RoadVitals

1997 Ford F-550 Sd

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
2
Latest Apr 11, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Oct 13, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Ford F-550 Sd, most frequently naming the brakes and tires & wheels categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09V399000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Oct 13, 2009
4,500,000 units potentially affected
The defect: FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
The risk: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
The remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 09S09View on NHTSA.gov
07V553000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

Dec 5, 2007
1,176,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 07S57View on NHTSA.gov
06V286000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 1, 2006
1,200,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 05S28View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA05005ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Mar 22, 2005
Closed Aug 2, 2006

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 05V388000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Apr 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 COACHMEN MIRADA RV EQUIPPED WITH A 1997 FORD F-530 SD CHASSIS. (NA) THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. AFTER DOWN SHIFTING, THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ID
10579236
Incident
Sep 2, 2012
Mileage
32,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 9, 2002

P22570/19.5. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE INNER RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TS GENERAL LMT460. P22570/19.5. DOT # A39Y1HC168, DOT # A39Y1HC158. TWO FAILURES BLEW OUT WHILE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER AND THE THIRD HAD A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR DEFECTS WITH 50% TREAD REMAINING WITH 95 PSI. *TT

NHTSA ID
8024006
Incident
Oct 7, 2002
Mileage
50,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

042107

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT

17571

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0603 (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE KEEP ALIVE MEMORY ERROR) OR P0605 ( POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE READ ONLY MEMORY ERROR). *TT

14455

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT OR REAR CYLINDER HEAD OIL SUPPLY RAIL END PLUGS. *TT

982721

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A POPPING / SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TURNING. *YC

982740

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONCERNS WITH HIGH PRESSURE OIL PUMPS ARE NOT SERVICEABLE. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford F-550 Sd by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026120—
2025130—
2024220—
2023190—
20229120—
2021119175.3
2020482—
2019451—
2018031—
2017281—
2016331—
2015113260.9
2014961—
2013291—
20126102—
20113121—
2010170—
2009150—
2008264048.1
2007232045.5
2006442044.5
2005325043.2
2004493155.7
2003335363.3
2002225360.0
2001297761.7
2000726461.8
1999619457.1
1998022—
1997Viewing231—
1996021—
1995021—
1994021—
1993010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.