Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the rear passenger's side subframe near the axle of the vehicle was severely corroded. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 134,788.
December 3, 2020...my husband drove the truck over to a friends house. After being there for approximately 2 hours his friend walked in the building where he was and said, 'hey man, your truck is on fire!' everyone rushed outside to see the truck was in fact on fire. They called the fire department who came and finished extinguishing the fire. It appears the fire started on the drivers side near the tire, or behind the dash. I did not even think to check for a recall, but a friend told me to check because he was aware there was a recall. Sure enough, there is a recall and it describes what happened to my truck exactly. NHTSA recall number: 05V017000 date: jan 27, 2005 Ford recall number: 05528
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving at 3 MPH, the spare tire detached from underneath the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the cable that strapped the spare tire underneath the vehicle had fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000. Updated 04/07/16
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford f-150. While looking underneath the vehicle, the contact noticed sections that were rusted all the way through. The bumper and steps near the doors were also rusted and slightly detached. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,582.
My 3rd door won't open and it's a serious safety issue. I have kids and it's the only vehicle I have to transport them around. I went to youtube and found that some cheap plastic retainers that's clipped to cables are broken. The retainers open the top and bottom of the door. Please help. Thanks
I went to open my 3rd door on the left side of my f 150 and it would not open. I tried both latches on the outside and in inner door frame but no luck. I was parked at the time when I was trying to get some items out of my back seat. I have nothing to upload at this time.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford f-150. The contact stated that the front to rear fuel straps fractured on the driver's side without warning. The failure caused the fuel lines and fuel tank to fracture. The contact replaced the fuel straps, fuel lines, and fuel tank due to the failure. The contact was not notified of NHTSA campaign number: 11V385000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the VIN was included. The dealer (reineke Ford Lincoln of lima, [phone], 1360 greely chapel rd, lima, oh 45804) was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle needed to be restored to its original condition to perform the recall repair. The dealer refused to repair the vehicle, indicating that the contact welded the driver's side rear fuel strap. The recall repair was not performed. …
1997 f150 Ford lariat super cab 4x4 with 83,262 miles, the vehicle has excessive rust on panels, frame, frame supports and undercarriage components; some of the frame/ frame supports have significant holes and has no structural integrity. The safety design intent of the vehicle has been compromised due to the severe rust; in a crash condition the vehicle occupants' safety would be jeopardized. December 3, 2010 the vehicle was driven in the village of oxford, mi. Approximately 25 mile per hour and the front gas tank strap failed (rusted-out). The gas tank fell to the pavement and left the vehicle inoperable. There were no occupant injuries, but gasoline containments were leaked at the scene. The vehicle was towed by flatbed truck to skalnek Ford, lake orion, mi for repairs costing $773.42. Updated 1/12/2012
I have a 1997 Ford f-150, I was changing the front brake pads and noticed a lot of rust on the frame and basically every thing else under the body. I took a screwdriver and pushed it all the way through the suspension travel stop. There are big chunks of rusty metal falling off of it at least every three or four months apart. I can take my finger and push through the front bumper. All the bolts on the exhaust manifolds and collectors are rusted off or all most rusted off. To fix the exhaust it will cost around $700.00, if the dealer done the repairs it would cost much more. The gas tank straps looks real rusty also. In my 54 years of life I have never seen a frame and the underside of a vehicle rust so bad. I live in the south so the truck did not see much salt.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the front driver's side of the frame fractured. The brake lines were broken and the vehicle lost braking ability. The contact stated that there was rust and corrosion on the surface of the frame, but there were no signs of cracks prior to the failure. The contact was concerned since the driver was almost involved in a crash. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or mechanic for a diagnostic test or repair. The manufacturer was made aware and no assistance was provided. The failure and current mileages were 205,000.
Body complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1997 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 226 complaints about the body & structure of the 1997 Ford F-150, 8% of the model year's 2,758 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (164 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford F-150 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1997 Ford F-150, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford F-150 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 3 fires and 14 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.