1997 Ford F-350: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004217 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004217 at NHTSA ↗
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 10025950 · 2003-07-12 (July 12, 2003)
CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR HAS FAILED ONCE, SHUTTING THE TRUCK OFF WHILE IN TRAFFIC. NUMEROUS OTHERS WHO OWN VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR AS MINE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 57,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030163 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030163 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 10057251 · 2004-01-30 (January 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. DRIVER WAS ABLE PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. THEN, DROVE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR STATION. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX RADIAL, 23585/R16. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057251 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V286000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2006-08-01 (August 1, 2006)
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V184000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1996-09-25 (September 25, 1996)
THE RETAINER CLIP THAT HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING.
Consequence: A LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO VERIFY THAT THE RETAINER CLIPS ARE INSTALLED AND IF CLIPS ARE MISSING WILL INSTALL CLIPS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V187000 · Tires:Bead
Reported: 1997-10-29 (October 29, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND CHASSIS. THE TIRES ON THESE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED DURING MOUNTING ONTO THE WHEELS. ONLY TRUCKS PRODUCED AT THE CUAUTITLAN, MEXICO PLANT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 1996, AND JULY 17, 1997, WERE AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT.
Consequence: THE BEAD AREA OF THE TIRE WAS CUT WHICH COULD RESULT IN AIR LOSS. SUDDEN AIR LOSS COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES AND THIS RECALL AFFECTING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ONLY, FORD WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT CLAIMS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