Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford E-150, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline21
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Tires8
- Electrical system8
- Suspension6
- Steering6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Power train5
- Visibility4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 1997 E-150 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Ford E-150 failed the safety check 0.88% of the time — 45% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 143,270 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
ALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.
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.
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1997 Ford E-150: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637519 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH. *TT |
| 630271 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ACCELERATED FRONT DISC BRAKE PAD WEAR UNDER EXTREME LOADING CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 630043 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXAGGERATED ENGINE BRAKING ON DECELERATION. *YD |
| 622802 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A DRIVELINE VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50 - 55 MPH. *TT |
| 621035 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT RAPID WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS (UNDER 10,000 MILES). *TT |
| 615176 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON, WITH P0300 - P0308 MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WITH A 4.6L ENGINE. *TT |
| 615164 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR AXLE NOISE. *TT |
| 615157 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON WITH EVAPORATIVE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442, P0455 SET. *TT |
| 613754 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION OR BOOM, OFF IDLE BETWEEN 870 - 900 RPMS. *TT |
| 6090542 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT COVER & WATER PUMP BOLTS-TORQUE VALVE REVISION/3.8-4.2L. *MJS |
| 6090309 | INFORMATION REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE TORQUE VALUES OF THE ENGINE FRONT COVER WATER PUMP BOLTS. *TT |
| 6090131 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING A VEHICLE WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0442 AND P0455 STORED IN CONTINUOUS MEMORY. *TT |
| 6089651 | SUBJECT ON ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE OIL ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT |
| 608422 | CONCERNS WITH THE OIL DIPSTICK AND / OR PCV VALVE DISLODGING FROM THE ENGINE AND / OR ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM DIPSTICK TUBE. *TT |
| 607711 | MIL LIGHT ON WITH EVAPORATIVE DTC P0442, P0455 |
| 606484 | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT |
| 605804 | EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY DIAGNOSING VEHICLES WITH EVAPORATIVE FUEL SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES. *TT |
| 603536 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION OR BOOM, OFF IDLE BETWEEN 870-900 RPMS. *YC |
| 603510 | SYMPTOMS REGARDING P0300-P0308 MISFIRE DTCS WITH 4.6L ENGINES. *YC |
| 54069 | EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES WITH THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL). *YC |
| 51435 | SOME 5.4L FRONT END SERPETNTINE BELTS MAY MAKE SOME NOISE BETWEEN TEMPERATURES FO 30 F-50 F. *JD |
| 50733 | SOME FRONT END SERPENTINE BELTS MAY MAKE NOISE WHEN BETWEEN 30 AND 50 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. *TW |
| 50494 | INCORRECT INFORMATION IN 1997 EVTM MANUAL. PIN CALL-OUTS ILLUSTRATIONS FOR C224 & C225 ARE IN REVERSE ORDER. *TT |
| 50477 | INVESTIGATING 7.3L IRREGULAR IDLE. *TT |
| 50474 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED W/ AN AX4S TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN SHIPPED W/ A LOW TRANSAXLE FLUID LEVEL. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation