Most common 1997 Ford F Series (light) problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F Series (light) complaints by model year
Best F Series (light) years: 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Ford F Series (light):
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 Series (light) owners say
Engine & cooling
I used to be a proud owner of a 1997 Ford f150 4.2 liter v6. That was until today when my engine hydrolocked for the third time. The truck now has 164000 miles on it, however, the first time happened at approx. 110000 miles. After doing some research it was discovered that this is a common problem with the v6 engines, and that Ford will not do anything do to the "high" miles. I replaced the engine with a complete new short bock,and the recommended by Ford 4mm head gaskets instead of the 3mm that they originally installed. This engine lasted another approx 20000 miles before it hydrolocked again. This time it was repaired under the warranty from the engine supplier...thankfully. Now, however there isn't anything to do but replace the engine again. It's not worth much as a running vehicle do to it's age, but as a non-running one it's really worthless. …
I had just arrived back in lakeland fl from a trip to the east coast. I stopped at a store to buy a few things and when I came out and started my 5.4 liter f- 250 light duty truck it blew a spark plug on the passenger side. It was the second plug from the rear. My truck is a 1997 Ford with 100500 approximately miles on it. I had it towed to the Ford dealership that I bought it from for repair. The service manager said he had never heard of triton engines blowing spark plugs. I happened to know a person that worked in the service department and according to that individual it was a common problem normally requiring a new head at a cost of around $3000 but some could be repaired by lnstalling a new plug if I was lucky. However Ford would not guarantee the installation of a new plug repair. …
Electrical system
The truck started having electrical problems, which would come and go. These problems became more severe and numerous as time went by. At first it was just the warning lights coming on and then things like the radio coming on in the middle of the night and no one had the key even in. It would also shift into 4-wheel for no reason. These would only happen once in a while. Then one day when I went to go to work I opened the door and everything came on just opening the door. I got in and put the key in and tried to start the truck but there was nothing. I then noticed the smell of electrical items burning and immediately took out the key. I called the local Ford dealer and ask if they knew what was going on. They immediately replied that these trucks have a problem with the windshield leaking on the gem module and fuse box. …
Computer continues to give acode of misfire on num 5 cylinder. Took to 3 Ford dealerships; all they did was install new spark plug, problem persists. Been investigating and trying different indepndent shop fo repair
Fuel & propulsion system
Our mechanic noticed that one of the straps at the rear of the gas tank was missing, and when filling up our 1997 Ford f150, the tank was getting close to being filled, gas started spewing out of the fill tube. We looked under the truck and noticed that the fill tube had shifted due to the rear strap being broken.
1997 Ford f-150 . The gas tank straps have begun to rot and have chaffed the gas tank to the point there are some gas vapors escaping. Not a full blown leak at this point. I will begin the process of repairing to avoid fire/explosion.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford F Series (light) a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 F Series (light) rates average: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the F Series (light) at the same age. 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 Series (light)?
The engine & cooling — 5 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the electrical system (3) and fuel & propulsion system (3).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford F Series (light) have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Ford F Series (light). You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F Series (light)?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999 and 2002. See the full Ford F Series (light) years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford F Series (light) problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 110,000 miles; 7% 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.