1997 Ford E-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
57 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 57 complaints (24.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Tires: 7; Air Bags: 3; Tires:Sidewall: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2
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 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 34 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 9; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2006: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10000736 · 2003-01-05 (January 5, 2003)
1997 FORD SUPER CLUB WAGON XLT (E350) ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES INAPPROPRIATELY CAUSING TOTAL LACK OF BRAKING POWER. THE ABS CONTROL UNIT DOES NOT RECORD AN ERROR CODE SO MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE ABS FUSE IN ORDER TO HAVE TRUSTWORTHY BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. 98,979 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275793 · 2009-07-05 (July 5, 2009)
ABS FAILURE WHEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10550329 · 2013-10-31 (October 31, 2013)
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ON WHEN TURNED OFF, THEN WOULD WORK ONLY SOMETIMES & STEERING VIBRATED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 47,333 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032600 · 2017-10-09 (October 9, 2017)
MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND I WENT TO START IT UP TO RUN THE ENGINE AND CHARGE THE BATTERIES AS I DID NOT PLAN TO USE IT FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME HARD. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FIRED OFF BREAKING THE HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND I CAN SEE NO DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER UNTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018785 · 2003-05-16 (May 16, 2003)
THE RUBBER HOSE ~7/8" DIA. JUST ABOVE THE GAS TANK FILLER TUBE, WHICH RELIEVES PRESSURE AND ALLOWS THE TANK TO FILL PROPERLY, CRACKED AND SEPARATED. WHEN EVER THE TANK WAS FILLED TO THE TOP, FUEL WOULD SPEW ALL OVER THE GROUND. THE LEAK RAN DOWN FRAME RAILS AND WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE, I HAD TO CRAWL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, DURING FILLING TO FINALLY LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FUEL LEAK. ONCE BEFORE THE LEAK WAS LOCATED, I DUMPED ABOUT A GALLON OF FUEL OR MORE ON THE GROUND, BEFORE I COULD SHUT OFF THE PUMP AS I FILLING MY TANK AND CHECKING THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090086 · 2004-08-31 (August 31, 2004)
FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK ON BOTH SIDES. RECALL 01V114000 WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097778 · 2018-05-24 (May 24, 2018)
THIS YEAR BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS--EACH OCCURRING WHILE THE VAN WAS IN 'PARK'. ON 1/31/18 THE DRIVER'S BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VAN WAS WARMING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY ADULT DAUGHTER STARTED THE VAN, PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE TOP CAR ADAPTER, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER (THE VAN WAS STILL PARKED) THERE WAS A BIG 'BOOM' FROM UNDER HER SEAT AND HER SEATBELT TIGHTENED. WITH THE SEATBELT STILL ON, SHE LEANED TO HER RIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE FROM UNDER HER SEAT WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732994 · 2000-09-30 (September 30, 2000)
HAD TREAD SEPARATIONS ON 4 OF THE ORIGINAL 6 TIRES. AT ADVISE OF DEALER REPLACED OEM TIRES WITH A LARGER SIZE BRIDGESTONE TIRE WHICH HAS NOT FAILED TO THIS POINT. WE WERE TOLD BY THE TIRE DEALER THAT THE BRIDGESTONES HAD A GREATER LOAD CAPACITY THAN THE FIRESTONES. THE PROBLEM IS THE BRIGESTONES ARE LARGER, HAVE A GREATER ROLLING DIAMETER AND AFFECT THE OVERALL GEARING TO A POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE IS SLUGGISH (WELL, IT WAS ALWAYS SLUGGISH, BUT NOW IT'S MORE SO) AND THE TRANSMISSION NOW HUNTS IN AND OUT OF O/D. THIS IS NOT THE ANSWER. WE NE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245191 · 2008-10-12 (October 12, 2008)
1997 FORD E350 V-10 ENGINE VAN BLEW OUT THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG. LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER AND STRONG FUEL SMELL. ALSO HAD A NEIGHBOR WITH AN F-150 THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TRUCK BURNED TO THE GROUND IN UNDER 5 MINUTES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 108,817 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245191 at NHTSA ↗