1997 Ford F SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
118,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 46 complaints (15.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 10.9% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 8.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 12
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 8 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 11; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10355603 · 2010-09-14 (September 14, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 184,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355603 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359026 · 2010-10-04 (October 4, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 173,051 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105629 · 2005-01-03 (January 3, 2005)
BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH, LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 113,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10105629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114563 · 2005-03-23 (March 23, 2005)
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 CONTROL NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. FORD ONLY REPLACED BRAKE RELAY AT MY COST. DID NOT REPLACE FRIED CONNECTOR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118834 · 2005-05-02 (May 2, 2005)
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 ELECTRICAL AS CAUSE OF FIRE.THE INTIRE ENGINE COPARTMENT IS A TOTAL LOSS.AS IS THE TRUCK ITSELF. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350446 · 2010-08-18 (August 18, 2010)
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 SHOOTING 10' INTO THE SKY. WE BELIEVE THIS ENGINE FIRE WAS DUE TO ONE OF THE RECALLS OF FORD'S FAULTY SWITCHES OR WIRING THAT IGNITED THE SPARK INTO A FULL BURN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021416 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
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 INSTEAD GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CALL. HOWEVER I DID TALK TO A FORD MOTOR REP FROM SLC,UT HE WAS VERY SORRY ABOUT MY PROBLEMS. ON APPROX. MAY 20TH 2003 I WAS NOTIFIED BY A FRIEND FOR MOTOR WAS RECALLING THIS PARTICULAR MODEL FOR A STEERING PROBLEM THE GARA…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144427 · 2005-12-05 (December 5, 2005)
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 IF THERE ARE ANY KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING ON 1997 FORD F-150'S OR IF THIS IS SIMPLY A BY-PRODUCT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BREAK FEATURE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182482 · 2007-02-13 (February 13, 2007)
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 OCCURRENCE AS ICY CONDITIONS AND STOPPED VEHICLES COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR COLLISION. SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL AND PUMPING BREAKS ALLOWED FOR A CONTROLLED STOP. EXTREMELY HIGH IDLE REMAINED UNTIL MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BREAK ACCELERATION PREVAILED. NOTE: …
Owner-reported narrative. 87,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182482 at NHTSA ↗