Guys I sure do appreciate all the good info. I just recently purchased my 97 F-150 Stylside 4.6 V8 4X4. First truck and I really luv it. After reading the info on Door Cracks I went to look at my truck. To my suprise I found the cracks not on one door but on both of them. I immedialtely called the dealer and they responded like I was talking about Mars. They had no clue. So I called ford direct. Needles to say that I am just getting a "we'll look into to it to see what assistance we can give you". This is not acceptable Guys. I will be persistant because it does appear to be a Manufacturer Defect. And no matter what the mileage on the vehicle it does not matter. I assure you, Ford does not want another Class Action Law Suit. But if that is what is going to take for us the Consumer to protect ourselves so be it. I will keep you abreast of the situation. By the way guys if I am going over board with this and it has already been addressed please let me know. Thanks.

 

I had the tailgate on my 97 repainted under warranty last week b/c of a big rust bubble. The body shop guys pointed out to me that both of my doors have just barely started to crack. The manager there told me that he got a recall notice from Ford about this problem, and that they would order a repair kit for me and fix it for free.

The manager said almost all the 97+ F150's he sees have these cracks. Sergeant, I'm assuming you are talking about horizontal cracking from the lower right-hand corner of the driver's window, lower left passenger side.

So check w/your dealer about the recall, and if it hasn't started to crack yet, it likely will eventually. They told me there is also a kit to put on that prevents future cracking if it hasn't started yet, also free from Ford.

js

 

Ford has tried to fix the doors on both of my F150's ('97 & '99) twice, but both have cracked again for a 3rd time. Now they are replacing the entire door (not just the skin) on each of them.

OhioRiverFordMan

 

I just posted this a couple days ago so you might have read already but there is some specifics you can find out from the dealer and they will fix it.


I went to the ford dealer today to ask once again about the cracks in my doors (both sides) I have a 97 150 supcab 4x4. I have had the cracks forever and every time I went in the real idiots would look at me like I was an idiot. Well, this time I just happened to ask the right person (new manager I think) and he said that there is a tsb for it and that they will prepair it for free. Finally! Here is the thing: Ford is covering it under the 5 year paint part of their warrenty so I will be up in August. Everyone should run out and check when theirs is up and get over to the dealer, pronto. He even printed out the tsb and article from ford. They will either repair or replace the door depending on severity. Hope this helps!
I'm not sure whihch is which but here are the numbers for the repair.
14829 New door Hem Flange Special Service Tools (501-078/1, 501-078/2 and 501-080)

Article # 01-18-2 They can print this for you at the dealer and it has everything in it.

They can also print out all tsb for your truck.
I realize this might have been posted before but I'm not sure so I thought I would send it out to help anyone in my situation.

Lou

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 14-May-02 AT 12:53 PM (EST)]ohioriverfordman
im from the cincinati area, what dealership did you take your truck to to get it fixed?

-r.r.
98 4X4

 

I'm really glad someone is having some success with warranty coverage (past the 3-year limit) of the door cracks. However, I have not been so lucky. I have been told by both Ford Customer Service and a local dealer that the issue is strictly a 3-year/36,000 mile issue. Is there a magic code word that works to get the repair done on the 5 year part of the warranty? I'm in Minnesota and have a '99 with only 28,000 miles and two door cracks.

 

I included everything I know of on the last post. Sorry.

 

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I had a crack on drivers side door of my 97 f150. I took it to 2 dealers here in Las Vegas. I provided them with the TSB and a copy of the info. They told me to pound sand.......

I went up the chain last year for my three tranny failures in 30K miles. I fought with them over the cold engine knock/loose pistons that cause me to pour oil in ever 1000 miles. I even fought them over the last tranny rebuild that only lasted 800 miles. They told me that I should get a lawyer if I wanted to bother them anymore.....

Well Today I did it.....I traded that miserable non running piece of garbage off. I am now the very happy owner of a Toyota Tacoma.....The last straw was the failure of the Powertrain Control Module..... Only a measly $1000 to fix. Hah.... I gave the Toyota dealer that money and signed on the dotted line. I would rather push my new Toyota than have that piece of junk Ford in my driveway another day.

Sorry, but I just had to vent. I will never own another Ford product unless it's older than 1980.......

Good luck to you in your battle. I just don't want to waste any more money or time with this hunk of junk.

 

I'm with the post immediately above me. I got the "Ford only HELPS?? with door cracks under 77,000 miles" routine. I was on fire !!!!!!!!!!

Two days later, I committed the unforgivable sin. Yes, I bought a Silverado. We'll see how it works out.

Give me any Ford product that was made before 1980 (yes, even Pinto or Mustang II). Wait, I'll even take one that was built before the I-6 was discontinued (95 I think; a.k.a. beginning of the end !!!). No more newer F-150's !!! Sorry.

Still lovin' my '72 F-100...

Chris
Pensacola, FL

 

Have a Lawyer write you a letter. Use the words "Quality is job 1" and "Built Ford Tough" written in disgust. It helps if you have a family member who works for a Lawyer{cheaper}. This is my first and last Ford. I can not believe how much they deny everything. I would never lie for my job if I worked at Ford no matter how much they paid me. Where do they find their employees? Meaning the liers...I know they have many honest hard working people, thank God for them!