NHTSA has 2,758 owner complaints on file for the 1997 Ford F-150, received from 1995 to 2024. The most-reported system is engine (544 complaints, 20%), followed by tires (305) and fuel system (246). Owners reported 165 crashes, 262 fires, 127 injuries and 14 deaths. Median mileage at failure: 107,400 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000, with 464 received that year. 14 safety recalls cover this model year.
2,758NHTSA complaints
14safety recalls
165crashes reported
262fires reported
127injuries
14deaths
Quick answers
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford F-150?
Owners report engine problems most often: 544 of 2,758 NHTSA complaints (20%), followed by tires (305) and fuel system (246).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls for the 1997 Ford F-150. The most recent is 11V385000 (fuel system, 2011-07-29).
At what mileage do 1997 Ford F-150 problems happen?
The median mileage at failure is 107,400 miles, across 855 complaints that reported mileage.
Have owners reported crashes or fires in the 1997 Ford F-150?
Yes. Owners reported 165 crashes, 262 fires, 127 injuries and 14 deaths in NHTSA complaints.
Problems by system
System
Complaints
Share
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Median miles
Engine
544
20%
5
43
8
100,000
Tires
305
11%
14
0
9
74,545
Fuel system
246
9%
4
11
2
140,000
Service brakes
229
8%
22
13
12
84,250
Structure
226
8%
1
3
14
130,000
Speed control
223
8%
14
92
14
120,000
Suspension
204
7%
2
0
5
86,335
Steering
202
7%
13
0
5
111,000
Electrical system
198
7%
1
120
3
112,000
Power train
151
5%
16
2
7
99,903
Visibility and wipers
148
5%
0
0
4
100,000
Wheels
115
4%
7
0
4
40,000
Air bags
99
4%
82
0
58
142,000
Unknown or other
48
2%
1
3
1
134,500
Equipment
40
1%
0
1
0
125,000
Seat belts
38
1%
11
0
19
100,164
Exterior lighting
34
1%
1
2
0
118,000
Interior lighting
23
1%
0
1
9
89,000
Latches, locks and linkages
14
1%
1
0
2
98,000
Seats
7
<1%
2
0
2
150,000
Parking brake
4
<1%
2
0
0
–
Child seat
2
<1%
0
0
1
98,000
Electronic stability control
2
<1%
0
0
0
95,600
Trailer
2
<1%
1
0
0
–
A complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Defect: Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year ford f-150, 2004 model year ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from june 20, 1995, through august 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of…
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 ground. Either scenario may result in a fuel leak presenting a fire hazard.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a ford or lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers may install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign…
Defect: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A fire at the switch could occur.
Remedy: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the…
Defect: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
Risk: This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated and bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection. Owner notification began on may 30, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks manufactured at the kansas city or norfolk assembly plants. The front fuel line assembly could have a hole rubbed through in one of two locations. The first location is below the fuel rail connection where the flexible hose is crimped to the steel tube. The bracket that attaches the front fuel line to the transmission could have been bent during assembly. The second location is at the rear steel tube section forward of the rear bracket. During installation the rear steel tubes of the front fuel line assembly could have been bent downward. In…
Risk: This condition could result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these lines and replace the front fuel line assembly if necessary. Owner notification began october 27, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Defect: Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
Risk: The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Defect: Vehicle description: light duty 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. If the vehicle is overloaded, the rear leaf springs can be overstressed. A fatigue fracture of the spring can occur. The center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.
Risk: Fuel tank contact can damage the tank and result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear springs and install an additional clip on the forward end of the rear springs to prevent fuel tank contact in the event of a leaf fracture. Any fractured springs will be replaced.
Defect: Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
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 crash.
Remedy: Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be completed by owners or their dealers. It specifies that the lug nut torque must be verified to be 100 lbs. Then the lug nuts need to be tightened an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. There will be a second owner notification, which is expected to begin july 20, 1998, under which dealers will inspect the wheel studs and replace the wheel lug nuts.
Defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with a 4.2l engine and originally sold or currently registered in one of the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine, michigan, idaho, wyoming, south dakota, colorado, nebraska, kansas, iowa, missouri, illinois, indiana, ohio, pennsylvania, and massachusetts. The throttle is unable to return to idle due to ice forming in the throttle body when the temperature ranges from -10 to -40 degrees fahrenheit.
Risk: Increased brake pedal efforts or some increase in stopping distance could result.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised pcv system on these vehicles.
Defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then 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."
Risk: The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
Remedy: Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
Defect: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The transmission bracket end fitting can separate from the shift cable assembly resulting in operator inability to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position.
Risk: This condition can result in unintended vehicle movement if the parking brake is not set.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new transmission shift control cable.
Defect: Vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, michigan (upper peninsula), new york, maine, vermont, and new hampshire. Operation at highway speeds during extreme cold, northern climate winter conditions, can result in ice forming in the throttle body of the engine.
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. Under such conditions, the vehicle stopping distances would be increased possibly resulting in an accident.
Remedy: Dealers will install a foam insulating sleeve on the line from the pcv to the hose fitting on the throttle plate.
Defect: The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Risk: Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .
Remedy: Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
December 3, 2020...my husband drove the truck over to a friends house. After being there for approximately 2 hours his friend walked in the building where he was and said, 'hey man, your truck is on fire!' everyone rushed outside to see the truck was in fact on fire. They called the fire…
Engine · NHTSA complaint 11387331, received 2021-01-09
Started the vehicle in a parking lot. The spark plug blew out of the head on the passenger rear of the motor. Tried the appropriate helicoil repair kit but there were no threads to tap into.
Engine · NHTSA complaint 10883768, received 2016-07-09
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…
Tires · NHTSA complaint 10326073, received 2010-04-16
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The vehicle has chaparral ap tires, size lt265/75r16. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking severely. The dealer attempted to balance the tires, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was taken to another dealer and they stated that the tires were out of…
Tires · NHTSA complaint 10247841, received 2008-11-06
I filled the fuel tank and let the vehicle set in my drive over night. In the morning as I was approaching the vehicle in preparation to drive to work, I smelled a strong odor of gasoline. I looked under the vehicle and saw a wet spot about 3 feet in diameter. The wet spot was gasoline. As i was…
Fuel system · NHTSA complaint 11512219, received 2023-03-16
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have his brakes serviced. While there, he was informed of nhtsa campaign number: 00v231000 (fuel system, gasoline). The contact took the vehicle to vancouver ford, inc. (6801 ne 40th st…
Fuel system · NHTSA complaint 11350429, received 2020-08-20
Built from the NHTSA complaints flat file and the NHTSA recalls flat files, data as of 2026-10-22. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular models collect more of them.