1997 Ford F-350 Owner Complaints

ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE PAN THE DIPSTICK ADAPTER WAS MANUFACTURED POORLY. THE OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE HAS CAUSED THE ORING TO SWELL AND LEAK OIL. THE OIL LEAK IS GETTING ON THE STARTER AND CLUTCH. THE OIL CAN CAUSE A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH WHILE DRIVING. THE OIL ON THE CLUTCH CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. THE ORING CAN SWELL AND FALL OFF THE ADAPTOR AND BECOME LODGED IN THE OIL PICKUP. THIS WILL STARVE THE MOTOR OF OIL AND CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MOTOR WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH. DUE TO THE INHERENT POOR DESIGN THE ORING THAT IS SUBMERGED IN OIL SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH OIL OR BE ABLE TO BE REPLACED. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THE ORING DUE TO DUE TO THE TERRIBLE DESIGN OF THE DIPSTICK ASSEMBLY. TO REPLACE THIS ORING WITH A PROPER OIL COMPATIBLE ONE REQUIRES THE DISASSEMBLY OF THE MOTOR AND THE REMOVAL OF THE MOTOR TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE DEFECTIVE PART. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL FROM 1988-2006.

NHTSA ID

11270810

Incident

Sep 2, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE HOME. GLADIAN REPAIR SHOP OF PITTSBURG, VIRGINIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED A LIST OF UNKNOWN REPAIRS. CAMEL BROTHERS REPAIR SHOP OF PRINCE GEORGE, VIRGINIA REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SWITCH SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11013699

Incident

Aug 6, 2017

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V553000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10711900

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

Mileage

92,000 mi

WE WERE TRAVELLING 65 MPH ON THE 91 FREEWAY TOLL ROAD WHEN MY LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE CASING CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SWERVE AND JUMP AND CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, INCLUDING DAMAGING THE FUEL FILL LINE. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO FUEL LEAKAGE. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE SO THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE OR OTHER EXTERNALLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRE OR VEHICLE. I TOOK THE TIRE TO A BF GOODRICH DEALER ON 10/19/14 FOR INSPECTION, THE TIRE WAS STILL FULLY INFLATED. THE DEALER DEFLATED THE TIRE OUT OF SAFETY CONCERNS. HAD THIS BEEN A FRONT TIRE THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE AND INJURY WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY 2012 AND WAS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD. TIRE DOT# IS BFW8 0211 0712. *TR

NHTSA ID

10705988

Incident

Oct 4, 2014

Mileage

319,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 FORD F350 DIESEL PICKUP, PULLING A 36FT GOOSENECK HORSE TRAILER WITH MY TWO TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND THEIR FOUR HORSES, THE ENGINE IN MY PICKUP SPONTANEOUSLY IGNITED. THERE WAS NO "CHECK ENGINE" WARNING LIGHT, AND THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED NORMAL. THE ONLY WARNING I HAD WAS SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE LEFT WHEEL WELL UPON SPEED DECREASE TO TURN A CORNER. I WAS TRAVELING A SHORT DISTANCE FROM HOME AND AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED (LESS THAN 40MPH) DURING THE TRAVEL FROM MY HOME TO THE LOCAL FAIRGROUNDS FOR RODEO PRACTICE. AS I TURNED THE CORNER, THE SMOKE BILLOWED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SMOKE FILLED THE CAB OF THE PICKUP. MY TWO DAUGHTERS AND I QUICKLY EVACUATED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. WE QUICKLY UNLOADED THE LIVESTOCK FROM THE TRAILER AND GOT FAR AWAY FROM THE SCENE. MY FIANCE, WHO WAS TRAVELING BEHIND US IN ANOTHER VEHICLE, TRIED PUTTING THE FIRE OUT WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER I CARRIED IN MY PICKUP, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AS AN EMERGENCY RESPONDER HIMSELF, HE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO UNHOOK THE PICKUP FROM THE HORSE TRAILER AND PUSH IT AWAY AS IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND A TOTAL LOSS. FROM THE TIME I NOTICED THE SMOKE UNTIL THE FIRE CONSUMED THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 15 MINUTES. MY DAUGHTERS HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED BY THIS INCIDENT. WE HAVE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC LOSS AS A RESULT OF THIS SPONTANEOUS FIRE. I NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM SUFFERING SIMILAR LOSS, INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I AM AWARE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL VEHICLE. I RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICES FROM FORD, OR WARNING OF ANY KIND THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO MY VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PART (WHICH IS WHAT WE BELIEVED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE). *TR

