1997 Ford F-250 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
200 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
115,604 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 200 complaints (9.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 9.0% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 3.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.0% |
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 | 18 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Tires: 18; Tires:Tread/Belt: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline: 14; Electrical System: 9; Structure:Body:Door: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 17 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 15 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 15
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 124 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 | 56 |
| 2001 | 30 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 56; 2001: 30; 2002: 17; 2003: 13; 2004: 8; 2005: 16; 2006: 9; 2007: 7; 2008: 8; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 11; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 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 10142894 · 2005-11-16 (November 16, 2005)
THE TRUCKS ENGINE WILL COMPLETELY STALL WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LOW ON FUEL AND THE TRUCK COMES TO A QUICK STOP SUCH AS A RED LIGHT OR AT AN INTERSECTION. THE TRUCK WILL ALSO STALL WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS LOW ON FUEL AND THE TRUCK IS SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPING ON A DECLINE. THE STALLED TRUCK MUST BE STOPPED, THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE PUT BACK INTO "PARK," AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH TRAVELS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE TRUCK HAS STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY IN AN INTERSECTION, NEARLY RESULTING IN A COLLISION FROM VEHICLES FOLLOWING TOO CLO…
Owner-reported narrative. 136,290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246641 · 2008-10-24 (October 24, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 LD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VIBRATION OF THE SPARE TIRE RUBS AGAINST AND CREATES A HOLE IN THE REAR FUEL TANK. THE SPARE TIRE IS SECURELY MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO SEND ANYONE OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,300. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 57,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022923 · 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)
NHTSA RECALL 03-V-196-000: 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. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER , IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022923 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044196 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING STEERING WHEEL FEELS REAL LOOSE. IT MOVES VERY EASILY UP OR DOWN WITHOUT USING THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, AND CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048134 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING AND BRAKING POWER. *AK THE ASSEMBLY THAT TIGHTENED THE BELT DRIVE AROUND THE STEEL SHAFT ABOUT ONE INCH IN DIAMETER HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE TIME WHERE THE TRUCK HAD NO BRAKES OR STEERING. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105010 · 2004-12-17 (December 17, 2004)
WHIEL THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS, A MECHANIC NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. AS THE BRAKE FLUID RESEVOIR MELTED BRAKE FLUID IT MADE THE FIRE BIGGER. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. NO AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT. PHOTOS AND INVESTIGATION REPORT MAILED TO BRUCE YORK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200603 · 2007-08-23 (August 23, 2007)
MONDAY, JULY 31 2007, I EXPERIENCED THE LAST OF A SERIES OF INTERMITTENT STALLING EVENTS IN MY 1997 FORD F250 HD VEHICLE, EQUIPPED WITH A 7.3 DIT POWERSTROKE DIESEL. SUBSEQUENT TO MY OWN INVESTIGATIONS, I DISCOVERED THAT THE CAM POSITION SENSOR WAS A COMPONENT IMPLICATED IN SUCH EVENTS. I REPLACED THE COMPONENT ON JULY 27, 2007, AFTER AN INCREASE IN STALLING PROBLEMS. THE CONDITION REPEATED ON THE LATER DATE ABOVE, AND I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES FROM THE PCM, BUT THE STALLING EPISODES …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103926 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 DAYS AND A FIRE WAS STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE HORN WAS HEARD BLOWING WHEN THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THERE WERE NO AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT. THERE WAS TRAVEL TRAILER WIRING THAT WAS ON THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSURED BY UNITRIN [phone removed] JL RAUSIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108686 · 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, DAMAGING FUSE BOXES AND WIRING HARNESS. ESTIMATED DAMAGE $3.000. NO INJURIES REPORTED.. *JB.......*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,011 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724502 · 2000-06-25 (June 25, 2000)
THIS TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW,HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED,MAN THAT FIXED IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS UNLESS THE TRUCK WAS BEAT ALL TO PIECES,AND THIS ONE ISNT, HE FIGURES IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724502 at NHTSA ↗