RoadVitals

1997 Ford F-250 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
27
Latest Aug 9, 2010
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.
9%
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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 27 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 transmission

The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words

Transmission
Filed Aug 9, 2010

I HAVE A 1997 FORD F250 THAT WONT GO INTO PARK. THEREFORE, YOU CAN'T START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. THE TRUCK ROLLS WHEN TURNED OFF, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENGAGED. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS RECALL HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/1997/FORD/F250 . I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY TRUCK, CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW FORD DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348112
Incident
Aug 8, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 15, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V171000 CONCERNING THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10145294
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
EngineInterior & seatsPowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Sep 2, 2005

WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT RECLINED WHICH LEFT THE DRIVER LAYING COMPLETELY DOWN. *JB THE SEAT BASE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT. *SC THE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, BECAUSE THE SHIFTER BOLTS HAD BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DASH MOUNTS, THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. THE HUB/AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10105420
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
55,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 11, 2002

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE HAVING PURCHASED THE TRUCK IT HAS FAID TWICE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE TALKED WITH MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WAS GIVEN YOUR CONTACT INFO BY OUR ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE I HAVE A COMPLAINT REGISTERED WITH THEM AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
756711
Incident
Jan 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Oct 16, 2000

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, TRANSMISSION KICKED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THIS COULD CAUSE A BAD CRASH BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS JUST FREE WHEELING. FORD WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERSHIPS, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. *AK ANY TIME THE DRIVER STEPS ON THE BRAKE, THE GEAR SHIFTS AUTOMATICALLY TO NEUTRAL CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD. *YH

NHTSA ID
873051
Transmission
Filed Sep 20, 2000

TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING ON DASH. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN OVERDRIVE. WHEN THE LIGHT BEGINS TO FLASH VEHICLE STARTS TO JERK, IT STOPS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN OUT OF OVERDRIVE. DELAER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF OUR DRIVE THE VEHICLE HAS TO STOP AND THE ENGINE SHOULD BE TURNED OFF. SEVERAL DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID
871023
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 5, 2000

WHILE INDICATING THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMSSION WAS IN "PARK" POSITION, IN FACT TRANSMISSION GEAR WAS IN "NUETRAL POSITION" WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A ROLLAWAY. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V17000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
869531
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Jun 25, 2000

THIS TRUCK LOOKS BRAND NEW,HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED,MAN THAT FIXED IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE DO THIS UNLESS THE TRUCK WAS BEAT ALL TO PIECES,AND THIS ONE ISNT, HE FIGURES IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
724502
Incident
May 1, 2000
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Dec 28, 1999

WHEN SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING THE TRANSMITION SLAMMED DOWN TO 1ST GEAR SPEED WENT DOWN TO BELOW 10 M/P/H THEN SLAMMED BACK INTO OVERDRIVE AND STARTED TO SPEED BACK UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED. LUCKLY WE WERE NOT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. EQUIPMENT THAT WAS TIED DOWN ON OUR TRAILER BROKE LOOSE. FORD SAID THAT THE SPEEDOMETER HEAD WAS NOT USUAL PROBLEM BUT EVEROTHER LANDSCAPER THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL FORD TRUCKS WITH THE SAME ELECTRIC SPEEDO HEAD MY MOTHER HAS AN E350 WITH AS MOTORHOME AND IS STARTING TO HAVE SOME KIND OF SPEEDO PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
716573
Incident
Aug 11, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 1999

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN OR AT A STOP UPON ACCELERATING, VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR AND WOULD STALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
848397
Incident
Sep 1, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 15, 1999

INTERNAL CLUTCHS FREEZE TOGETHER, CAUSING THE LIMITED SLIP TO BECOME POSITIVE DRIVE, RESULTING IN VIOLENT VIBRATIONS DURING TURNS IN FORWARD AND REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
711419
Incident
May 7, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jul 29, 1999

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS NOISE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF. VEHICLE HAS BEEN 11 TIMES AT DEALER FOR REPAIR WORK, AN DEALER STILL CAN'T DETERMINE RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
843772
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Jun 29, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NLM

NHTSA ID
782392
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jun 16, 1999
Crash reported

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK. OCCUPANT GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY INTO A LAKE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID
840184
Incident
Apr 24, 1999
Transmission
Filed Mar 9, 1999

THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK ON A HILL. THE OWNER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF PARK AND BEGAN TO ROLL IN REVERSE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
835604
Transmission
Filed Jan 27, 1999

WHEN SHIFTING TO LOW GEAR ON STEEPHILL, ENGINE FAILS. YH

NHTSA ID
781927
Transmission
Filed Jan 6, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID
543232
Incident
Oct 6, 1998
Transmission
Filed Dec 4, 1998

TRANSMISSION JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT BLINKS. VEHICLE IS IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE 8/98. THEY SEEM TO BE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
701118
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Nov 27, 1998

THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF SECOND GEAR

NHTSA ID
700948
Incident
Nov 26, 1998
Transmission
Filed Nov 27, 1998

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

NHTSA ID
700947
Incident
Feb 10, 1998
Transmission
Filed Oct 23, 1998

WHEN DRIVING 40 MPH AND ABOVE, LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE TRANSMISSION GOES IN NEUTRAL. THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKS AND UNLOCKS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT THE TRUCK WAS DESIGNED TO WORK LIKE THAT.*AK

NHTSA ID
829386
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 20, 1998

THE EXHAUST PIPE HEAT SHIELD WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL TRANSMISSION FLUID TUBE FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE RADIATOR. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE SHIELD WORE A SMALL HOLE IN THE TUBE, RESULTING IN A PINHOLE, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO BE RELEASED UNDER PRESSURE DIRECTLY ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE.

NHTSA ID
781466
Incident
Oct 19, 1998
Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 1998

TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS ROUGHLY. GEARING DOWN TO LOW GERAS ON HILL THEN UPSHIFTS, AND ENGINE WILL DIE.

NHTSA ID
538455
Transmission
Filed Jul 7, 1998

VEHICLE JUMPS INTO NEUTRAL GEAR WHEN GOING DOWNHILL.

NHTSA ID
537366
Transmission
Filed Sep 29, 1997

WHEN DRIVING DOWN A STEEP GRADE IN 1ST GEAR WITH FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND THE ENGINE DIED/STALLED. *AK'

NHTSA ID
520802
Incident
Sep 1, 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 .