The problem
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. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
The risk
The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
The fix
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.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 97V-171 (97V171000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Component | Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (PRNDL) |
| Report date | October 7, 1997 |
| Owners notified | October 20, 1997 |
| Vehicles affected | 866,000 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the transmission & drivetrain
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 97V-171 repair free?
Yes. Ford dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 866,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.