Four problems related to structure have been reported for the 1997 Ford F-150. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Driving at 40 mph in 1997 Ford F-150 pickup on 4 lane highway. Heard noise towards rear of vehicle. No collision spare tire exited bottom of bed . Bounced on roadway across traffic on other side of 4 lane on coming traffic behind then and in front of vehicles. Somehow no one collided with the rolling spare tire as it exited the roadway to the should of roadway. Tire now in bed of truck not underneath until I can repair due to broken cable that supported tire.
Rear sliding window leak, resealed multiple times to no avail. . . . Leaks both from where frame attaches to body and from cracks in window frame itself, both left and right sides at top. Window frame requires replacement with newer manufactured unit (different design from newer model year).
Vehicle experiencing premature structural cracks on both driver and passenger doors, located on the right hand side of the window frame.
As my girlfriend was getting into my truck she hit her head on the hand hold bar on the pax side of my truck today. She fell out of the truck to the payment. It was several mins before she could get up. She was hurt very bad. I've also hit my head on this hand hold bar. I want this reported to Ford to pad it more or remove it from all trucks!.