1997 Ford F SERIES (LIGHT): complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
105,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 20.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
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 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 3
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10028823 · 2003-07-22 (July 22, 2003)
I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 F150 4X4 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. THE MIDDLE, RIGHT REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE AND WAS EJECTED WITH GREAT FORCE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND I REMEMBER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD IN AUGUST 1998 DETAILING THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, EARNHARDT FORD, ON OCTOBER 10, 1998, AND THE DEALER INSTALLED CLIPS ON THE FRONT PORTION OF BOTH SPRINGS. I RETRIEVED THE EJECTED PIECE OF THE BROKEN SPRING FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND I NOTICED THAT THE BREAK WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060906 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)
COMPUTER CONTINUES TO GIVE ACODE OF MISFIRE ON NUM 5 CYLINDER. TOOK TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS; ALL THEY DID WAS INSTALL NEW SPARK PLUG, PROBLEM PERSISTS. BEEN INVESTIGATING AND TRYING DIFFERENT INDEPNDENT SHOP FO REPAIR *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078508 · 2004-06-20 (June 20, 2004)
I HAD JUST ARRIVED BACK IN LAKELAND FL FROM A TRIP TO THE EAST COAST. I STOPPED AT A STORE TO BUY A FEW THINGS AND WHEN I CAME OUT AND STARTED MY 5.4 LITER F- 250 LIGHT DUTY TRUCK IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS THE SECOND PLUG FROM THE REAR. MY TRUCK IS A 1997 FORD WITH 100500 APPROXIMATELY MILES ON IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF TRITON ENGINES BLOWING SPARK PLUGS. I HAPPENED TO KNOW A PERSON THAT WORKED IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121620 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
DOOR HAS CRACKED DRIVERS SIDE BOTTOM CORNER OF WIDOW MOLDING
Owner-reported narrative. 92,303 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122263 · 2005-05-26 (May 26, 2005)
MY 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE, AND NO LIGHTS WERE ON. I STEPED OUT THE FRONT DOOR OF MY HOUSE, AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I LOOKED OVER AT MY TRUCK, AND SAW FLAMES IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL, AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SIDE AND BACK EDGES. I GOT THE FIRE EXTENGUISHER FROM THE HOUSE, SHOT UP IN THE WHEEL WELL, THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE REST OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE SEEMED TO START IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AREA, AND I BELIEVE AS A RESULT OF A DEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133583 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
OWN A 1997 FORD F150 THAT CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH
Owner-reported narrative. 63,505 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158629 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
I USED TO BE A PROUD OWNER OF A 1997 FORD F150 4.2 LITER V6. THAT WAS UNTIL TODAY WHEN MY ENGINE HYDROLOCKED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 164000 MILES ON IT, HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AT APPROX. 110000 MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE V6 ENGINES, AND THAT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING DO TO THE "HIGH" MILES. I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A COMPLETE NEW SHORT BOCK,AND THE RECOMMENDED BY FORD 4MM HEAD GASKETS INSTEAD OF THE 3MM THAT THEY ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. THIS ENGINE LASTED ANO…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163621 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
UPON STARTING ONE MORNING, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. HAD THE ENGINE INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 120,611 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163621 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.