Most common 1997 Ford E-250 problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford E-250 complaints by model year
Best E-250 years: 2009, 2007, 2008. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
1997 Ford E-250 recalls (3)
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 Mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 Lincoln town car vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on February 18, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 1997 Ford E-250:
SHIFT-LOCK
There is no summary currently available
HVAC Switch Failures
This investigation was opened based on one complaint and reports from four transportation fleets alleging 182 blower motor control switch failures.ODI was concerned that these melting and burning switches could lead to an open flame that could spread throughout the vehicle.After a comprehensive review of all data related to overheating blower motor control switches in the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the…
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 1997 Ford E-250 owners say
Wheels & tires
The ball joints and tires wore out faster than normal. Driver noticed this problem every 5000 miles. The cause was lack of lubrication. Ball joints were replaced twice along with the front rim and the rotors.
I have Michelin xps 235-83/r16 tires on my motorhome, less than 2 years old. For no reason, I have had 3 failures out of 4 tires. The last failure was in the rv lot, where I have been parked for the last 5 months, and the tire just blew out, same with the other 3 tires. There are many complaints filed on the internet. Please recall all of the defective tires..
Engine & cooling
Blown spark plug right out of the head, took the threads with it costing over $3000.00 Ford will not except responsability for there negligence in there machine shop can you help?
This is one of 2 1997 vans I own, the other van engine blew at 78000,this one did at 82000 ,and it is thought to be due to the rear seal leaking on exhaust and starting fire at tank.
Suspension
The ball joints and tires wore out faster than normal. Driver noticed this problem every 5000 miles. The cause was lack of lubrication. Ball joints were replaced twice along with the front rim and the rotors.
Tie rod enf snapped off. Vehicle had no steering. Also, there was looseness in front end, causing excessive wear of tires. Mechanic said normally it was caused by ball joints, but they had never seen anything like it & had no explanation for it.
1997 Ford E-250 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Van.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford E-250 a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 E-250 rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the E-250 at the same age. It is one of the E-250 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford E-250?
The wheels & tires — 6 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the engine & cooling (6) and suspension (4).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford E-250 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1997 Ford E-250, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford E-250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2007 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. See the full Ford E-250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford E-250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.