There are 125 stored owner reports matching the powertrain & transmission leading-label group for the 1997 Ford F-150 in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 50 of 125 matching reports. This is a limited sample of up to 50 reports, ordered by incident date when available, not the complete group. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission hesitated while shifting gears. The contact stated that when the gear changed, the vehicle would jerk. The contact replaced the control sensor however, the failure recurred. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 245,000.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into park(P). The contact stated that when he attempted to shift the vehicle into reverse(R), the vehicle shifted instead shifted into drive(D) and vice versa. Additionally, the contact stated that he had to turn the vehicle off and turn the steering wheel towards the direction of the curb in case the vehicle rolled away, increasing the risk of a crash or an injury. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable assembly had detached from the bracket and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 97V171000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
LINKAGE BRACKET BROKE WONT SHIFT COMPLETELY INTO PARK WONT STRART I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP AND ALSO THE CRUSE CONTROL SWITCH LEAKS BRAKE FLUID BOTH OF THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY FORD BUT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I TOO IT SAID MY VIN # WASNT ON RECALL LIST EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE BOTH ADMITTED TO BE FAULTY BY FORD HOW CAN I GET MINE REPAIRED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AND CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S FENCE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE SHIFT CABLE AND STEERING COLUMN BRACKET WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TWO RECALLS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 97V147000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER OF THE TWO RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF WHEN IT ROLLED AWAY DOWN A HILL AND CRASHED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S HOME. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,076. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, TRUCK HAS 112000 MILES AND THE TRANNY WOULD NOT SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR, THE FLUID AND FILTER HAS BEEN CHANGE 5 TIMES MORE THAN RECOMMENDED BY MANUFACTURER, I ALSO HAD AAMCO INSTALL A LARGER TRANSMISSION COOLER. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TRANNY IS THE C CLAMP THAT LOCKS THE MAIN DRIVE IN THE TRANSMISSION CAME OFF, AND DESTROYED THE OD DRUM AND GEARS I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY VEHICLES WELL MAINTAINED AND AT A COST OF $1,900.56 I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD RE IMBURSE ME FOR THIS , THE TRUCK HAS NEVER HAULED ANY HEAVY LOADS OR PULLING A TRAILER WITH ANYTHING HEAVIER THAN A RIDING LAWNMOWER. I HAVE A 1970 FORD TRUCK THAT IS A BETTER TRUCK THAN MY 1997. I COULD ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO A NEW TRUCK IF DRIVEN LIKE THE COMMERCIALS THEY PRODUCE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A FORD MAN BUT THEY ARE CHANGING MY MIND QUICKLY. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. IT'S ABSURD THAT A POSSIBLY $5.00 PART COULD CAUSE ME ALMOST 2 GRAND. I AM ABOUT TO BUY A NEW TRUCK AND I WILL BE SHOPPING AROUND AND LOOKING AT CONSUMER REPORTS TO MAKE A DECISION. *TR
PULL GEAR SHIFTER DOWN TO D1 AND SMOKE AND FIRE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN: ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE TRUCK WAS UNABLE TO USE THE OVERDRIVE FUNCTION. REPLACED SEVERAL FUSES AND TRIED AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I DISMANTLED THE STEERING COLUMN AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS IS TWO SHORT AND ROUTED AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING IT TO BREAK EVERYTIME THE TRUCK IS PUT INTO D1. FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOR ANY AUTO STORE HAVE ANY PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THEY RECOMMEND THAT I NOT USE D2/D1/OVERDRIVE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD KICK IN AND OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THEY REPLACED UNKNOWN MODULES IN THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $607. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A NEW DASHBOARD SWITCH AT NO COST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN THERE FOUR TIMES WITH THE EXACT SAME FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 53,000. UPDATED 04-24-09 *BF UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. THERE WERE NO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND A MAILBOX, BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000.
