Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford E-450, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure10
- Tires7
- Electrical system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 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-450 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 0 people 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-450 failed the safety check 0.57% of the time — 64% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 56,909 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.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
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-450: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 622744 | SOME CUT-AWAY VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ANTI-SKID BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C1229, C1230 AND C1237. *TT |
| 620274 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MODEL 80 REAR AXLES ONLY MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE ABOVE 35 MPH. *TT |
| 615343 | SOME VEHICLES WITH THE DANA 80 MODEL AXLE MAY EXHIBIT A CUSTOMER CONCERN WITH THE LEVEL OF SOUND (WHINE) THAT IS PRODUCED ABOVE 35 MPH. ENGINEERING IS INVESTIGATING. *TT |
| 613239 | SOME E-450 VEHICLES WITH THE DANA 80 MODEL AXLE MAY EXHIBIT A CUSTOMER CONCERN WITH THE LEVEL OF SOUND (WHINE) THAT IS PRODUCED ABOVE 35 MPH. *MJS |
| 612878 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MODEL 80 REAR AXLES ONLY, MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE ABOVE 35 MPH. *MJS |
| 612659 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MODEL 80 REAR AXLES ONLY, MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE ABOVE 35 MPH. *TT |
| 612257 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MODEL 80 REAR AXLES ONLY MAY EXHIBIT A WHINE ABOVE 35 MPH. *TT |
| 610702 | SOME VEHICLES WITH MODEL 80 REAR AXLES ONLY MAY EXHIBIT A CONCERN WITH THE AMOUNT OF SOUND, WHINE PRODUCED ABOVE 35 MPH. |
| 6091758 | SUBJECT REGARDING DANA 80 AXLE WHINE / DAMPENED DRIVESHAFT. *TT |
| 605227 | FOR VEHICLES WITH MODEL 80 REAR AXLES, EXHIBITING A WHINE NOISE CONCERN, A SERVICE KIT WITH A DAMPENED DRIVESHAFT IS AVAILBLE. *TT |
| 10018941 | VIBRATION/HARSHNESS ABOVE 45 MPH (72 KM/H) AFTER TIRE BALANCE. *TT |
| 10013320 | FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VENT ON THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTED PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HVAC Switch Failures
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation