Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford E-250, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Tires5
- Suspension4
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Electrical system2
- Power train2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Steering2
- Visibility1
- Wheels1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1997 E-250 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 1 person died inside them. 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-250 failed the safety check 1.64% of the time — 3% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 157,196 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
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.
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-250: 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 |
| 630683 | CONCERNS WITH BUMP STEER STEERING FEELING NOTED WHEN FRONT WHEELS / TIRES CONTACT ROAD SURFACE IRREGULARITIES. *TT |
| 624689 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL FILL VALVE SEALING CONDITION. *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 |
| 616508 | SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT |
| 615386 | SERVICE INFORMATION FOR VEHICLES EXHIBITING STALL ON DECELERATION CONDITION. *TT |
| 615371 | INFORMATION ON SUPER DUTY 7.3 DIT DIESEL ENGINE VEHICLES EXHIBITI LACK OF POWER. *TT |
| 615368 | SOME SUPER DUTY VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIT DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT 4X4 LIGHTS ON, 4X4 INOPERATIVE AND / OR MULTIPLE GEM CODES. *TT |
| 615367 | INFORMATION ON SUPER DUTY MODELS WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES EXHIBITING ROUGH IDLE / MISS CONDITION. *TT |
| 615279 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE ROTOR CHECKING OR SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP. *TT |
| 615198 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE ROTOR CHECKING OR SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP. *TT |
| 615176 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON, WITH P0300 - P0308 MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WITH A 4.6L ENGINE. *TT |
| 615165 | BRIEF INFORMATION CONCERN VEHICLES EXHBITING EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS. *TT |
| 615162 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING A STALL ON DECELERATION CONDITION. *TT |
| 615155 | BRIEF INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING LACK OF POWER CONDITION. *TT |
| 615154 | BRIEF INFORMATION VEHICLES EXHIBITING HARD START / NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 615151 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING ROUGH IDLE / MISS. *TT |
| 613754 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.2L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION OR BOOM, OFF IDLE BETWEEN 870 - 900 RPMS. *TT |
| 613195 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS - REPEAT MESSAGE. *TT |
| 613183 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING A STALL ON DECEL CONDITION. *TT |
| 613141 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING A HARD START / NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 613103 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING A LACK OF POWER. *TT |
| 613086 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING ROUGH IDLE / MISS CONDITION. *TT |
| 6092006 | SUBJECT REGARDING TIRE BALANCE HINT. *TT |
| 6090542 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT COVER & WATER PUMP BOLTS-TORQUE VALVE REVISION/3.8-4.2L. *MJS |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HVAC Switch Failures
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
SHIFT-LOCK
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation