Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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 owned a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, the contact noticed smoke coming from the driver's side from the bottom of the front tire. The vehicle then caught on fire. The fire department came to extinguish the fire. A fire report was filed. The cause of the fire was an electrical engine component. There were no injuries and no medical attention needed. The vehicle remained at the residence and was not repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
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.
On 03/09/2005 at approximately 6:50 p.m. (tx time) my neighbor informed me that my vehicle was on fire and she had notified the fire department. The vehicle was a 1997 Ford f150 quad cab (I purchased the vehicle on 08/12/2001 from a used car lot. The vehicle had been park for only about 20 minutes, as I had just come home from work. The fire department reports indicated that the fire started in the engine department. I did not have any warning lights prior the the incident; the vehicle had been operating normally all that day. I put gas in the vehicle around 11 a.m. On this date and checked the oil as well, tires, etc.; as far as I could tell everything was OK. On 03/24/2005 the nbc news aired a story concerning the Ford f150, investigating a recall on the cruise control emission which could result in the vehicle inavertantly catching on fire. …
Our 1997 Ford f-150 pickup was sitting in the driveway. It had been parked there since yesterday evening, about 6:30 p.m. At approximately 3:30 p.m. The next day, our doorbell rang, it was the mail lady. My husband answered the door,and she asked him if he knew his truck was on fire? It took a couple of seconds for it to register, and he said what? She repeated it. My husband hollered at me to call the fire department, the truck's on fire. I grabbed the cordless and headed towards the front door. Just as I was coming out the front door, my husband said turn the water on. He already had the garden hose in his hand, pulling it towards the truck. He was able to put the fire out before the fire department got there, by spraying on top of the hood, under the hood, under the front wheel well, and inside the cab underneath the dash on the driver's side. …
My 1997 f-150 caught fire while parked in my driveway. This vehicle was not driven in 18 hours. My twelve year old daughter and a neighbor put the fire out. In speaking with Ford motor company they have a recall on cruise control deactivation switches but until today it did not go back to my year model. Due to a television broadcast on Friday, August 12, 2005 Ford has now included vehicles up to 1995 however when I spoke with them today they advised it only includes vehicles manufactured at particular plants which does not include my vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to a local Ford dealer and the service department manager stated "more than likely the fire was caused by the cruise control switch". …
Vehicle was parked in driveway with doors locked and ignition in the off position. No one was near or in the vehicle. Looked out window and noticed what looked like mist from a water sprinkler from the front side of truck. Looking closer, I realized it was smoke and then saw flames from the tire well and under the hood by the windshield wipers. Called 911. The fire department arrived very quickly, putting the fire out. Their assessment was it was an electrical short which had caused the fire. The fire caused the hood hydraulic lift to explode like a rocket, hitting the windshield, cracking it and then shooting off into the yard. The frames inside the engine housing by the drivers tire burnt the housing completely away. The wiring has been completely burned and melted away inside the engine compartment. …
Under hood fire on a 1997 Ford f150 pickup. The fire occured on March 29, 2005 at approximately 6:30 am when a neighbor came to our house to report that our truck was on fire and they had called the fire department. Flames were already through the hood on the drivers side and coming out the front left wheel well. Mr. Carnes was able to extinguish the fire before the fire department arrived however, the bulk of the damage had already been done. Mr. Carnes simply prevented any further property damage to anything nearby. Our insurance company has totaled the vehicle. Their fire iinvestigator has determined that the fire was caused by the speed control deactivation switch. We contacted Ford the same day and were told that their legal department would contact us in 2 business days. Today is 5/5/05 and we have still not heard from Ford. …
Under hood fire on a 1997 Ford f150 pickup. The fire occured on April 29, 2005 at approximately 6:30 am when a neighbor came to our house to report that our truck was on fire and they had called the fire department. Flames were already through the hood on the drivers side and coming out the front left wheel well. Mr. Carnes was able to extinguish the fire before the fire department arrived however, the bulk of the damage had already been done. Mr. Carnes simply prevented any further property damage to anything nearby. Our insurance company has totaled the vehicle. Their fire iinvestigator has determined that the fire was caused by the speed control deactivation switch. We contacted Ford the same day and were told that their legal department would contact us in 2 business days. Today is 5/5/05 and we have still not heard from Ford. …
I have an 1997 f150 Ford truck. It was parked at 5:30 between 9:30-10:00 pm it caught on fire for no reason. In the insurance investigation it was determined it was caused by a short in the wires the hot spot being in the steering column. Parked at 5:45. At 10:00 pm heard a loud noise like thunder. Neighbor called and informed of truck was on fire. The fire was coming from the engine compartment. The tire on the drivers side burned and exploded. The fire seemed to be more intense on the drivers side. The fire damaged the car port. Have photos and will e-mail to bruce york. Prior to the fire a fuse had been changed because the vehicle would not come out of park. The vehicle had cruise control but do not know if it worked the month before fire because it had not been used. Vehicle was insured by state farm. Claim #53e484047. Claim rep kelly jacobs.
An explosion woke us up at approx 4:00 am on July 06. Our 1997 Ford f150 pick up was on fire and destroyed a 2001 4 runner, 2001 larson boat, carport etc. The vehicle had been parked for 2 days and moved once a very short distabce during that time. The fire seemed to come from the engine compartment. Prior to the fire the crusie control stopped working and we had to replace a fuse becuse the vehicle would not come out of park. We replaced the fuse 3 or 4 times. On the last time we just parked the vehicle after the fuse was replaced and did not drive it. The only electronic aftermarket equipment was a stereo proffesionaly installed a year before the fire. The fire did not spread to the house but did spread to another vehicle, the car port, and a boat. 35mm photographs have been taken and will be sent to bruce york. Vehicle was insured liability only.
NHTSA investigations
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…
Electrical complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1997 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 198 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Ford F-150, 7% of the model year's 2,758 complaints. The component named most often is wiring › front underhood (40 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford F-150 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system 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 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 112,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 120 fires and 3 injuries and 1 death to electrical system 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.