Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Mar 11, 2015
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since May 11, 2000
What this page shows
Our database holds 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Ford F-250 Sd. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 39 · page 1 of 2
Fuel system
Filed Mar 11, 2015
WAS DRIVING MY 1997 F-250 FROM HOME TO THE DUMP WHEN THE STRAP ON MY FRONT FUEL TANK BROKE/RUPTURED AND THE TANK FELL TO THE GROUND, STILL ATTACHED BY FUEL LINES TO THE TRUCK. A PASSING MOTORIST BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2010 AND IT HAS BEEN OPERATED IN MD DURING THIS TIME FRAME AND HAD BEEN OPERATED IN MD BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THOUGH FORD HAS A RECALL ON 1997-99 FORD F-250 FOR THIS VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS SPECIFICALLY NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10693561
Incident
Jan 14, 2015
Mileage
88,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 5, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT ONE OF THE ENGINES SPARK PLUGS DISLODGED. A SPARK PLUG KIT WAS INSTALLED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
NHTSA ID
10417655
Incident
Dec 23, 2010
Mileage
89,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 20, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE STRAPS THAT HELD THE FUEL TANK TO THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,123. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 04/29/11
NHTSA ID
10356619
Incident
Aug 20, 2010
Mileage
57,123 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 2010
THERE'S A RECALL ON MY 1997 F250 7.3 DIESEL. THE RECALL IS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR. I TOOK IT TO FORD TO HAVE IT FIXED CAUSE I WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY VIN DID NOT QUALIFY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10349721
Incident
Aug 16, 2010
Mileage
250,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 20, 2010
Fire reported
THE FAILURE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED A FIRE IN MY 1997 FORD F250 WHILE MY WIFE ,OUR 16 MONTH OLD AND MYSELF WERE SLEEPING. LUCKILY WE GOT OUT BUT EVERYTHING WE HAD IS A TOTAL LOSE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10312330
Incident
Feb 12, 2010
Mileage
256,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 2008
STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. TOW COST AND REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10232215
Incident
Jun 24, 2008
Mileage
215,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 14, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE STEERING MECHANISM BECOMES LOOSE AND MAKES RANDOM NOISES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS COMING APART. THE MECHANIC PLACED A TEMPORARY MAKESHIFT TO HOLD THE LINKAGE TOGETHER, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. HE THEN LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF HIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED FOR FREE SINCE IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 236,000. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ
NHTSA ID
10221202
Incident
Mar 1, 2003
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 29, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PAN LEAKED ON THE VEHICLE. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNLESS THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REMOVED. HE NOTICED PUDDLES OF OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE MECHANIC PLACED A SEALANT AROUND THE OIL PAN, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. UPDATED 03-12-08 *BF
NHTSA ID
10219687
Incident
Oct 13, 2007
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 19, 2008
Fire reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE BEGINNING OF 2008. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD, ALTHOUGH FORD STATED THAT ONE WAS SENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
NHTSA ID
10218510
Incident
Jan 6, 2008
Mileage
110,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 14, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported
TRYING TO FIND OUT IF A 1997 F 250 4X4 WAS STANDARD ISSUE WITH DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG? *TR
NHTSA ID
10208951
Incident
Nov 7, 2007
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 25, 2007
SPEED CONTROL ON MY 1997 FORD F250 DIESEL STOPPED WORKING. FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM PRESSURE SWITCH THAT APPARENTLY SHORTED THE HARNESS OUR. DISCONNECTED HARNESS FOR SAFETY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10200758
Incident
Jul 28, 2007
Mileage
203,125 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 31, 2007
Fire reported
WENT TO START MY TRUCK ONE MORNING AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BURNED. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE HOOD AND PULLED THE WIRE FROM THE SWITCH. TRUCK IS 1997 FORD F250. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO CLINTON FORD IN ROCK HILL, SC AND THEY PUT A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN AT A COST OF $292.09. NOW I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 05S28 THAT APPLIES TO THE TRUCK THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE FOR. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD DID NOT NOTIFY ME OD THIS SAFETY RECALL. THEN WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, I WAS BILLED FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10192214
Incident
Apr 14, 2007
Mileage
179,885 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 2007
MY CMP SENSOR STARTED GOING OUT WHEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND DIED AND LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AND WENT TO FORD AND THEY WANTED 200.00 FOR A SENSOR SO I CALLED INTERNATIONAL IT WAS 114.00 SAME PART. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT FORD AND THERE PRICES. *JB
NHTSA ID
10188897
Incident
Apr 21, 2007
Mileage
152,175 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2007
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250HD. THE OIL PAN RUSTED AND CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE DAILY AND NOTICED THE FOLLOWING DAY THAT THE OIL GAUGE INDICATOR WAS LOW. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63989. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN DETERIORATED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. PER THE CONTACT, IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR AN OIL PAN TO RUST AND IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. *AK UPDATED 06/15/07 *TR
NHTSA ID
10185056
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
63,989 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2007
Fire reported
ON MARCH 2ND,2007 MY F250 DIESEL PICKUP, THAT WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND BURNT UP THE AREA SURROUNDING IT. MY 11 YEAR OLD SON NOTICED THE BLAZE AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK AND POPPED THE HOOD AND TRIED TO SHOVEL SNOW TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I QUICKLY OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH THE SURROUNDING SNOW. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT A RECALL THAT THEY HAVE ON THE GASOLINE PICKUPS AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I TALKED TO A LOCAL FORD MECHANIC THAT SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. HE THEN GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SENT ME A LETTER THAT STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE, BUT I AM OUT A TRUCK AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANY ONE GETTING HURT BECAUSE OF AN OVERSIGHT BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JB
NHTSA ID
10185054
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Mileage
130,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 23, 2006
1. NO EVENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. 2. FAILURE OF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR ON FORD F250 WITH 7.3 LITER NAVISTAR DIESEL WITH RESULT THAT TRUCK WOULD NOT START OR RUN. 3. CALLED A FORD MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY AND I SHOULD CARRY A SPARE CPS. REPLACED CPS AND TRUCK STARTED AND RAN PROPERLY. PART COST ABOUT $190. NB: I HAVE TO SEARCH RECORDS FOR THE DATE - ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. DATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10151021
Incident
Jan 1, 2004
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 7, 2005
Fire reported
TRUCK WAS PARKED ON STREET FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. NOTICED AN ORANGE GLOW THROUGH THE TREES. RAN OUT AND DISCOVERED MY TRUCK TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POLICE AND FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED ON SCENE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. INSURANCE HAS TOTALED THE TRUCK. *JB
NHTSA ID
10135709
Incident
Sep 4, 2005
Mileage
150,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 29, 2005
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR IN AUGUST 2004. THEN , IN JUNE 2005 THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FRONT LINES. IN AUGUST 2004 CONSUMER REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE HIMSELF IN THE REAR, WHICH WAS STILL GOOD. *AK
NHTSA ID
10127014
Incident
Aug 14, 2004
Mileage
70,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 28, 2005
DT: 5TH WHEEL CAMPER HAD A TOTAL OF 8 BLOW OUTS IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD 3 BLOW OUTS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY CARLISLE. CONSUMER WAS WORRIED ABOUT 2 PLY TIRES. CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE TIRE SIZE TO AN UPGRADED SIZE AND TO 8 PLY TIRE. TIRES THAT BLEW OUT WERE CARLISLE AND GOODYEAR. CONSUMER HAD A 1997, DAMON, CHALLENGER. . THEY FIRST SET OF TIRES HAD KNOTS ON THEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED ANY OF THE DEALERSHIPS THAT SOLD THE TIRES. CONSUMER WANTED THE MANUFACTURER TO STOP SELLING THE TIRES TWO PLY SIDEWALLS WERE NOT ENOUGH TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT THE TWO PLY TIRES WERE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE SPEEDS WAS FROM 55-60 MPH WHEN THE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE FAILURE LOCATION INCLUDED ALL FOUR LOCATIONS, ON BOTH AXLES. *AK
NHTSA ID
10126790
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 20, 2005
DT: APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A TRAVEL TRAILER CONSUMER SET OUT FOR A TRIP AND THE TIRES BEGAN BLOWING OUT ABOUT 200 MILES AFTER THEY STARTED. THREE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT ON THIS TRIP FROM KENTUCKY TO NEVADA. THE SIDEWALLS BLEW OUT, AND ONLY THE RIMS WERE LEFT. CONSUMER CONTACTED GOODYEAR, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. BUT THERE WAS A BETTER TIRE HE COULD PURCHASE. DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD HIM THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED CONSUMER MADE SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH AIR IN THE TIRES, AND THE LOAD WASN'T TOO HEAVY. THE FENDER WAS TORN UP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ID
10125876
Incident
Jun 11, 2003
Fuel system
Filed May 6, 2005
DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250. HE SAID THE VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH SO HE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, AND THEY CLEANED HIS FUEL INJECTION. THE TRUCK HAS TWO FUEL TANKS. THE FRONT FUEL TANK COMPLETELY QUIT WORKING THE REAR TANK WORKED. NOW HE SAYS THAT THE REAR TANK KEEPS ON FILLING THE FRONT TANK WITH GAS AND THERE IS SO MUCH PREASSURE FROM THE TANKS THAT GAS JUST STARTS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF HIS VEHILCE AND WHEN HE OPENS THE GAS CAP FUEL STARTS SQUIRTING OUT HE SAID IT WOULD SQUIRT OUT ABOUT A HALF GALLON OF GAS. HIS SMOG CHECKEDWAS DO LAST WEEK AND SINCE HIS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEY WILL NOT DO THE SMOG. THE DEALER SAID HE WAS MISSING A CHECK VALUVE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANKS AND THE DEALER TOLD HIM BOTH FUEL PUMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ID
10120152
Incident
May 6, 2003
Driver assistanceTires & wheels
Filed Mar 8, 2005
Fire reported
ON DECEMBER 4, 2004, I TOOK MY TRUCK ON ABOUT A 600 MILE TRIP. DURING THE TRIP I TRIED THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED ABOUT 5 MONTHS EARLIER & FOUND IT TO BE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND MYSELF IN A POSITION THAT REQUIRED ENGAGING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I PARKED THE TRUCK THAT EVENING & HAD NOT TOUCHED IT IN THE FOLLOWING MONTH AND A HALF. ON DECEMBER 10, 2004 MY WIFE CANCELED THE INSURANCE SINCE MY PLAN WAS TO LEAVE IT PARKED UNTIL SPRING OR I COULD AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. THEN ON JANUARY 26, 2005 @ 05:00 AM, MY WIFE WOKE ME UP SAYING THAT MY TRUCK HAD JUST EXPLODED. I WENT OUTSIDE & SAW THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE. I NOTIFIED FORD, TO WHICH THEIR REPLY WAS SORRY FOR YOUR INCONVENIENCE BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE & IT IS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK
NHTSA ID
10112749
Incident
Jan 26, 2005
Mileage
109,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2004
Fire reported
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OIL PAN RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. ALSO, IT A IGNITED A FIRE UNDER THE BASE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER WERE WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ID
10090011
Incident
Aug 30, 2004
Mileage
45,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 16, 2004
ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BROKE, AND ONE WIRE ON THE INSULATION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10067267
Incident
Apr 16, 2004
Mileage
301,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2004
STEERING SHAFT BROKE ON 1997 FORD F250. *AK
NHTSA ID
10064004
Incident
Mar 25, 2004
Mileage
204,000 mi
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.
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