1997 Ford Club Wagon Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Club Wagon, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes822.2%
- Tires & wheels616.7%
- Visibility616.7%
- Other / unspecified513.9%
- Engine411.1%
- Powertrain (other)25.6%
- Electrical12.8%
- Transmission12.8%
- Heating & air conditioning12.8%
- Suspension12.8%
- Airbags12.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH FRONT END OF VEHICLE VIBRATES AND BRAKES BECOME INOPERABLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERA TIMES. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK
FRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD SHIMMY WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED. ALSO, WOULD LOCK UP ON WET ROADS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES & BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. LAST TRIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT WORK ON BRAKES. ADVISED OWNER TO MAKE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER/ TIRES/DRUMS AND ROTORS, AND ODOMETER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER 39,000 MILES. *AK
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURATURN TRAVIA H/T DELAMINATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MONDAY OCTOBER 26, 2020. 1 TON VAN SHUDDERED AND SHOOK THE STEERING WHEEL. REDUCED SPEED AND LEFT THE FREEWAY. CHANGED TO SPARE TIRE. DURATURN VISIBLY MIS-SHAPED BUT REMAINED ON THE RIM. VIEWED RECALL IN PROGRESS FOR DURATURN TRAVIA A/T TIRES, INCLUDING MY SIZE 245/75R16 (WHICH ARE LOAD RANGE E). THE DATE RANGE ON MY TIRES IS IN THE DATE RANGE OF THE RECALL (2016). CALLED THE RECALL WEBPAGE PROVIDED REP (DAVE 626-513-8989) TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY AND LEFT MESSAGES EACH DAY. NO REPLY. NO OTHER CONTACT PHONE NUMBER OPTIONS FOUND ONLINE. MY 4 VAN TIRES HAVE ABOUT 85% TREAD LEFT AND ARE ALL THE SAME BRAND ETC. DOT UFRN EL8 1116 IS MOLDED INTO THE FAILED TIRE. VAN IS 1997 FORD CLUBWAGON WHICH HOLDS UP TO 15 PASSENGERS.
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO CHANGE TIRE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. TIRE SIZE 2457516. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAT BLEND DOOR FAILED, NO FRONT HEAT/DEFROST, SAFETY HAZARD, $391 TO REPLACE. SMALL PLASTIC PIECE BROKE AND ONLY COLD AIR PRODUCED THROUGH FRONT HEATER. FOUND AT LEAST 9 OTHER ODI DOCUMENTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM FOR JUST THE 97 MODEL YEAR, LISTED UNDER E150, CLUB WAGON AND ECONOLINE MODELS. MORE THAN A COINCIDENCE IT SEEMS.
HEATER BLEND DOOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND DOOR IS BROKEN THE DEFROSTER UNIT DOES NOT WORK AND WINDSHIELD IS FOGGY. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON RETURNING FROM A ROUTINE DRIVE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO LUGS: NUTS WERE COMPLETELY MISSING AND FIVE OF THE REMAINING SIX WERE LOOSE. THE WHEELS ARE CONSTRUCTED OF POLISHED ALUMINUM AND ARE OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER (WHEELED COACH). FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED DETERIORATION AS A POSSIBLE RESULT OF THE ALUMINUM IN THE WHEELS REACTING WITH THE STEEL OF THE LUGS. BECAUSE THIS IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE, ONE OF THOUSANDS ON THE ROAD, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO EMS PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO ADVISE THEM TO ROUTINELY CHECK THEIR LUG NUTS, ESPECIALLY ON ALUMINUM WHEELS.*AK
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A MODIFICATION--ELECTRONIC HAND CONTROLS PROVIDED BY EMC CO IN LOUISIANA. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES: THEY ARE ELECTRONIC HAND CONTROLS THAT WORK WITH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. THREE TIMES THE CONTROLS HAVE FAILED TO WORK SO THAT EITHER THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN STUCK OR THE BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND DOING A LITTLE INVESTIGATION OF MY OWN, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, BUT I CAN FIND NO INFORMATION ON THE WWW REGARDING IT. I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK INTO IT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
#4 SPARK PLUG CAME OUT OF MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN WITH A V-10 ENGINE. THE VAN HAS ONLY 62,000 MILES AND HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS. THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE. *TR
SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW THE EXHAUST SYSTEM/CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING NOISE AND CAUSING VIBRATION IN STEERING COLUMN, THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE FIXED AS THE VEHICLE DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THE SYMPTOMS. *MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD SHIMMY WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED. ALSO, WOULD LOCK UP ON WET ROADS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES & BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. LAST TRIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT WORK ON BRAKES. ADVISED OWNER TO MAKE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER/ TIRES/DRUMS AND ROTORS, AND ODOMETER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER 39,000 MILES. *AK
POWER TRAIN MODULE FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A MODIFICATION--ELECTRONIC HAND CONTROLS PROVIDED BY EMC CO IN LOUISIANA. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES: THEY ARE ELECTRONIC HAND CONTROLS THAT WORK WITH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR. THREE TIMES THE CONTROLS HAVE FAILED TO WORK SO THAT EITHER THE ACCELERATOR HAS BEEN STUCK OR THE BRAKES HAVE NOT WORKED. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND DOING A LITTLE INVESTIGATION OF MY OWN, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM, BUT I CAN FIND NO INFORMATION ON THE WWW REGARDING IT. I HOPE YOU'LL LOOK INTO IT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD AND JERKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD SHIMMY WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED. ALSO, WOULD LOCK UP ON WET ROADS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES & BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. LAST TRIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT WORK ON BRAKES. ADVISED OWNER TO MAKE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER/ TIRES/DRUMS AND ROTORS, AND ODOMETER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER 39,000 MILES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT BRAKES FAILED. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED DURING A BROADSIDE COLLISON. THIS SEVERELY INJURED MY 13 YEAR OLD SON WHO IS 5'2" TALL. THE COVER OF THE METAL AIRBAG FLEW UP, STRKING HIM IN THE FACE AND CAUSING A 4INCH DEEP LARCERATION ON HIS FOREHEAD, REQUIRING STITCHES AND PLASTIC SURGERY. HE WAS WEARING HIS SEATBELT AT THE TIME. I THINK THE DESIGN OF THIS AIRBAG COVER IS ATROCIOUS AND DANGEROUS. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF HIM AND THE AIRBAG. WE WANT TO KNOW IF SAMETHING WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN IF WE PURCHASE THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL YEAR 1999, EVEN IF IT NOW IS A REDUCED FORCE AIRBAG--THE COVER DESIGN LOOKS THE SAME. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .