RoadVitals

1997 Ford Ford Truck

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.
34
Latest Jan 19, 2010
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.
0
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.
0
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.
5
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Ford Ford Truck, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, engine and electrical categories. 11 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

  • Engine614.6%
  • Electrical512.2%
  • Interior & seats37.3%
  • Suspension37.3%
  • Powertrain (other)24.9%
  • Body & structure24.9%
  • Brakes24.9%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Jan 19, 2010

I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AROUND 55 MPH AND HAD A SUDDEN LOOSE OF POWER DUE TO A SPARK PLUG BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND BREAKING A COIL PACK . THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ONE WITH FORD F150 5.4 LITER TRITON ENGINES FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10300372
Incident
Jan 18, 2010
Mileage
195,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 21, 2007

THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY 1997 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND TOLD THAT THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THEY WOULD CALL ME. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER 7 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200402
Incident
Jan 19, 2007
Electrical
Filed Oct 4, 2005
Fire reported

MY CAR BURN BY IT SELF, IT WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY I HAVE TALK TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIXED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138572
Incident
Jan 15, 2005
Mileage
90,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 5, 2005

SPEEDOMETER IN MY 1997 EXPEDITION WAS NOT WORKING CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION NOT TO SHIFT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER BECAUSE OF A LEAK IN THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO AFFECTED WERE THE WIPERS AND WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS. THE FUSE BOX AND MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THIS LEAK. THIS WORK FOR TWO SERVICE CALLS COST ME $781.27. THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK MY TRUCK TO FOR THE REPAIRS ALSO WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR INSTALLING A NEW WINDSHIELD AFTER THE FIRST TRY TO REPAIR THE SEAL DID NOT WORK. I REFUSED TO PAY FOR A NEW WINDSHIELD. THEY TOLD ME THEY REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD FOR ME AT NO COST. *JB

NHTSA ID
10135316
Incident
Feb 21, 2005
Mileage
88,717 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 25, 2005
1 injury reported

SLIDING SIDE DOOR ON FORD AEROSTAR POPS OPEN EVEN WHEN LOCKED. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND ENCOUNTERING A MILD BUMP IN THE ROAD. OVER TIME DOOR NO LONGER LATCHES CLOSED WITHOUT MANUALLY PUSHING SHUT AFTER ATTEMPT OF SLIDING CLOSED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10114707
Incident
Mar 1, 2002
Steering
Filed Dec 20, 2004

SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THE POWER STEERING PUMO FAILING IT WAS TOOKEN TO SEVERAL SHOPS WHO STATE THAT THEY DID NOT HEAR THE PROBLEM. OUD WHINING WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. TEMPERTURES DROPED TO 4 DEGREES IN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP IN THEY SAY THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 1997 FORD WINDSTAR POWERSTEERING PUMP GOING OUT!*AK

NHTSA ID
10104146
Incident
Apr 20, 2004
Filed Mar 31, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON A LONG LEFT CORNER WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS OF THE TRACTOR SLID. THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE (1997 FORD AT9513). *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10011663
Incident
Feb 7, 2003
Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2002

THIS IS THE SECOND ENGINE FAILURE IN A YEAR AND A HALF. FIRST ENGINE WENT AT 34000. THE SECOND ENGINE WENT AT 74. DEALER SAYS ENGINE IS OUT OF WARRENTY AND IT;S MY PROBLEM. THE VAN IS MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER EVERY 3000 MILES. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE THAT THE DEALER IS NOT INFORMING ME OF. I NEED TO KNOW IF THE OIL PUMP FOR THIS ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. I NEED TO KNOW IF FORD IS RESPONCIABLE FOR AN EGINE THAT BRAKES EVERY 35000 MILES. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROPLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
766494
Incident
Aug 26, 2002

Manufacturer communications

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

4751

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

VEHICLE EXHIBITING SIGNS OF FRONT BRAKE HOSE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. *TT

983302

WHEELS

THIS BULLETIN MENTIONS HOW SOME HUB O-RINGS MAY BE CUT DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS. *TT

982035

FOR AVAILABILITY OF MAJOR ASSEMBLIES, PLEASE REFER TO THE EXCHANGE PROGRAM GUIDE. *TT

BC0141970201

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VERIFY THE TRANSAXLE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE IS THE CORRECT MODEL AND MODEL YEAR FOR THE VEHICLE. *JD

BC0014961101

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TRUCKS WITH 7.3L ENGINES WITH HARD STARTING CONCERN AND DTC OF 340, 341 OR 344 MAY HAVE A DAMAGED CMP SENSOR. *TW

BC0015961101

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

GLOW PLUG DIAGNOSTIC CHANGES. *TW

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 Ford Truck by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003120040.4
2002370036.7
2001200136.0
2000250040.6
1999330041.0
1998250038.8
1997Viewing340041.2
1996180036.3
1995210034.7
1994150041.5
1993700
1992100042.1
1991900
1990801
1989601
1988702
1987203
1986203
1985202
1984101
1983101
1982001
1981001
1980010
1979010
1978010
1977110
1976010
1975010
1974210
1973010
1972040
1971020
1970020
1969030
1968120
1967010

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.