RoadVitals

1997 Ford F-250 Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
18
Latest May 19, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 304 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureFuel systemSeat belts
Filed May 19, 2014

REF:EEN19-47774 (TO BE FWD BY MAIL) THE FRONT TANK STRAP ON THE VEHICLE FAILED AND THE TANK DROPPED UNTIL SUPPORTED BY SKID PLATE. SOME DIESEL FUEL SPILLED IN GARAGE, CREATING FIRE HAZARD BUT WAS CLEANED UP W/O INCIDENT. I CONTACTED DIEHL FORD IN BELLINGHAM WA AS NO FORD DEALER IN JUNEAU AK AT THAT TIME. I ORDERED AND THEY SENT 2 STRAPS (F72Z-9054-BA), BOLTS&NUTS WHICH I FOUND OUT LATER WERE NOT AUTHORIZED BY SAFETY RECALL 11S21! I CONTACTED THE LOCAL (TEMPORARY) FORD REPAIR FACILITY--EVERGREEN MOTOR WORKS RELATIVE TO THIS REPAIR AND THEY DISCOVERED THE SAFETY RECALL 11S21 AND STATED THAT ALASKA VEHICLES WERE NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL.I COTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. BY EMAIL AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER. AS A SENIOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEER I KNOW THIS IS TOTAL BS AS ALASKA HAS MUCH WORSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAN ANY OF THE :SOUTH 48" STATES COVERED BY SAFETY RECALL 11S21!! STANLEY FORD IS NOW THE LOCAL FORD DEALER BUT STILL COULD NOT FIX MY FORD F250 TANK STRAP UNDER THE RECALL BUT COULD FIX THE SAFETY RECALL 09S09 SPEED CONTROL MOD! IT SHOULD BE ALSO NOTED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED ABOUT THE SAME TIME!! FORD CO. DID NOT SEEM INTERESTED IN THIS PROBLEM. I REPLACED THIS IMMEDIATELY AS I FEEL SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT! SIGNED/ [XXX] SR. ENGINEER INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID
10592574
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
248,000 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Apr 22, 2014

THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED ON MY TRUCK CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO DETACH AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I HAD THE TANK AND RELATED PARTS REPLACED AT A LOCAL SHOP. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE MOUNTING POINTS FOR THE VEHICLE'S GAS TANK STRAPS WERE ALSO RUSTED AND NEW STRAPS COULD NOT BE INSTALLED IN THE NORMAL MANNER. WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER THAT ATTEMPTED AN OFFICIAL REPAIR OF THE STRAPS BUT CONCLUDED THE MOUNTING BRACKETS WERE TOO DAMAGED TO INSTALL NEW STRAPS. WHETHER THE DEFECT WAS ALL CORROSION OR A COMBINATION OF CORROSION AND THE EFFECTS OF THE TANK BEING RIPPED FROM THE REMAINING MOUNTS WHEN THE STRAPS FAILED WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND I CALLED A FORD COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE WHO INITIALLY AGREED TO HAVE FORD COVER THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BUT THIS WAS LATER RESCINDED BY A SUPERIOR AND I LEFT WITH AN UNSAFE, INCOMPLETE REPAIR. I WOULD LIKE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ASSOCIATION TO EXAMINE THE INCIDENCE OF STRUCTURAL AND MOUNTING BRACKET FAILURES DUE TO PREMATURE CORROSION NOT LIMITED TO THE STRAPS THEMSELVES. SEVERAL LOCAL MECHANICS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEY SEE THIS VERY, VERY FREQUENTLY ON FORD TRUCKS OF THAT VINTAGE. MY TRUCK WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE BRACKETS RUSTED AS THEY ARE. GIVEN THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ISSUE, I BELIEVE THIS BEARS VERY CLOSE EXAMINATION. FORD SAYS IT HAS NOT PROCESS TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS CONCERN. I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES BUT THEY ARE USELESS SINCE FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE RELATED DAMAGE, DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE STRAPS AND/OR ADDITIONAL ISSUES THAT VERY LIKELY EXIST WITH THE CORROSION RESISTANCE OF SOME FORD TRUCK FRAMES. THIS TRUCK'S FRAME HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT FRAME BASED RUST DETERIORATION WHILE OTHER PARTS OF THE VEHICLE SEEM TO FOLLOW A MUCH MORE NORMAL AGING PATTERN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10584323
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
114,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 21, 2003

REAR SLIDING WINDOW LEAKS WHEN RAINING OR WASHING VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10039248
Incident
Dec 30, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Sep 21, 2003

