Worst 1997 Ford F-150 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Tire Defects
Structure:Body:Door
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford F-150.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 198 | 2 | 8 | 98,799 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 168 | 9 | — | 65,398 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 164 | — | — | 72,375 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 155 | — | 2 | 146,810 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 137 | 5 | — | 71,705 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 136 | — | 5 | 96,833 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 128 | — | 19 | 103,696 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 111 | 18 | 3 | 75,034 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 101 | 12 | 24 | 140,247 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 90 | — | 69 | 109,079 mi | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 88 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 81 | — | 59 | 130,411 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 70 | 5 | 2 | 84,791 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 69 | 67 | — | 144,667 mi | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 47 | 1 | — | 97,959 mi | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar | 42 | — | — | 46,000 mi | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 41 | — | — | 59,407 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 40 | — | 37 | 87,040 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 40 | 3 | — | 128,919 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 39 | — | — | 100,917 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 38 | 2 | 2 | 170,608 mi | |
| Suspension:Front | 36 | 1 | — | 5,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 33 | — | — | 111,108 mi | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 33 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages | 32 | 3 | — | 65,000 mi | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs:Leaf Spring Assembly | 32 | — | — | 106,068 mi | |
| Body Structure | 31 | 1 | 2 | 176,816 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 28 | — | — | 100,178 mi | |
| Airbags | 27 | 15 | — | 143,764 mi |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 1997 Ford F-150
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~1,100,000 vehicles.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150, 2004 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 HERITAGE, 1997 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR F-250 LESS THAN 8,500 LBS. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR), AND 2002 AND 2003 LINCOLN BLACKWOOD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 1995, THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2004, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEICING CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH SECURE THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE.
Other Ford F-150 Years
1997 Ford F-150 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Ford F-150 reliable?
What are common problems with the 1997 Ford F-150?
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Ford F-150?
How safe is the 1997 Ford F-150?
Does the 1997 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
Should I buy a 1997 Ford F-150?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Ford F-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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