1997 Ford F-150 Recall

This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: This is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury.

The company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “DOT 287” along with the lettering “VMR” (Replacement Market) and a date code that is before July 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact Vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or argbacklites@vitro.com to arrange for replacement of the glass.

On certain 1997-2003 F-150, 2004 F-150 Heritage, 1997-1999 F-250, and 2002-2003 Lincoln Blackwood vehicles that were originally sold in or are currently operated in areas of heavy road salt usage during winter months (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador), the fuel tank straps could corrode and fail. This could allow the fuel tank to contact the ground, which may compromise the tank's integrity and permit fuel leakage. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will install fuel tank straps with improved corrosion protection.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. Correction: Initially as an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. As soon as replacement parts are available, owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a new switch or fused wiring harness.

A failure of this component (electrical) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, Ford has issued a scheduled maintenance guide update which specifies that every 20 000 kms, the steering linkage, which includes tie-rod ends, should be inspected. The vehicle owner is asked to place the tie-rod end inspection procedure supplied with this maintenance guide update in the vehicle's glove box for reference and safekeeping. The vehicle owner is to provide the inspection procedure to their repair facility to help properly identify worn tie-rod ends. Performing the vehicle scheduled maintenance, including maintenance inspections, is the responsibility of the vehicle owner. Failure to replace worn tie-rod ends may eventually result in a tie-rod end separation that could adversely affect steering control. If the inspection reveals that a tie-rod end is worn and must be replaced, the repair will be at the owner's expense unless the vehicle is still covered by the basic vehicle warranty, or has an extended service plan coverage that includes these components.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the intermediate steering shaft yoke may not have been properly seated onto the steering gear input shaft during installation. In this condition, the yoke may not be properly clamped to the input shaft. This may result in separation of the yoke from the steering gear input shaft and a loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash. Correction: Dealer will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke. If the yoke is not fully seated and the bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles equipped with a manual 4X4 transfer case shifter, fuel line abrasion could occur as the result of the fuel line rubbing against the dash panel or contacting the shifter linkage. This could result in fuel leakage and in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur. Correction: Front fuel line assembly will be inspected and repositioned or replaced where necessary.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

NOTE: 4X4 VEHICLES. IF THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECTED TO REAR AXLE LOADING WHICH EXCEEDS THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS MAY BE OVERSTRESSED RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE SPRING FATIGUE FRACTURE. A FRACTURED SPRING LEAF COULD SPLAY INWARD AND CONTACT THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN POSSIBLE FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. CORRECTION: REAR SPRINGS WILL BE INSPECTED AND AN ADDITIONAL CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE FORWARD END OF THE REAR SPRINGS TO PREVENT FUEL TANK CONTACT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAF FRACTURE. ALL FRACTURED SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOOSENING OF THE LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. CORRECTION: WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED AND WHEEL LUG NUTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH REVISED VERSIONS.

A failure of this component (suspension) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

VEHICLE OPERATION AT PROLONGED HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE ICE DEPOSITS TO FORM IN THE THROTTLE BODY. THE ICE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PLATE AND NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO IDLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. CORRECTION: PCV SYSTEM WILL BE MODIFIED BY INSTALLING A COOLANT HEATED FITTING.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITION INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK". THIS COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET. CORRECTION: SHIFT CONTROL CABLE WILL BE PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND A TIE STRAP WILL BE ADDED TO THAT CONNECTION AS A REDUNDANT MEASURE TO SECURE THE ATTACHMENT.

A failure of this component (structure) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

THE TRANSMISSION BRACKET END FITTING MAY SEPARATE FROM THE SHIFT CABLE CONDUIT. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET. CORRECTION: A NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

A failure of this component (powertrain) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

VEHICLES MAY HAVE MISSING OR INCORRECTLY INSTALLED SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. A MISSING ATTACHMENT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE DETECTED BY THE OCCUPANT UPON INITIAL USE OF A SEAT BELT. A LOOSE FASTENER (ENGAGED BY ONLY ONE OR TWO THREADS) COULD EVENTUALLY DETACH AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OCCUPANT RESTRAINT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. CORRECTION: SEAT BELT ANCHORAGES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED AS NECESSARY.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OVER EXTENDED INTERVALS DURING EXTREME COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, MAY RESULT IN ICE FORMING IN THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE ENGINE. THIS COULD PREVENT THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED OR THE SPEED CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED. CORRECTION: A FOAM INSULATING SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE LINE FROM THE PCV TO THE PCV HOSE FITTING ON THE THROTTLE BODY.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).