CRACKS IN THE OUTER SHEET METAL OF BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT DOORS.*JB

NHTSA ID
10039244
Incident
Jun 23, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Apr 18, 2003

THE OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS HAVE A HORIZONTAL STRESS CRACK IN THE METAL. THIS IS NEAR THE AREA OF WHERE THE RUBBER WINDOW MOLDING MEETS. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10016183
Incident
Apr 18, 2003
Body & structure
Filed Feb 28, 2002

DOOR MECHANISM INSIDE VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONS UPON OPENING THE DOOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION, AND IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004797
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2002

DRIVERS SIDE OUTER DOOR HAS A HORIZONTAL "STRESS CRACK" IN THE SHEET METAL. IF LOOKING AT DOOR THE CRACK IS LOCATED TO THE RIGHT OF WHERE THE TWO RUBBER WINDOW MOLDINGS JOIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
756498
Incident
Jan 4, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Aug 16, 2001

THE SHEET METAL ON THE DOOR IS CRACKING ON THE EDGE AT THE WINDOW. IT IS CRACKED IN 3 PLACES.*AK

NHTSA ID
750632
Body & structure
Filed Jul 12, 2001

THERE ARE CRACKS FORMING ON THE REAR PILLAR OF BOTH DOORS OUT FROM THE WEATHER STRIPPING AND ONTO THE FLAT SURFACES OF THE DOORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
748387
Incident
Jul 12, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jun 5, 2001

DRIVER'S DOOR HAS A CRACK RIGHT BELOW WINDOW, VERTICAL ABOUT 1/2 INCH LONG. *AK

NHTSA ID
889815
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Jul 12, 2000

MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS CRACKS IN THE DOOR SHEET METAL AT THE LOWER REAR OF THE BELT MOLDING ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDES. THESE CRACKS ARE RUSTING AND IN TIME WILL COMPROMISE THE INTEGRITY OF THE DOORS AND THEREBY THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
725319
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jun 23, 2000

STRUCTURE OF THE BODY HAD A CRACK. CRACK IS STARTED AT THE WINDOW OPENING, AND WAS WORKING ITS WAY REARWARD. ALSO, NOTICED WHEN WASHING VEHICLE PAINT WAS CHIPPING BECAUSE THE CRACK BEHIND THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR POST WAS GETTING BIGGER. *AK

NHTSA ID
864170
Incident
Jun 12, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 2000

LEFT FRONT CROSSMEMBER DEVELOPED A CRACK NEAR THE STEERING BOX CAR HAD CLONK IN FRONT END DEALER INSPECTED AND FOUND CRACK - TOLD BY FORD DEALER THAT THE PROCEDURE WAS TO WELD THE CROSSMEMBER BACK IN PLACE AND THEY WOULD WARRANTY IT FOR 12 MTHS/12000 MILES (ONLY). VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY (BUMPER TO BUMPER) 36000 MILES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY TOLD US TO FOLLOW DEALER'S ADVICE..WORK DONE WAS SHODDY...AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE WELDING WEAKENS THE FRAME...WELDER ALSO MADE BURN MARKS IN CROSS MEMBER THUS WEAKENING METAL MORE. FRAME SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT CRACK ALREADY..OR BE WARRANTIED FOR 12 MONTHS...NEED ADVICE...FEEL VEHICLE IS UNSAFE...HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF HORRID WELDING JOB. *AK

NHTSA ID
711116
Incident
Sep 8, 1999
Body & structure
Filed Mar 5, 2000

CRACK IN DRIVERS DOOR FRAME NEAR THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER AROUND THE WINDOW. *AK

NHTSA ID
719727
Body & structure
Filed Dec 14, 1998

UNABLE TO GET RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
543029
Body & structureSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Dec 9, 1998

THE VEHICLE VEERS TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHEN IT'S IN OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, REPLACED FRONT LEFT HUB CAP, AND TWIST IN FRAME. *AK

NHTSA ID
832049
Incident
Apr 9, 1997
Body & structure
Filed Sep 29, 1998
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE A FRAME BROKE, AND THE VEHICLE HAD NO STEERING. *AK

NHTSA ID
828316
Incident
Aug 17, 1998
Body & structureEngineSuspension
Filed Mar 25, 1998

FRONT END MISALIGNMENT CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES. IN ADDITION, BELT TENSIONER ROLLER MAKES NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, AND POPPING NOISE FROM CAB WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES DUE TO CAB MOUNTING BOLTS TO FRAME BEING LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
533326
Incident
Jun 17, 1997

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .