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1997 Ford F-53Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford F-53, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints30 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage45kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 2, 2014. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford F-53 has problems

3 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
Power train10
Suspension10
Vehicle speed control10

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

2 recalls

1997 Ford F-53 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

Vehicle speed control: cruise control

Recall 08V-051 · Feb 4, 2008 · 225,000 vehicles

Risk. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE…

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.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other F-53 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-53 median. How we score

'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'08'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What F-53 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

THE SPEED CONTROL KEPT KICKING THE TRANSMISSION BACK INTO A LOWER GEAR GOING DOWN STATE ROAD 64 TO PATOKA LAKE, WHEN I FINALLY ARRIVED THE TRANSMISSION WAS SO HOT, IT HAD STARTED TO SLIP. I TRIED TO BACK INTO MY CAMP SITE, AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO LEAK OIL ALL OVER THE PAD. AFTER IT COOLED…
Complaint 10595652 · Jun 2, 2014 · 44,750 miles

Own a 1997 F-53?

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