Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford F-350, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic29
- Tires29
- Engine and engine cooling26
- Power train21
- Steering12
- Suspension9
- Vehicle speed control8
- Electrical system7
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Exterior lighting4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 25 1997 F-350 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 4 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 F-350 failed the safety check 0.85% of the time — 47% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 154,300 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Ford F-350.
| 2009292 14 Oct 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND CHASSIS. THE TIRES ON THESE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED DURING MOUNTING ONTO THE WHEELS. ONLY TRUCKS PRODUCED AT THE CUAUTITLAN, MEXICO PLANT BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 1996, AND JULY 17, 1997, WERE AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT.
THE RETAINER CLIP THAT HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING.
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 F-350: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 616821 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE BUCK, SURGE, OR JERK (ALSO KNOWN AS HITCHING / HESITATION) WHILE THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVE THROUGH ALL ENGINE TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 616551 | OIL LEAK FROM THE FRONT OR REAR CYLINDER HEAD OIL SUPPLY RAIL END PLUGS. *TT |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615504 | SOME HEAVY DUTY AND SUPER DUTY VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS TRANSMISSION CONCERNS, INCLUDING STALL ON TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND / OR A BUZZ NOISE ON ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 615416 | SOME SUPER DUTY 7.3L E4OD AND 7.3L 4R100 VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS TRANSMISSION CONCERNS, INCLUDING STALL ON TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND / OR A BUZZ NOISE ON ENGAGEMENT. *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 |
| 615171 | REAR BRAKE DRAG OR EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR BRAKES. *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 |
| 613306 | SOME TRUCKS WITH E40D AND CALIFORNIA CALIBRATION 7-90P-R10/11 MAY STALL DURING LONG DECEL CONDITIONS WHILE IN MANUAL 1 OR 2 GEAR. *TT |
| 613195 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS - REPEAT MESSAGE. *TT |
| 613141 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING A HARD START / NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 613103 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING A LACK OF POWER. *TT |
| 613102 | SOME VEHICLES WITH E40D AND CALIFORNIA CALIBRATION 7-90P-R10/11 MAY STALL DURING LONG DECEL CONDITIONS WHILE IN MKANUAL 1 OR 2 GEAR. *MJS |
| 613086 | REPEAT MESSAGE REGARDING VEHICLES EXHIBITING ROUGH IDLE / MISS CONDITION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation