1997 FORD F SERIES Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
WHILE DRIVEING AT 60 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD CRASH FROM THE LEFT REAR THEN A GRINDING POP FROM THE LEFT REAR ALL WHILE THE REAR END OF MY TRUCK FELT LIKE IT WAS FISH TAILING ON ICE OR LIKE SOME ONE HUGE WAS SHAKEING IT FROM SIDE TO SIDE I ALMOST LOST IT INTO A FIELD I WAS SO SUPRISED I GOT STOPPED TO L...
Mileage: 180,746
THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. A FEW MINUTES LATER SOMEONE SAID THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL IN 10 MINUTES. FOUR OFF DUTY FIREMEN WERE THERE AND COULD NOT PUT THE FLAMES OUT. NEAR BY FIRE STATION WAS CALLED. ITS RESPONSE WAS WITH IN A FEW ...
Mileage: 140,000
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED SURGING UP AND DOWN IN SPEED ERRATICALLY. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH THE SPEED CONTROL, BUT FINALLY TOOK IT OUT OF CRUISE FOR GOOD. THE SPEEDOMETER STILL WAS SURGING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 4 AND 10 MPH DIFFERENCE FROM WHAT MY SPEED WA...
Mileage: 199,400
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 2001, THE ENGINE HAD APPROXIMATELY 82K MILES. I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT START. AT FIRST THE DEALER THOUGHT IT WAS THE STARTER AND THEY REPLACED IT. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO PEPBOYS TO GET THE STARTER REPLACED. WHEN THEY STARTE...
Mileage: 82,000
RECALL CORRECTION TURNS TO EXPLOSION DANGER! FORD ISSUED RECALL #11 S 21 ON THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS. BEST FORD OF NASHUA PERFORMED THE SERVICE TO INSTALL NEW STRAPS ON OCTOBER 7, 2011. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RECALL WORK, A VEHICLE REPORT ON BEST FORD LETTERHEAD WAS PROVIDED SHOWI...
Mileage: 165,091
AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK, PULLED OUT ON TO THE ROAD, SMALL BUMP IN THE INTERSECTION. RUSTED STRAPS BROKE AND GAS TANK FELL OFF. LUCKY IT WAS RAINING AND ROAD WAS WET OR COULD OF CAUSED FIRE. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
WAS FORTUNATE TO NOTICE GAS TANK HANGING DOWN FROM UNDER CARRIAGE... WAS PREPARING TO DRIVE 50 MILE IN ON INTERSTATE... WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO LOCAL DEALER...NOT WHERE PURCHASED... AND THEY INSTALLED A NEW GAS TANK STRAP..WHICH WITH LABOR WAS 93 DOLLARS... WELL WORTH IT WHEN CONSIDERING WHAT COULD HAV...
Mileage: 126,393
WALKING TO MY TRUCK I NOTICE THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP BROKEN AND HANGING AND THE FUEL TANK HANGING FROM THE FRONT STRAP ONLY. THE REAR STRAP WAS TOTALLY RUSTED THROUGH. THE RUST ALSO RUSTED THE TANK I AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE TANK AS WELL ON 10/3/2010. *TR
Mileage: 173,051
I OWN A 1997 FORD F-150 PIK UP TRUCK. BOTH STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN PLACE HAVE BROKEN IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS. *TR
Mileage: 184,000
ON AUGUST 1, 2010, OUR FORD F150 (VIN [XXX]) STARTED ON FIRE AND BURNED FROM THE ENGINE ON OUT. THE HOOD IS TOTALLY BURNED THROUGH AND THE WINDSHIELD ALSO BURNED. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS RUINED. THE TRUCK WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME AND WE WERE ALERTED MY NEIGHBORS WHO SAW FLAMES SHOOTI...
Mileage: 200,000
ON AUGUST 1, 2010, OUR FORD F150 (VIN [XXX]) STARTED ON FIRE AND BURNED FROM THE ENGINE ON OUT. THE HOOD IS TOTALLY BURNED THROUGH AND THE WINDSHIELD ALSO BURNED. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS RUINED. THE TRUCK WAS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AT THE TIME AND WE WERE ALERTED MY NEIGHBORS WHO SAW FLAMES SHOOTI...
Mileage: 200,000
ENGINE COOLANT LEVEL KEEPS RUNNING LOW .TRUCK STARTING TO SKIP OR MISFIRE ON CYLINDER. NO VISIBLE LEAKAGE ON THE OUT SIDE OF MOTOR. *TR
Mileage: 161,030
WENT TO START TRUCK. HYDRO LOCKED. WOULD NOT START. *TR
Mileage: 110
1997 F150 ENGINE FAILURE 4.2L 6 CYL MOTOR BENT OR BLEW A ROD AFTER SOUND CAME FROM ENGINE AFTER STARTING IT. *TR
Mileage: 131,000
FAULTY HEAD GASKET CAUSING OIL AND COOLANT TO MIX. EVENTUALLY HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO BENT RODS. *TR
Mileage: 120,000
4.2 ENGINE PROBLEM, THE 1997 FORD F150 HAS 90,000 MILES ON IT, AS OF THIS DATE THE ENGINE MAIN BEARING WORE OUT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALL WAYS BEEN SERVICED, AND WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY THREE MONTHS OR 3000 MILES SINCE I PURCHASED IT WITH 6 MILES ON IT. AND THIS WAS A ONE OWNER VEHICLE. I THINK THE BEAR...
