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1997 Ford Ford Truck

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
34Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
199421
199518
199634
199725
199833
199925
2000
Compare all Ford Truck years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tires
10Engine And Engine Cooling
6Electrical System
5Power Train
4Suspension
3
All reported categories
Latches/locks/linkages
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Steering
2Structure
2Wheels
2Exterior Lighting
1Interior Lighting
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 34 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Tires. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 N…

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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 ODI #766494

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A FORD F-37 U-HAUL STRAIGHT TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER. WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK HE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT HE COULD NOT. THE VEHICLE BURNT OUT RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMER, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK IN WHIC…

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THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A FORD F-37 U-HAUL STRAIGHT TRUCK PULLING A TRAILER. WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK HE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT HE COULD NOT. THE VEHICLE BURNT OUT RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE CONSUMER, THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK IN WHICH THE OIL LEAKED ONTO THE EXHAUST (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT#10-91-594). *YH

NHTSA ODI #563963

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

IDLER PULLY BROKE AND FLEW OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65MPH.THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT CERTAIN PULLY BUT COVERS THE OTHERS,MUCH TO MY SURPRISE. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER THE TENSION PULLY BREAKS,NOW THAT IS A COVERED ITEM WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOW MY TRUCK IS OVER THE MILEAGE . I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN…

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IDLER PULLY BROKE AND FLEW OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65MPH.THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT CERTAIN PULLY BUT COVERS THE OTHERS,MUCH TO MY SURPRISE. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER THE TENSION PULLY BREAKS,NOW THAT IS A COVERED ITEM WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT NOW MY TRUCK IS OVER THE MILEAGE . I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BESIDES MYSELF AND I HAVE TWO FRIENDS THAT HAVE HAD PULLEY PROBLEMS. PLEASE INFORM ME AS TO WHOM I MAY BE IN CONTACT WITH TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE PULLEYS.,*AK

NHTSA ODI #747299

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

FORD MECHANIC DISCRIBE PROBLEM: AS H.C.P. HITCHING AND CAN NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DIESEL CONSUMPTION HAS INCREASED AGREAT DEAL WENT FROM 20MPG TO 8MPG. ALSO HAVE REPLACED THE WATER PUMP SEVEN TIMES. WAS CHARGED $100.00 ONE TIME, JAN. 2001 LAST TIME WATER PUMP WAS CHANGED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741639

Mileage unknown · Apr 26, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

OIL PAN AND TRANSFER CASE FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #545156

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CONSUMER DRIVE THROUGH WEEDS, THE WEED GETS CAUGHT ONTO BRAKES UNDER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM,THEY DRY OUT AND THEN CATCH FIRE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #545539

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.