Complaints
31
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Ford E-250 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#13 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:2
#23 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
#33 complaints
Tires:Tread/Belt
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford E-250.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Rim | 1 | — | — | — |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Windshield:Electrical Heating Element
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Rim
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Ford E-250. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford E-250 Years
1997 Ford E-250 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Ford E-250 reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1997 Ford E-250 has 31 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline with 3 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Ford E-250?
Top reported problems: Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (3 complaints); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor (3 complaints); Tires:Tread/Belt (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1997 Ford E-250?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Ford E-250 include 0 crash-related reports, 5 fire reports, 1 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-250 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Ford E-250 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Ford E-250?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford E-250 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Ford E-250
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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