1997 Ford E-150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
87 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
103,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 87 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 21.8% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 12.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Steering: 5; Electrical System: 4; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 13
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 9; 2002: 11; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 10; 2006: 3; 2007: 7; 2008: 6; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10053433 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED FUEL TANK WITH CRACKS IN TWO PLACES. ALSO, FILLER WAS CRACKED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058241 · 2004-02-16 (February 16, 2004)
WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK ON MY 1997 E-150, GASOLINE BEGIN LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHERE THE FILLER TUBE AND TANK MEET, A TEAR HAD DEVELOPED IN THE RUBBER HOSE. THE REPAIR SHOP CONTACTED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ON ANY POSSIBLE RECALL INFORMATION. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, BUT THIS WAS A "COMMON" PROBLEM. THIS IS AND CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 87,975 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105866 · 2005-01-06 (January 6, 2005)
APPROXIMATELY EVERY 15,000 TO 20,000 MILES I NEED TO REPLACE THE FRONT ROTORS AND PADS. THE ROTORS ARE BADLY WARPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP. THE REAR DRUMS ARE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND HAS LITTLE WEAR. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE REAR DRUMS ADJUSTED REGULARLY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE LONGEVITY OF THE FRONT BREAKS. I HAVE ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES 7 OR 8 TIMES. I DID HAVE ONE ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR BREAKING, AND THE NEXT DAY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137421 · 2005-09-23 (September 23, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E150. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LOST THROUGH THE REAR BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC DESCRIBED IT AS CORRODED, RUSTED LINES. THE CONSUMER REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. HE NOTICED THIS TODAY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432781 · 2011-10-25 (October 25, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX DETACHED FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691445 · 2015-03-02 (March 2, 2015)
GEARBOX BOLTS BROKE AWAY FROM FRAME CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10691445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211135 · 2007-12-07 (December 7, 2007)
I EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR RECALL WHICH AFFECTS E-SERIES VANS. ON 05NOV07 MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ENGINE BEGAN TO HESITATE, AS IF IT WOULD STALL. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE FORD DEALER ON 06NOV07. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY RESET THE CODES AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. ON 09NOV07 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN SLUGGISHLY. I DID NOT DRIVE THE VAN OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD STALL WHILE I WAS DRIVING. ON 12NOV07 THE DEALER REPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 135,039 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465105 · 2012-07-10 (July 10, 2012)
WHILE TRAVELING ON VACATION 600 MILES FROM HOME I EXPERIENCED A WELL KNOWN FAILURE TO FORD TRITON ENGINE OWNERS KNOWN AS A SPARK PLUG EJECTION FAILURE. I WAS TRAVELING @ 65 MPH AND UP TO THE FAILURE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING NORMAL THERE WERE NO ABNORMAL SOUNDS. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE IT SOUNDED AS IF THE EXHAUST OR THE INTAKE WAS COMING APART. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND REMOVED THE DOGHOUSE AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE TO DISCOVER THE RIGHT BANK AND 2ND CYLINDER FROM THE REAR HAD EJECTED THE SPARK PLUG AND DESTROYED THE IGNITIO…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227399 · 2008-05-12 (May 12, 2008)
IN MY 1997 FORD F-150 4.6 LTR. AUTO TRANSMISSION I HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH SELECTING DRIVE OR REVERSE WITH MY GEAR SHIFT. ALSO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STARTING ON OCCASION BECAUSE THE SHIFTER WASN'T ALL THE WAY IN PARK. WHEN YOU SHOVE IT IN PARK IT WOULD WORK, I FIGURED I WAS GOING TO BE REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION SOON. TONIGHT THE TRUCK WILL NOT GO IN PARK AND I AM HAVING TO START THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL AND KEEP THE EMERGENCY BREAK ON. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE IF THE EMERGENCY BREAK IS NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 175,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183415 · 2007-02-24 (February 24, 2007)
MY VAN HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME I NEED TO CLEAN THE INJECTORS. WELL IT HAS BEEN STARTING SLUGGISH FROM DAY ONE. TODAY IT WILL NOT START. SAME SYMPTOMS AS EVERYBODY ELSE. WEAK BATTERY AND SMOKE STILL WILL NOT START. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I THINK IT'S GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183415 at NHTSA ↗