1997 FORD F-250 SD Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
WAS DRIVING MY 1997 F-250 FROM HOME TO THE DUMP WHEN THE STRAP ON MY FRONT FUEL TANK BROKE/RUPTURED AND THE TANK FELL TO THE GROUND, STILL ATTACHED BY FUEL LINES TO THE TRUCK. A PASSING MOTORIST BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2010 AND IT HAS BEEN OPERATED IN MD DURING THI...
Mileage: 88,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT ONE OF THE ENGINES SPARK PL...
Mileage: 89,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE STRAPS THAT HELD THE FUEL TANK TO THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,123. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATE...
Mileage: 57,123
THERE'S A RECALL ON MY 1997 F250 7.3 DIESEL. THE RECALL IS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR. I TOOK IT TO FORD TO HAVE IT FIXED CAUSE I WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY VIN DID NOT QUALIFY. *TR
Mileage: 250,000
THE FAILURE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED A FIRE IN MY 1997 FORD F250 WHILE MY WIFE ,OUR 16 MONTH OLD AND MYSELF WERE SLEEPING. LUCKILY WE GOT OUT BUT EVERYTHING WE HAD IS A TOTAL LOSE. *TR
Mileage: 256,000
STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. TOW COST AND REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 215,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE STEERING MECHANISM BECOMES LOOSE AND MAKES RANDOM NOISES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS COMING APART. THE MECHANIC PLACED A TEMPORARY MAKESHIFT TO HOLD THE LINKAGE TOGETHER, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN RE...
Mileage: 150,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PAN LEAKED ON THE VEHICLE. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNLESS THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REMOVED. HE NOTICED PUDDLES OF OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE MECHANIC PLACED A SEALANT AROUND THE OIL PAN, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRE...
Mileage: 98,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE BEGINNING OF 2008. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FO...
Mileage: 110,000
TRYING TO FIND OUT IF A 1997 F 250 4X4 WAS STANDARD ISSUE WITH DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG? *TR
Mileage: 130,000
SPEED CONTROL ON MY 1997 FORD F250 DIESEL STOPPED WORKING. FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM PRESSURE SWITCH THAT APPARENTLY SHORTED THE HARNESS OUR. DISCONNECTED HARNESS FOR SAFETY. *TR
Mileage: 203,125
WENT TO START MY TRUCK ONE MORNING AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BURNED. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE HOOD AND PULLED THE WIRE FROM THE SWITCH. TRUCK IS 1997 FORD F250. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK ...
Mileage: 179,885
MY CMP SENSOR STARTED GOING OUT WHEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND DIED AND LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AND WENT TO FORD AND THEY WANTED 200.00 FOR A SENSOR SO I CALLED INTERNATIONAL IT WAS 114.00 SAME PART. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT FORD AND THERE PRICES. *JB
Mileage: 152,175
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250HD. THE OIL PAN RUSTED AND CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE DAILY AND NOTICED THE FOLLOWING DAY THAT THE OIL GAUGE INDICATOR WAS LOW. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VE...
Mileage: 63,989
ON MARCH 2ND,2007 MY F250 DIESEL PICKUP, THAT WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND BURNT UP THE AREA SURROUNDING IT. MY 11 YEAR OLD SON NOTICED THE BLAZE AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK AND POPPED THE HOO...
Mileage: 130,000
1. NO EVENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. 2. FAILURE OF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR ON FORD F250 WITH 7.3 LITER NAVISTAR DIESEL WITH RESULT THAT TRUCK WOULD NOT START OR RUN. 3. CALLED A FORD MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY AND I SHOULD CARRY A SPARE CPS. REPL...
1. NO EVENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. 2. FAILURE OF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR ON FORD F250 WITH 7.3 LITER NAVISTAR DIESEL WITH RESULT THAT TRUCK WOULD NOT START OR RUN. 3. CALLED A FORD MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY AND I SHOULD CARRY A SPARE CPS. REPL...
TRUCK WAS PARKED ON STREET FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. NOTICED AN ORANGE GLOW THROUGH THE TREES. RAN OUT AND DISCOVERED MY TRUCK TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POLICE AND FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED ON SCENE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. INSURANCE HAS TOTALED THE TRUCK. *JB
Mileage: 150,000
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR IN AUGUST 2004. THEN , IN JUNE 2005 THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FRONT LINES. IN AUGUST 2004 CONSUMER REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE HIMSELF IN THE REAR, WHIC...
Mileage: 70,000
DT: 5TH WHEEL CAMPER HAD A TOTAL OF 8 BLOW OUTS IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD 3 BLOW OUTS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY CARLISLE. CONSUMER WAS WORRIED ABOUT 2 PLY TIRES. CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE TIRE SIZE TO AN UPGRADED...
DT: APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A TRAVEL TRAILER CONSUMER SET OUT FOR A TRIP AND THE TIRES BEGAN BLOWING OUT ABOUT 200 MILES AFTER THEY STARTED. THREE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT ON THIS TRIP FROM KENTUCKY TO NEVADA. THE SIDEWALLS BLEW OUT, AND ONLY THE RIMS WERE LEFT. CONSUMER CONTACTED G...
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250. HE SAID THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH SO HE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, AND THEY CLEANED HIS FUEL INJECTION. THE TRUCK HAS TWO FUEL TANKS. THE FRONT FUEL TANK COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING THE REAR TANK WORKED. NOW HE SAYS THAT THE REAR TANK KEEPS ON FILLING THE FRONT TANK ...
ON DECEMBER 4, 2004, I TOOK MY TRUCK ON ABOUT A 600 MILE TRIP. DURING THE TRIP I TRIED THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED ABOUT 5 MONTHS EARLIER & FOUND IT TO BE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND MYSELF IN A POSITION THAT REQUIRED ENGAGING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I PARKED...
Mileage: 109,000
ON DECEMBER 4, 2004, I TOOK MY TRUCK ON ABOUT A 600 MILE TRIP. DURING THE TRIP I TRIED THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED ABOUT 5 MONTHS EARLIER & FOUND IT TO BE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND MYSELF IN A POSITION THAT REQUIRED ENGAGING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I PARKED...
Mileage: 109,000
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OIL PAN RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. ALSO, IT A IGNITED A FIRE UNDER THE BASE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER WERE WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. *AK
Mileage: 45,000
ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BROKE, AND ONE WIRE ON THE INSULATION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
Mileage: 301,000
STEERING SHAFT BROKE ON 1997 FORD F250. *AK
Mileage: 204,000
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F250HD WITH THE 5.8L ENGINE AND 78,000 MILES. I NOTICED AN EXHAUST LEAK AND DECIDED TO INSTALL EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS TO CURE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN I STARTED THE JOB I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BROKEN EXHAUST STUDS THAT HAD BROKEN FLUSH WITH THE HEAD. AFTER REMOVING THE MANI...
Mileage: 78,000
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO TH...
Mileage: 40,036
WHEN YOU ENAGE THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE A SEVEAR GRINDING NOISE OCCURS WHEN THE FRONT END IS JUST FREE WHEELING SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING BUT WHEN ROLLED OVER BY HAND ITS QUIET
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-250 PU WITH A TURBO DIESEL. THE TURBO STARTED LEAKING OIL AROUND AN O-RING. LEAK WAS SEVERE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY TURBO IS FAILING. I BELIEVE IT IS FOR THE O-RING FAILURE, WHICH VERY ...
Mileage: 92,000
PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTRO...
PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTRO...
PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTRO...
PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTRO...
PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTRO...
VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AND RESTART ITSELF WHILE DRIVING. THE GAS MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN QUICKLY. VEHICLE WILL STALL AND NOT START AT ALL. PRIOR SENSOR PROBLEMS WITH SIMILAR SYMPTOMS.
Mileage: 88,700
VEHICLE QUITS WHILE RUNNING. STARTS BUT WILL NOT KEEP RUNNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BAD FUEL ECONOMY. CAN SMELL FUEL AT TIMES.
Mileage: 80,766
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- REBUILD.
Mileage: 72,851
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN STARTED. QUITS WHILE DRIVING.
Mileage: 62,268
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- NEW TRANS. INSTALLED
Mileage: 62,268
CRUISE WON'T SHUT OFF- HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES NOW AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO CAUSING WRECKS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS SMOKING AN APPEARS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- AGAIN "NOTHING WRONG"
Mileage: 33,219
CRUISE WON'T SHUT OFF- HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES NOW AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO CAUSING WRECKS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS SMOKING AN APPEARS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- AGAIN "NOTHING WRONG"
Mileage: 33,219
HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED AT THE QUICK CONNECTOR ON THE DISCHARGE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE CONNECTOR CAME APART AND CAUSED A RAPID LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF STEERING ASSISTANCE.*AK
ALL FOUR FIRESTONE STEEL TEC RADIAL AT LT 235-85R16 TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO DRY ROT ON THE EXTERIOR TIRE WALLS. *MJS
IN ORDER TO GET WHEELS OFF RIM, CONSUMER HAD TO USE A SLEDGE HAMMER, TOOK TO DEALER. *AK ALUMINIUM WHEELS STICK TO TRUCK HUBS. *YH