1997 Ford F-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
103 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 103 complaints (13.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 21.4% |
| Steering behavior | 18 | 17.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 9.7% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.9% |
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 |
| Tires | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 14; Tires: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 9; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Engine: 3
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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 73 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 | 29 |
| 2001 | 25 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 29; 2001: 25; 2002: 11; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 9; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 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 10025949 · 2003-07-12 (July 12, 2003)
BOTH FACTORY FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE FOUND TO HAVE A LARGE CRACK IN THEM, EXTENDING FROM THE CENTER TO THE OUTER EDGE. DEALER REPLACED BOTH. NOW ROTORS LAST FOR APPROX. 15,000 MILES BEFORE THEY BECOME SO WARPED THAT THE TRUCK SHUDDERS TERRIBLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. ROTORS HAVE SINCE HAD TO BE TURNED TWICE. CALIPERS DO NOT SEEM TO BE DRAGGING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034354 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING A BLOWOUT. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. SIZE#23585R16.*AK THE TREAD WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE, BREAKING THE HOUSING FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE RIM WAS DAMAGED IN ADDITION. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 26,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034354 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079520 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH STEERING WHEEL SHOOK, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082206 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
THE WATER PUMP BEARINGS FAILED IN MY 1997 FORD, F-350, 7.3 LITER DIESEL. THIS VEHICLE HAD 90,053 MILES AND HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE ABOVE FAILURE, NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BY APPROXIMATELY 50% REDUCTION OF STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,053 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103700 · 2004-12-14 (December 14, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH MOTOR VIBRATED, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TWO PIECE FLYWHEEL CAME APART, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO CRACK WHERE THE TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE WAS LOCATED. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THIS YEAR TRUCKS, AND THE TWO PIECE FLY WHEELS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN LATER MODEL TRUCKS. TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND THE FLYWHEEL WERE REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 117,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110725 · 2005-02-17 (February 17, 2005)
IN 2003, MY 1997 FORD F-350 CREW CAB LOST THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ON 05 SEP 2003 MY TRUCK, WITH THE ENGINE COLD, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, CATCHING MY HOUSE ON FIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A CLAIMS TO BOTH MY HOMEOWNERS AND MY VEHICLE INSURANCE. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS IN THE FIRE. THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY TRUCK WAS: [XXX]. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140059 · 2005-10-17 (October 17, 2005)
(1) VEHICLE RANDOMLY DYING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (2) CAM POSTION SENSOR, ENGINE DIES , LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF POWER BRAKES (BOTH A NESSESITY WITH A DIESEL PICK UP TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DUE TO THIER WEIGHT) (3) REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AT APPOXIMATELY $140.00. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190564 · 2007-05-12 (May 12, 2007)
CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN TRUCK HAS GONE OUT SUDDENLY AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING - LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. EVIDENTLY ALMOST ALL ENGINES HAVE THIS PART FAIL AT SOME POINT AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 145,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586547 · 2014-05-05 (May 5, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 FORD F350 DIESEL PICKUP, PULLING A 36FT GOOSENECK HORSE TRAILER WITH MY TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND THEIR FOUR HORSES, THE ENGINE IN MY PICKUP SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED. THERE WAS NO "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED NORMAL. THE ONLY WARNING I HAD WAS SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE LEFT WHEEL WELL UPON SPEED DECREASE TO TURN A CORNER. I WAS TRAVELING A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME AND AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (LESS THAN 40MPH) DURING THE TRAVEL FROM MY HOME TO THE LOCAL FAIRGROUNDS FOR RODEO PRACTICE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 173,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586547 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270810 · 2019-10-24 (October 24, 2019)
ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE PAN THE DIPSTICK ADAPTER WAS MANUFACTURED POORLY. THE OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE HAS CAUSED THE ORING TO SWELL AND LEAK OIL. THE OIL LEAK IS GETTING ON THE STARTER AND CLUTCH. THE OIL CAN CAUSE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH WHILE DRIVING. THE OIL ON THE CLUTCH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THE ORING CAN SWELL AND FALL OFF THE ADAPTOR AND BECOME LODGED IN THE OIL PICKUP. THIS WILL STARVE THE MOTOR OF OIL AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MOT…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100259 · 2004-11-20 (November 20, 2004)
WHILE BRAKING, WITH NO WARNING, BRAKES FAILED. BRAKE LINE RUNNING FROM DIVERTER TO REAR AXLE RUSTED THROUGH BEHIND FRONT FUEL TANK AT PLASTIC BRACKET. THERE WAS NO PEDAL RESISTANCE AND NO BRAKING AT ALL. ALL FLUID WAS LOST. THE HOLE IN THE LINE IS ABOUT 0.250 INCH LONG AND ABOUT 0.045 INCH WIDE. THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM OR A SOFT PEDAL PRIOR TO THIS. LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED IN A VALLEY IN A DRIVEWAY WHILE TURNING AROUND SO THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HAD IT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD OR WHILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418039 · 2011-08-08 (August 8, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE METER SUDDENLY INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE PANEL FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS DETACHED, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,823.
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418039 at NHTSA ↗