NHTSA ID

10586547

Incident

Apr 12, 2014

Mileage

173,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 1997 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514974

Incident

Mar 26, 2013

Mileage

175,000 mi

REAR DRIVER SIDE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE AT 75MPH IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.22HRS. LATER IN THE STATE OF OHIO THE PASSENGER REAR SEPARATED. CONTACTED FIRESTONE AND THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428162

Incident

Oct 27, 2010

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE METER SUDDENLY INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE PANEL FOR THE FUEL TANK WAS DETACHED, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,823.

NHTSA ID

10418039

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350 TURBO DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL GALLERY PLUGS IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE LEAKING OIL WHILE HE WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER CALLED HIM AND EXPLAINED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT STOPPED DRIVING IT ON THE STREET. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY USED A NEW MATERIAL WHEN PRODUCING THOSE MODELS AND THE PLUGS WOULD LEAK, BUT REFUSED TO ASSIST IN REPAIR COSTS. THERE WERE PHOTOGRAPHS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,700. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10359540

Incident

Jul 17, 2003

Mileage

42,000 mi

WE DROVE THE TRUCK AND IT NEVER GOT HOT OR ACTED UP THEN WE PARKED IT AND A LITTLE BIT LATER IT WAS ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10344232

Incident

Jul 20, 2010

Mileage

120,858 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350 WITH A DIESEL ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT UNUSUALLY WEAK AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF 10 MPH AND MADE A TURN. IN DOING SO, HE NOTICED FLAMES FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT WANT THE VEHICLE ON THE PROPERTY AND THE CONTACT TO REMOVE IT IMMEDIATELY. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO A LOCAL JUNKYARD. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 275,404 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 275,404.

NHTSA ID

10322892

Incident

Mar 17, 2010

Mileage

280,000 mi

A STEEL BRAKE LINE ON MY TRUCK RUSTED AND RUPTURED CAUSING A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND HAD A PARTIAL FAILURE, CAUSING A LEAK. THE RUSTED SECTION WAS REPLACED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. THE RECENT LINE FAILURE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10230411

Incident

Jun 9, 2008

Mileage

97,000 mi

VEHICLE FIRE 1997 FORD F350, CAUSED BY FIRE STARTING IN BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205530

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

247,022 mi

STOPPED AT A STOP SIGNAL AND ENGINE QUIT. CRANKED OKAY, BUT WOULD NOT START. GOT IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER LOTS OF TROUBLE SHOOTING FOR NOT STARTING, NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE TACHOMETER WAS NOT WORKING WHEN TRYING TO START. REPLACED THE CAM POSITION SENSOR, F7TZ-12K073-B. THE TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

10191248

Incident

May 18, 2007

Mileage

235,362 mi

CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR IN TRUCK HAS GONE OUT SUDDENLY AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN MOVING - LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. EVIDENTLY ALMOST ALL ENGINES HAVE THIS PART FAIL AT SOME POINT AND HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HELP THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190564

Incident

May 11, 2007

Mileage

145,000 mi

I HAVE HAD TWO CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURES ON MY 97' F350 7.3L DIESEL IN A MATTER OF ONE YEAR. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. I DISCOVERED ON SEVERAL FORD TRUCK DISCUSSION FORUMS THAT THIS IS ONE THE MOST COMMON FAILURES ON THESE TRUCKS THROUGH A VARIETY OF YEARS. I COULD NOT FIND ANY PERSON WHO OWNED A SIMILAR YEAR TRUCK AND DID NOT HAVE THIS COMPONENT FAIL ON THEM. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184751

