1997 Ford F SERIES: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005697 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
BROKEN FRONT TORSION BAR (RS) ON A 1997 FORD F150 4WD. NO CRASH, NO PROPERTY DAMAGE . SAW PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION WHILE SEARCHING FOR RECALLS. ALSO SPOKE TO FORD DEALER WHO STATED THIS WAS NOT UNCOMMON.I AM CURIOUS AS TO WHY THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED SO QUICKLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014264 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
ENGINE FAILURE AT 73000 MILES, FOLLOWED ALL FORDS RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016186 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE AREA AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. VEHICLE AT A COMPLETE LOSS. FIREFIGHTERS COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE OF FIRE OTHER THAN IT ORIGINATING IN MIDDLE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018451 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
97 F150 BEGAN TO HAVE AN UNPREDICTABLE COOLANT LEAK, NEVER GOING BELOW MINIMUM COOLANT LEVEL. WITHIN THE WEEK NOTICED WATER IN THE OIL AND WENT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE STATION. WHEN I STARTED THE TRUCK THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING, PROVING TO BE A DAMAGED ROD. LATER RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THIS IS COMMON IN THE 4.2 LITER V-6 ENGINE DUE TO FAULTY GASKET. FORD RAN A "CAMPAIGN," BUT I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION AS TO THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 95,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018451 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 10069128 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE- LIKELY DUE TO GASKET FAILURE - HEAT NON- FUNCTIONING AS A RESULT
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069269 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
OVER DRIVE WENT OUT SOME WERE AROUND 56000-58000 MILES NOW AT 94,000 MILES THERE IS NO REVERSE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069748 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY - HAVE TO REMOVE FUSES - BACK UP LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT WON'T GO OUT. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN VEHICLE IS OFF. BOTH TIE ROD ENDS HAVE FALLEN OFF (AT DIFFERENT TIMES) ENGINE IS GONE. INFERIOR GASKETS LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND DESTROYED MAIN BEARINGS. JUNE 2001 FRONT EENGINE SEAL LEAKED ANTIFREEZE ONTO GROUND. TWO LETTERS TO FORD MOTOR CO (ADDRESSED TO WILLIAM CLAY FORD) HAVE BEEN ANSWERED BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES: DUNCAN ALDERSON AND D KULLA. BOTH HAVE ADVISED THAT FORD WILL …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069748 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.