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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,750 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford F-150 seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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1997 Ford F-150 Owner Comments

problem #8

Nov 272019

F-150

  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was on my way to work the morning before thanksgiving. I shifted from 2nd to 3rd gear and the back tires hit a patch of water and I started fishtailing. I went off the road and hit a patch of oak trees. One head on. On impact, the seatbelt did not retract and I hit the steering wheel, the dash broke apart and the entire steering column moved with me and I hit the windshield. After hitting the windshield, then the airbag deployed. When the dash broke apart from the steering column moving, it cut my shin which required stitches. My knee hit around the emergency brake release which drove my femur into my hip fracturing it in 3 places which required 3 titanium plates and screws. I had an open fracture on my arm which was the head of my radius (elbow) broken off which had to be replaced with more titanium plates and screws. I broke the orbit over my left eye and sinus cavities behind it. I had stitches and staples in my forehead that will now leave me a scar for life. I spent 15 days in the hospital, I've missed a month and a half from work and don't know when I can go back, accumulated over$80,000 in medical bills, and I'm still in a wheelchair. All of these injuries are due to faulty seatbelts and airbags in a Ford Motor Company's vehicle. The vehicle was bought brand new by my father and has been garage kept since it was bought in 1997. I work as a receptionist and office manager for a doctor's office. My face is the first one seen when patients come through the door. Now, it's mangled and scarred for life.

- Milton, FL, USA

problem #7

May 112011

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 166,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated while he was driving, another vehicle cut him off which caused him to apply extreme pressure to the brakes in order to stop the vehicle. Upon depressing the brakes, he noticed that the seat belt latch was very loose, and caused him to lunge forward into the steering wheel. The manufacturer stated they were unable to offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 166,000 and the current mileage was 168,000. Updated 08/31/2011

- Hudson, IN, USA

problem #6

Oct 282002

F-150 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
1. the front engine cover gasket on my 1997 Ford F-150 was defective. There was a recall at one time on this problem but was checked by a Ford dealer and nothing was found to be wrong. Approximately 6 months later it had to be replaced. Because the recall had expired Ford would not replace it for free and so I had to have it replaced at my cost of $600. 2. air bags and seat belt restraints. My wife had a wreck in the same vehicle and the air bags did not deploy or did the seat belts lock up like they are supposed to. I tried to get Ford to explain to me why that would happen and they said the insurance company would have to handle it. The problem was still not solved. Also the ABS did not work.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #5

Oct 142002

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Hit from behind/rammed into another vehicle at approx 30 mph; ABS did not work (brakes locked instantly); airbags did not deploy upon either impact; seatbelts did not lock to restrain passengers.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #4

Nov 131997

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Seat belt separated from its "a" pillar on driver's circumference. No visual element to explain said incident.

- [Phil Campbell, AL, USA

problem #3

Dec 021996

F-150 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The axle transfer seal is leaking for the third time. Also, replacement missing sea tbelt anchorage attachments as per recall (96V-256).

- Farmington, NY, USA

problem #2

Feb 121997

(reported on)

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Owner states that his passenger's side seat belt has too much play in it, owner hit ice patch and had an accident, passenger received injuries due to a faulty passeger side seatbelt.

- Bay Town, TX, USA

problem #1

Dec 121996

(reported on)

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Driver had to make an emergency stop and the automatic seat belt didn't restrain, consumer had kids in vehicle.

- Carleton, MI, USA

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