Most common 1997 Ford F-150 problems
Share of the 2,758 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-150 complaints by model year
Best F-150 years: 1996, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2018, 2013, 2016, 2012, 2021. Compare all years →
1997 Ford F-150 recalls (14)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Mounting
Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year Ford f-150, 2004 model year Ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 Lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from June 20, 1995, through August 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection.
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: By letter dated September 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft sector
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks manufactured at the kansas city or norfolk assembly plants. The front fuel line assembly could have a hole rubbed through in one of two locations. The first location is below the fuel rail connection where the flexible hose is crimped to the steel tube.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these lines and replace the front fuel line assembly if necessary. Owner notification began October 27, 2000.
Exterior lighting
Vehicle description: Mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to Ford, the vehicles were…
Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: light duty 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. If the vehicle is overloaded, the rear leaf springs can be overstressed. A fatigue fracture of the spring can occur. The center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear springs and install an additional clip on the forward end of the rear springs to prevent fuel tank contact in the event of a leaf fracture. Any fractured springs will be replaced.
Show 8 more recalls
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles May not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
Remedy: Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in May 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with a 4.2l engine and originally sold or currently registered in one of the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine, michigan, idaho, wyoming, south dakota, colorado, nebraska, kansas, iowa, missouri,…
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised pcv system on these vehicles.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL)
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket.
Remedy: Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The transmission bracket end fitting can separate from the shift cable assembly resulting in operator inability to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new transmission shift control cable.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
The seat elt anchorage attachments are missing or misinstalled on these vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, as necessary, repair the seat belt anchorage attachments.
Vehicle speed control
Vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, michigan (upper peninsula), new york, maine, vermont, and new hampshire.
Remedy: Dealers will install a foam insulating sleeve on the line from the pcv to the hose fitting on the throttle plate.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
The retainer clip that holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm is missing.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect to verify that the retainer clips are installed and if clips are missing will install clips.
Equipment › Other › Labels
The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 18 possible defects involving the 1997 Ford F-150:
Rear suspension spring breakage
In July 1998, Ford submitted a part 573 notification to NHTSA concerning broken rear springs on certain 1997-98 Ford f150 trucks, with four-wheel drive.Ford stated that fatigue fracture of the rear springs May occur if the spring are over stresses(sic) by vehicle overloading.the broken piece of the spring leaf May splay inward, damaging the fuel tank and causing fuel leakage.Ford also stated that a broken spring…
Automatic transmission control
On September 4, 1997, Ford filed a defect information report concerning approximately 15,000 1997 model year f-150 trucks, manufactured from February 16 through March 4, 1996, and built at the norfolk or kansas city assembly plants.these vehicles could have incorrectly manufactured automatic transmission control cables installed which can result in a separation of the cable end fitting from the cable conduit at the…
Ice formation in the throttle body
There is no summary currently available
Tie rod end failures
There is no summary currently available
Loss of throttle control
There is no summary currently available
Independent front suspension torsion bar
Three consumers have reported failure of one of the two front suspension torsion bars in the subject vehicles.in one case the failure occurred while the vehicle was in operation, and the vehicles were parked when the other two failures occurred.no crashes have been reported.torsion bar failures are considered to be fairly uncommon and in each of the reported cases, the failures occurred at relatively low…
Wheel separation from vehicle
In addition to the a failure report tabulations given above, the manufacturer reported that an additional 33 owner and field reports have been filed which refer to problems (lug not torque loss, lug bolt fracture) that did not involve actual wheel separation, but which May be potentially relevant events.the manufacturer also reported that a total of 815 warranty claims have been filed for repairs potentially related…
Failure transmission park engagement/loc
By letter dated September 4, 1997, the manufacturer advised NHTSA that a safety-related recall action would be initiated to correct a potential failure of the transmission shift cable in approximately 15,000 of the subject vehicles.the suspect cables were supplied to Ford by teleflex automotive and installed in the subject f-150 trucks built at Ford's norforlk and kansas city assembly plants between February 16,…
Seat belt anchorage separation
Odi's database contains one complaint alleging the center front seat belt anchorage was not bolted to the floor.Ford submitted 28 additional field reports and warrant claims alleging that a seat belt was not bolted to the floor, not attached, not hooked up, or the owner complainted that the seat belt was loose.the causes have included a missing bolt, missing nut, bolt hole not threaded, weld nut missing, or bolt not…
Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/Rust
One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and break.If one strap breaks, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven, contact with the road can abrade the tank and create a hole from which gasoline can spill.When the…
Steering column
Alleged loss of throttle control
The details of information and data evaluated during this investigation are stated in the engineering analysis closing report, dated September 30, 1999.a safety-related defect trend resulting from interference by the floor mat with proper operation of the throttle in the subject vehicles was not identified during the course of the ea, and the invrestigation has been closed.the closing of this investigation does not…
Wheel separation
By letter dated May 6, 1998, the manufacturer advised NHTSA of its decision to initiate a safety recall of approximately 1,520,000 of the subject vehicles, including f-250 light duty trucks, and navigator vehicles built at the norfolk, michigan truck, kansas city, and ontario truck assembly plants between December 1, 1995 and mid-April 1998.NHTSA has designated this recall action as campaign number 98v-095.
Seat belt anchorage separation
Ford notified odi that they are conducting a recall to inspect and, as necessary, repair the seat belt anchorage attachments on 1997 Ford f150 vehicles built from the beginning of production through April of 1996.odi's database contains one complaint alleging the center front seat belt anchorage was not bolted to the floor.Ford has located 60 additional field reports and warranty claims that appear to be the result…
Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion
One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and fail (break or separate).If one strap fails, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven, contact with the road can abrade the tank and create a hole from which gasoline…
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Steering shaft separation
See attached summary for technical details
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 F-150 owners say
Engine & cooling all 544 →
Driving at normal speed (45 MPH), no abnormal noises or vibrations present. Loud bang noise came from within engine bay, and truck began to sputter and stumble very badly. Check engine light came on and preceded to flash, put truck into neutral and rolled to the side of the road where truck was shut off. Excessive fuel was found on top of the engine at the third cylinder from the front on the passenger side (4.6l v8 engine). Spark plug was separated from the wire and lying on top of engine. Spark plug boot was melted and smoking suggesting it was previously burning. Spark plug was %100 covered by burnt sooty material.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The contact stated that there were flames coming from the engine compartment. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not and who extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.
Wheels & tires all 419 →
Firestone tire tread separation. Model "wilderness", size 23570r16, dot-w2081pt176, tire mileage 8,308 on 11-07-03. Circumstances: while entering the town of clinton, la. At 45mph, heard loud sharp thud and my 1997 Ford, f150, immediately veered accross the divided center lane toward an on coming logging truck. I immediately corrected to my right and stopped in the front yard of house #12780. Upon exiting vehicle determined the subject left rear tire tred had seperated (althought still attached to tire) damaged the fender and scratched the body of the vehicle extending to the gas cap. These tires were purchased in August 03. During a conversation with a Firestone rep. …
Dt: the rear end is making a whining noise. The tires on the vehicle are starting to separate. The tires are brand new put on March 21, 2003. The tires are ameritrac general, p255/70r16. The consumer can not locate the number for the tire company. Therefore, he cannot contact them. The dealership states that he will have to pay for the diagnostic to find out what is wrong with the rear end. The consumer's mechanic states that the bearings on the rear end are bad due to bad casing; it will not align itself up with the transmission. Also, cruise control stopped working at the same time that the whining started. The mechanic states it will not ground in order to make it activate the switch. Consumer has contacted Ford, and was advised to take the vehicle in. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 246 →
I filled the fuel tank and let the vehicle set in my drive over night. In the morning as I was approaching the vehicle in preparation to drive to work, I smelled a strong odor of gasoline. I looked under the vehicle and saw a wet spot about 3 feet in diameter. The wet spot was gasoline. As i was investigating the leak, I noticed the front fuel tank retaining band rusted in two and fuel tank hanging low. Further investigation revealed there was a leak from the fuel pump access seal and hose connecting the filler neck to the tank. I had just driven the vehicle 130 miles the day before filling the fuel tank. …
Driving at normal speed (45 MPH), no abnormal noises or vibrations present. Loud bang noise came from within engine bay, and truck began to sputter and stumble very badly. Check engine light came on and preceded to flash, put truck into neutral and rolled to the side of the road where truck was shut off. Excessive fuel was found on top of the engine at the third cylinder from the front on the passenger side (4.6l v8 engine). Spark plug was separated from the wire and lying on top of engine. Spark plug boot was melted and smoking suggesting it was previously burning. Spark plug was %100 covered by burnt sooty material.
1997 Ford F-150 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 4.2L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford F-150 a good car?
Based on 2,758 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 F-150 rates avoid: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-150 at the same age. It is one of the F-150 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 F-150?
The engine & cooling — 544 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the wheels & tires (419) and fuel & propulsion system (246).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford F-150 have?
There are 14 recalls for the 1997 Ford F-150, the most recent from July 29, 2011 (mounting). 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 F-150?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1996, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2018, 2013, 2016, 2012 and 2021. See the full Ford F-150 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford F-150 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 107,000 miles; 8% 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.