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1997 Ford L Series

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

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: 1 of 1 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.

  • Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Structure complaints

1 reports
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179,000 miles · Jun 3, 2005
Structure

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 FRA…

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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 ODI #10124106

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.