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1997 Ford F-150Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 2,758 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 14 safety recalls.

24
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.2× the F-150 median · #1 of 42 years by complaints
Safety recalls14Free fix at dealersOwner complaints2,758525 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage99kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 11, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford F-150 has problems

2,758 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling52942
Tires30516
Structure22610
Vehicle speed control223106
Fuel system, gasoline21514
Service brakes, hydraulic21335
Suspension2047
Steering20215
Electrical system198121
23 other systems745156

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

14 recalls

1997 Ford F-150 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Tank assembly: mounting

Recall 11V-385 · Jul 29, 2011 · 1,100,000 vehicles

Risk. AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY FAIL ALLOWING THE FUEL LINES TO SEPARATE FROM THE TANK, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSING THE TANK TO CONTACT THE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Gear box: shaft sector

Recall 03V-196 · May 27, 2003 · 171,446 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 10 more recalls
–no report yet

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Recall 98V-095 · May 13, 1998 · 1,520,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Recall 98V-007 · Jan 21, 1998 · 45,000 vehicles

Risk. INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 97V-171 · Oct 7, 1997 · 866,000 vehicles

Risk. THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 97V-147 · Sep 9, 1997 · 15,500 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 96V-256 · Dec 27, 1996 · 133,000 vehicles

Risk. A LOOSE FASTENER CAN EVENTUALLY DETACH AND WOULD NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 96V-251 · Dec 18, 1996 · 22,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS ICE CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE PLATE TO REMAIN IN THE HIGHWAY CRUISING POSITION AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED OR THE SPEED CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Foundation components: master cylinder

Recall 96V-184 · Sep 25, 1996 · 1,200 vehicles

Risk. A LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

99kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 283 engine and engine cooling complaints. 51% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 31% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles144under 100k miles139100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

65 owners mentioned a cost

$4,000median

Middle half: $2,000 – $4,000

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other F-150 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-150 median. How we score

'73'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Ford F-150 safety ratings

1997 Ford F-150 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Ford F-150 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
18 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford F-150, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONEA02001 · closed May 29, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-196
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 07V-336
  4. Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to CorrosionEA11006 · closed Aug 19, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-385
  5. SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATIONEA96020 · closed Dec 24, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-256
  6. WHEEL SEPARATIONEA97027 · closed May 29, 1998
    Led to recall 98V-095
  7. ALLEGED LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROLEA98018 · closed Sep 30, 1999
    No recall
  8. STEERING COLUMNPE01033 · closed Feb 6, 2002
    No recall
  9. Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/RustPE10036 · closed May 23, 2011
    No recall
  10. SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATIONPE96030 · closed Aug 30, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-256
  11. FAILURE TRANSMISSION PARK ENGAGEMENT/LOCPE97019 · closed Sep 16, 1997
    Led to recall 97V-147
  12. WHEEL SEPARATION FROM VEHICLEPE97033 · closed Dec 24, 1997
    No recall
  13. INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BARPE98009 · closed Jun 30, 1998
    No recall
  14. LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROLPE98021 · closed Aug 31, 1998
    No recall
  15. TIE ROD END FAILURESPE98024 · closed Jul 21, 1998
    No recall
  16. ICE FORMATION IN THE THROTTLE BODYRQ98003 · closed May 22, 2000
    Led to recall 96V-251
  17. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROLRQ98005 · closed Aug 27, 1998
    Led to recall 97V-147
  18. REAR SUSPENSION SPRING BREAKAGERQ98022 · still open
    Led to recall 98V-161
In owners' words

What F-150 owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TRUCK HAS A 4.2 LITER, V-6 ENGINE. A WEEK PRIOR TO INCIDENT THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED IN A MY GARAGE. ON THE INCIDENT DAY I TRIED TO START THE TRUCK BUT HEARD ONLY A LOUD, HARD KNOCK WHEN THE STARTER ENGAGED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. THE BATTERY VOLTAGE CHECKED OUT OK. I HAD THE TRUCK…
Complaint 10455460 · Apr 17, 2012 · 102,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, HE HEARD THE HORN SOUNDING OFF. THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES SOON THEREAFTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE FIRE CHIEF STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AREA ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE…
Complaint 10453097 · Mar 26, 2012 · 161,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 11V385000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY: MOUNTING) THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL STRAPS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER WAS…
Complaint 10452801 · Mar 23, 2012 · 150,000 miles

Own a 1997 F-150?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.