AFTER STOPPING IN DRIVEWAY MY 1997 F150, 4.6 L WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AND THE GEAR SHIFT SEEMED TO BE LOOSER THAN NORMAL. AS I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO SHIFT INTO PARK A 1 INCH, BRASS, STAR HEAD MACHINED SCREW FELL OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR CAME TO REST BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START IN THIS POSITION, BUT DID START IN NEUTRAL. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING REVERSE AND DRIVE, BUT ONCE IN GEAR THE TRANSMISSION SOUNDS AND RUNS NORMALLY. THE SAFETY IMPLICATION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF THE TRUCK IF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT SET OR DEFECTIVE. MY RESEARCH OF THE PROBLEM DISCLOSED TWO RELATED RECALLS OF 1997 FORD VEHICLES; CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V147000, SEPTEMBER 9, 1997 AND CAMPAIGN NUMBER 97V171000, OCTOBER 7, 1997. BOTH THESE RECALLS INVOLVED SOME FACET OF THE TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BETWEEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE TRASMISSION HOUSING, JUST AS MINE DID. ON MY TRUCK THERE ARE TWO BOLTS SECURING THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER ARM AND SUPPORT TO THE STEERING COLUMN TUBE. THE SHIFT CABLE IS ATTACHED TO THIS ARM. THE TOP BOLT CAME LOOSE AND FELL OUT, WHILE THE SECOND BOLT WAS VERY LOOSE, IN FACT, THE WHOLE ARM WAS READY TO FALL OUT. THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REALIGN THE SELECTOR LEVER ARM AND SUPPORT TO THE SHIFT TUBE AND REINSERT THE TWO SCREWS, AFTER USING A "LOCTITE" COMPOUND. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AXLE TUBE WAS FRACTURED. THE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE CV AXLE AND THE AXLE TUBE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
MY NON-COMMERCIAL TWO WHEEL DRIVE, 1997 F-150 WITH 59747 MILES WITH 4.2 V-6 ENGINE BLEW ITS 4R70W AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION . I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO FORWARD BUT COULD GO IN REVERSE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FAILURE AND THE TRANNY FILTER AND FLUID HAD BEEN SERVICED TWO TIMES. IT COST $ 2121.52 TO REBUILD THE TRANNY AT A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP. FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND DID NOT WANT TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH ME OR THE TRANNY SHOP TO FIND OUT MORE. ALSO THE TIMING CASE COVER GASKET,BRAKE CALIPERS AND SPEEDOMETER HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALSO. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY, THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN COMBINATION WITH A WHEEL BLOCK BEING PLACED IN THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY A SPECIALIZED TRANSMISSION CENTER AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. ON JANUARY 21, 2012, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE RECALL CAMPAIGN EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. ... UPDATED 02/28/13 *BF
WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO PARK FROM TO OTHER GEARS. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A CAMPAIGN ALREADY FOR THIS ISSUE, 97V171000, BUT FORD DOES NOT HAVE MY TRUCK LISTED FOR THIS RECALL. IS THERE A FORD ISSUED RECALL # AND HOW CAN I GET MY TRUCK ADDED TO THIS RECALL SO IT CAN BE ADDRESSED. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, USED. *JB
1.WELL FIRST THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 97 FORD F150 WENT OUT. THEN MY BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT TOO. REPLACECD BRAKE LIGHTS ,THEN FUSE WENT OUT IN INTERIOR FUSE BOX SO, TRUCK WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. REPLACED FUSE THEN IT BLEW IT AGAIN. REPLACED AGAIN TRUCK COULD NOW SHIFT INTO GEAR. I WENT HOME PARKED TRUCK THE TRUCK IN DRIVE WAY AND DID NOT MOVE IT FOR THE TRUCK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. WAS WAKEN UP ABOUT 3 IN THE MORNING BY COPS TELLING ME MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THE TRUCK ENDED UP BURNT EVERYWHERE BUT THE BED TOTAL LOSS PRETTY MUCH UN DRIVABLE. BURNED A 95 CARAVAN AND PART OF A 2002 FORD EXCURSION. I KNOW HAVE I VEHICLE TO MOVE MY KIDS THAT ARE IN SCHOOL AND MYSELF AND MY WIFE WHICH ALSO NOW HAS SOME SERIOUS NERVE DAMAGE SHE HAS NIGHTMARES OF OTHER VEHICLE BURNING AND CAN HARDLY SLEEP. TRIED CONTACTING FORD BUT C.S. DEPARTMENT PUTS ME ON HOLD ALL DAY. *JB
RECALL 97V147000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN ALTHOUGH IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THOSE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE GEARS WOULD POP AND MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP.*AK *TC
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF OVERDRIVE. OVERDRIVE WILL GO OUT ALL AT ONCE, LOOSING SPEED AND BECOMING A HAZARD IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. *AK
RECALL 97V147000,TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THIS WAS DUE TO TA DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TC
THE SHIFTER CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP SLAMMING IT. *JB
Showing 1-20 of 50 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: May 4, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.