Complaints
122
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1
Worst 1997 Ford E-150 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#112 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Avg mileage:96,441 mi
#28 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:74,430 mi
#38 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Avg mileage:130,492 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford E-150.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 12 | — | — | 96,441 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 | — | — | 74,430 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 | — | — | 130,492 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 5 | — | 1 | 94,297 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | 159,793 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | — | 1 | 45,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
96,441
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,430
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
130,492
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
94,297
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
159,793
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
45,000
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Ford E-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1997 Ford E-150
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~13 vehicles.
10V271000Equipment Adaptive/mobility
~13 affectedALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.
Other Ford E-150 Years
1997 Ford E-150 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Ford E-150 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1997 Ford E-150 has 122 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly with 12 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Ford E-150?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly (12 complaints, avg 96,441 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (8 complaints, avg 74,430 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (8 complaints, avg 130,492 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Ford E-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 99,817 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Ford E-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Ford E-150 include 4 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Ford E-150 have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 13 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1997 Ford E-150?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1997 Ford E-150 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford E-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Ford E-150
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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