RoadVitals

1997 Ford L Series

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.
1
Latest Jun 3, 2005
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1997 Ford L Series, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 33 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

  • Body & structure1100.0%

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

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

Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 2005

DT: J-CRAFT MANUF. COMPANY IN KIMBALL, MN CONSTRUCTED AND INSTALLED A DUMP BOX AND RELATED EQUIPMENT ON CONSUMER'S NEW FORD LT8513 TRUCK CHASSIS, PURCHASED IN 5-1997 FROM LAKELAND TRUCKS (NOW BOYER TRUCKS), 740 SOUTH CONCORD ST. SOUTH, ST PAUL , MN 55075. A HALF MOON SHAPED AREA WAS TORCHED OUT OF THE LOWER SECTION OF THE FRAME WELL APPROX. UNDER THE DRIVERS' SEAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PTO ROOM FOR INSTALLATION. IN THE INTERVENING YEARS, NEITHER CONSUMER NOR THE MECHANICS WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE NOTICED THIS FACT. ON MAY 26, 2005, WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP FOR SERVICE, AND YEARLY DOT CERTIFICATION, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE TORCHED CUT OUT AND ALSO SAW THAT A CRACK EXTENDED FROM THE CENTER OF THE CUT OUT UP THROUGH THE WEAKENED FRAME WELL, PREVENTING BOTH THE MECHANIC FROM CERTIFYING CONSUMER'S LOW MILEAGE TRUCK AND THE CONSUMER FROM PUTTING THE TRUCK TO WORK. AS OF MAY 26, 2005, CONSUMER HAS HAD WORK AVAILABLE BUT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY J-CRAFT TO THE CONSUMER'S TRUCK PREVENTS HIM FROM DOING SO, A COST TO CONSUMER OF $500.00 A DAY. *TT

NHTSA ID
10124106
Incident
May 26, 2005
Mileage
179,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

02169

SUSPENSION

SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLE LEAN CORRECTION PROCEDURE DEVELOPED FOR DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING VEHICLE LEAN. *TT

99205

SUSPENSION

SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLE LEAN CORRECTION PROCEDURE. *TT

99196

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

991413

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FD1060 OR FD1460 MIDRANGE DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION OR BUZZ THROUGH THE THROTTLE PEDAL. *TT

98214

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

CONCERNS OF AIR CLEANER COVER MAY RUB A HOLE IN THE HOOD AT THE FRONT EDGE OF THE AIR CLEANER INLET " WAGON WHEEL " ON SOME VEHICLES. *YC

12116

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INFORMATION ON SERVICING THE AIR CLEANER ELEMENT ON ALL 1995- 1996-1997 L-SERIES EQUIPPED WITH CAT 3306 ENGINES. *MJS

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 L Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999000—
1998100—
1997Viewing100—
1996000—
1995001—
1994011—
1993001—
1992000—
1991100—
1990020—
1989000—
1988000—
1987000—
1986000—
1985010—
1984010—
1983000—
1982000—
1981000—
1980000—
1979020—
1978010—
1977010—
1976010—
1975010—
1974000—
1973000—
1972000—
1971000—
1970000—

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.