Incident

Dec 15, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN FIRE AND SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACT AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL MODULE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PHOTOS WERE AVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURERS LOT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10171605

Incident

Oct 11, 2006

Mileage

68,200 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN WHILE BACKING UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING HOSE CAME LOOSE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LEAK POWER STEERING FLUID AND LOSE ALL POWER STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THE DIESEL ENGINE VIBRATION CAUSED THE RUBBER SEAL THAT HELD THE POWER STEERING HOSE ON TO COME LOOSE. UPDATED 9/18/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10166855

Incident

Aug 29, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS ACCIDENT WAS A FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AIR BAGS. UPDATED 01/23/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10145197

Incident

Nov 26, 2005

Mileage

128,000 mi

WHY HAS FORD RECALLED ONLY LATER MODEL TRUCKS FOR THE CRIUSE CONTROL FIRE ISSUE. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM LIMITED TO THOSE YEARS. I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 F-350. *JB

NHTSA ID

10143155

Incident

Aug 21, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE INSIDE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR THE HANDLE WOULD BREAK. THE DOOR HANDLE WAS REPLACED TWICE BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140865

Incident

Oct 20, 2004

(1) VEHICLE RANDOMLY DYING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (2) CAM POSTION SENSOR, ENGINE DIES , LOSS OF POWER STEERING, LOSS OF POWER BRAKES (BOTH A NESSESITY WITH A DIESEL PICK UP TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL DUE TO THIER WEIGHT) (3) REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AT APPOXIMATELY $140.00. *JB

NHTSA ID

10140059

Incident

Sep 12, 2005

Mileage

78,000 mi

DT: THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER'S CARPORT (PORT-A COUCHE) CAUGHT ON FIRE ALONG WITH THEIR HOME. THE HOUSE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR DRIVEN FOR 8 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER'S 1997 FORD F350 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS THE RECALLED VEHICLE'S. *NM

NHTSA ID

10120706

Incident

May 9, 2005

Mileage

105,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF ABOUT REAR LEAF SPRINGS SPRING HANGER AND SHACKLE. CONSUMERS VEHICLE HAS EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE SPRING HANGER CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO HAUL ANY AMOUNT OF WEIGHT UNTIL PROBLEM WAS FIXED. CONSUMER PURCHASED THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE TODAY. FORD DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY SELL A LARGE AMOUNT OF THESE PARTS, THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS WAS A MAJOR STRUCTURAL ITEM, IT WAS RIVETED ON, NOT BOLTED. CONSUMER LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES LIKE HIS OWN, AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER CALLED FORD TO ISSUE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. CONSUMER ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS TO COST $500 TO FIX PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10126833

Incident

Jun 28, 2005

Mileage

125,000 mi

FIRESTONE STEELTEX FAILURE ON A 1997 FORD F350. ON JUNE 20, 2005, THE LEFT FRONT OEM FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRE FAILED AT SPPED ON I-95S BETWEEN AVBERDEEN AND CHURCHVILLE MARYLAND. SINCE THE TRUCK IS DRIVEN VERY LITTLE, ALL TIRES HAVE 40,000 MILES ON THEM AND HAVE SUBSTANTIAL TREAD REMAINING. ALSO, I METICOULSLY MAINTAIN PRESURES. WITHOUT WARNING AND AT ABOUT 65MPH, THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE CARCASS CAUSING VEHCILE TO BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. NONETHELESS, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF-ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. TIRE CLEARLY SHOWS THAT THE TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE CAUSING INSTANT PRESSURE LOSS AND SIDEWALL FAILURE. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE WHY PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES ARE NOT LIMITED TO SUVS OR THE LIMITED BATCHES THAT WERE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10126041

Incident

Jun 20, 2005