Mileage: 90,000
THROTTLE HUNG THREE TIMES: ONE UNDER CRUISE, TWICE WITHOUT. ALL INSTANCES STARTED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN TEMPS WHERE EXTREMELY COLD. PUMPING PEDDLE TO BREAK ACCELERATION ONLY ALLOWED FOR PARTIAL DECELERATION. REPEATED ATTEMPTS REQUIRED TO REDUCE SPEED. COULD HAVE CAUSED FATALITY IN SECOND OCCURRE...
Mileage: 87,600
FIRESTONE STORES AT 11865 W 95 OVERLAND PARK KS 66214 AND ONE AT 7575 WORNALL RD KANSAS CITY MO 64114 ARE FALSIFYING DOT REGISTRATION ON OVER 90% OF TIRES SOLD. PROCESS USED IS THAT A FICTITIOUS NUMBER THAT HAS THE RIGHT SERIES OF CHARACTERS IS USED ON ALL TIRE INVOICES REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR TYPE. ...
'97 FORD F-150 4.2L V-6, LOWER INTAKE GASKETS FAILED, LEADING TO HYDROLOCKED ENGINE. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING. TRUCK IS NOW INOPERABLE. *NM
Mileage: 116,000
FORD LOWER INTAKE GASKET ON 1997 F150 4.2L ENGINE CAUSING COOLANT LOSS. *NM
PERIODIC LOW COOLANT LEVELS WITH NO VISIBLE LEAKS, PROGRESSIVELY WORSE LOW OIL PRESSURE, TROUBLE STARTING, STEAM IN EXHAUST COOLANT LEAKING INTO CYLINDER CAUSED BENT ROD AND NECESSITATED ENGINE REBUILD. *NM
Mileage: 86,000
1. LOSS OF COOLANT 2. PRESSURE TEST SHOWED FRONT GASKET LEAKING 3.FRONT GASKET REPLACED AT COST OF $1000.00 , MAY HAVE LOWER INTAKE GASKET LEAK NOW, ALL COMMON SERVICE ISSUE , NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *JB
Mileage: 84,000
ENGINE DEAD DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS, COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE. *NM
Mileage: 168,000
MY SON APPLIED HIS BRAKES ON A 1997 FORD F-150 AND TRIED TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM, HOWEVER; HE CLAIMS THE STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED" PROHIBITING HIM FROM AVOIDING THE WRECK. HE SAID IT WAS LIKE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE KEY FOR THE CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW...
Mileage: 80,000
I DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE ANYTHING JUST ONE DAY MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD KNOCKING SOUND TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING AND FOUND OUT I SPUN A ROD I REPLACED THE ENGINE. *JB
Mileage: 135,000
UPON STARTING MY TRUCK, A LOUD BANGING OR RATTLING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE NOISE WAS NOT PRESENT PRIOR TO THAT DAY. I SHUT IT DOWN AND UPON DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT A FAULTY GASKET DESIGN CAUSED WATER TO LEAK INTO ONE OF THE CYLINDERS INSPECTION OF THE...
Mileage: 140,000
1997 FORD TRUCK F250
Mileage: 100,000
1997 FORD TRUCK F250
Mileage: 100,000
JUNE 5, 2005- ABOUT 1:30AM, MY WIFE AND I WERE AWAKEN BY THE NEIGHBORS AND THE FIRE DEPT. THEY INFORMED US THAT OUR TRUCK WAS ON FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE HOOD WAS MELTED AWAY AND THE FRONT HALF OF THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPT. DEEMED THE SOURCE IN THE AREA OF THE MASTER CYLINDER ...
Mileage: 145,000
AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 4HRS.AND UNATTENDED MY 1997 FORD F-150 4X4 TRUCK VIN.# [XXX] CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRE APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS WAS OBSERVED FROM THE HOLE THAT WAS BURNT IN THE HOOD ON THE LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE'S HOOD. FIRE REPORT STATES E...
FRONT ENGIN COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29 COST OF RECOVERY BY DEALER 4,700, IT WOULD APPEAR RECALL WAS INADEQUATE AND RESULTED IN ENGIN FAILER.
Mileage: 106,976
1997 FORD F 150 STARTED ON FIRE AND BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
Mileage: 151,000
I HAVE A 1997 FORD F150 4X4 4.6 LITRE PICKUP. THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL DEACTIVATE ON ITS OWN. WHEN I PRESS RESUME, IT WILL PICK BACK UP AND WORK FINE FOR AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD. IT IS A RAND...
Mileage: 165,000
TRUCK STARTED; HOWEVER, WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. CONNECTOR FOR CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF ON BRAKE MASTER CYLINDAR WAS BURNT. OCCURED WHILE IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE SHUT OFF. APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE RELAY LEAKED BRAKE FLUID INTO CONNECTOR CAUSING SHORT. FORD DID NOT REPLACE CONNECTOR. CRUISE CONT...
Mileage: 160,000
TRUCK STARTED; HOWEVER, WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. CONNECTOR FOR CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF ON BRAKE MASTER CYLINDAR WAS BURNT. OCCURED WHILE IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE SHUT OFF. APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE RELAY LEAKED BRAKE FLUID INTO CONNECTOR CAUSING SHORT. FORD DID NOT REPLACE CONNECTOR. CRUISE CONT...
Mileage: 160,000
TRUCK STARTED; HOWEVER, WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE. CONNECTOR FOR CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF ON BRAKE MASTER CYLINDAR WAS BURNT. OCCURED WHILE IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE SHUT OFF. APPEARS THAT THE BRAKE RELAY LEAKED BRAKE FLUID INTO CONNECTOR CAUSING SHORT. FORD DID NOT REPLACE CONNECTOR. CRUISE CONT...
Mileage: 160,000
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH, LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
Mileage: 113,000
CRACKS ON DOOR FORD 1997 TRUCK. JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA THERE ARE 18 TRUCKS IN THE PARKING LOT 12 OUT OF THE 18 HAVE CRACKS.. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BY FORD!!!!!!!!*AK
CONSUMER REQUEST A RESPONSE TO A QUESTION HE SUBMITTED TO NHTSA RE THE 4.6 LITER ENGINE EXPLODING IN HIS 1997 FORD F-SERIES PICKUP TRUCK. *MR THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE EXPLODED AS THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. *NM
Mileage: 96,000
COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE- LIKELY DUE TO GASKET FAILURE - HEAT NON- FUNCTIONING AS A RESULT
Mileage: 75,000
OVER DRIVE WENT OUT SOME WERE AROUND 56000-58000 MILES NOW AT 94,000 MILES THERE IS NO REVERSE
LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY - HAVE TO REMOVE FUSES - BACK UP LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT WON'T GO OUT. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS HAVE FALLEN OFF (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) ENGINE IS GONE. INFERIOR GASKETS LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED MAIN BEARINGS. ...
Mileage: 70,000
LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY - HAVE TO REMOVE FUSES - BACK UP LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT WON'T GO OUT. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS HAVE FALLEN OFF (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) ENGINE IS GONE. INFERIOR GASKETS LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED MAIN BEARINGS. ...
Mileage: 70,000
LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY - HAVE TO REMOVE FUSES - BACK UP LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT WON'T GO OUT. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS HAVE FALLEN OFF (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) ENGINE IS GONE. INFERIOR GASKETS LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED MAIN BEARINGS. ...
Mileage: 70,000
I HAVE THE SAME DOOR CRACK AROUND THE WINDOW AS MANY OTHERS. I TALKED TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THE TRUCK FROM, B UT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS TYPE OF DEFECT. I THEN WENT TO THE FORD DEALER IN TOWN TO SEE IF FORD WAS DOING ANUTHING TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE AND SAVE THE STRUCTURAL INTEG...
Mileage: 63,000
COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, WENT THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. FORD MOTOR WARRANTY SAID CONTACT GARAGE IT WOULD BE UP TO THEM TO REIMBURSE ANY REPAIR COST BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OFF WARRANTY, GARAGE ALSO SAID THEY WOULD NOT CONTACT FORD WARRANTY TO DISCUSS PROBLEM I...
Mileage: 71,455
97 F150 BEGAN TO HAVE AN UNPREDICTABLE COOLANT LEAK, NEVER GOING BELOW MINIMUM COOLANT LEVEL. WITHIN THE WEEK NOTICED WATER IN THE OIL AND WENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING, PROVING TO BE A DAMAGED ROD. LATER RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THI...
Mileage: 95,500
FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE AREA AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. VEHICLE AT A COMPLETE LOSS. FIREFIGHTERS COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE OTHER THAN IT ORIGINATING IN MIDDLE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM
ENGINE FAILURE AT 73000 MILES, FOLLOWED ALL FORDS RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. *JB
Mileage: 73,000
BROKEN FRONT TORSION BAR (RS) ON A 1997 FORD F150 4WD. NO CRASH, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE . SAW PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION WHILE SEARCHING FOR RECALLS. ALSO SPOKE TO FORD DEALER WHO STATED THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON.I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED SO QUICKLY.
Mileage: 81,000
DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SEALER HOLDING WINDSHIELD IN PLACE WAS LEAKING. THIS CAUSED A SHORT IN FUSE AND RADIO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SEALER HOLDING WINDSHIELD IN PLACE WAS LEAKING. THIS CAUSED A SHORT IN FUSE AND RADIO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT SEALER HOLDING WINDSHIELD IN PLACE WAS LEAKING. THIS CAUSED A SHORT IN FUSE AND RADIO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
PE00-020, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, ORIGINAL EQUIPPED TIRE, SIZE P23570R16 AND DOT W281PT. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF ALL THE WAY TO STEEL BELT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO FENDER. TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE AND HAD ONLY 22,000 MILES. MINUTES PRIOR ...
VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE.