Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford F Super Duty, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires13
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Electrical system2
- Suspension2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Power train2
- Steering1
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, 6 1997 F Super Duty vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 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 F Super Duty failed the safety check 1.55% of the time — 3% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 133,016 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME CHASSIS. HOT EXHAUST GASSES CAN LEAK FROM THE EXHAUST GAS RETURN (EGR) TUBE ON THE ENGINE. A HOLE CAN DEVELOP IN THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE TUBE. HEAT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR AND FLOOR COVERING CAN OCCUR.
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.
A PLASTIC COATED STEEL SUPPORT STRAP FOR THE BATTERY CABLE WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS CRIMPED ONTO THE CABLE.
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 Super Duty: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637689 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INTERFERENCE AND / OR STATIC IN THE LAND-MOBILE RADIO. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615171 | REAR BRAKE DRAG OR EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR BRAKES. *TT |
| 615165 | BRIEF INFORMATION CONCERN VEHICLES EXHBITING EXTERNAL OIL LEAKS. *TT |
| 615163 | INFORMATION ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING AND O/D OFF LAMP FLASHING WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 62 / 628 / 1728. *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 |
| 613316 | COLD START ENGINE NOISE |
| 612343 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SOLID PARTICLE CONTAMINANTS FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR, MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY FLUSHED, FLUID IN-LINE FILTER KIT. *MJS |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 609737 | TRANSMISSION- E40D/4R100-1989-99-MAIN CONTROLS, SEPARATOR PLATES AND SEPARATOR PLATE GASKETS USAGE CHART. YD |
| 609668 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF NO 4X4 LOW RANGE ENGAGEMENT OR A STUCK IN 4X4 LOW RANGE, WITH NO (DTC) DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE STORED IN THE GEM. *TT |
| 609536 | EXHAUST LEAK AT EXHAUST MANIFOLDS--VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 7.0L 0R 7.5L ENGINE. *AK |
| 6090143 | SUBJECT REGARDING 4R100 TRANSMISSION FLEXPLATE REPLACEMENT FOR VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE. *TT |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6090082 | INFORMATION FOR SERVICING AND DIAGNOSING BRAKE VIBRATION, BRAKE INSPECTION, AND BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 607157 | VEHICLE STALLS UPON ACCELERATION. *AK |
| 607148 | LACK OF POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF ENGINE TURBO BOOST |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE STALLING
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation