NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Ford F-250. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
TRANSMISSION JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR, TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT BLINKS. VEHICLE IS IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE 3RD TIME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE 8/98. THEY SEEM TO BE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM
HEATER ADJUSTMENT FAILED. MJS
BOLTS ON THE POWER STEERING BOX BROKE IN HALF CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
CONSUMER NOTICED THE LEFT REAR SPRING BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIRBRATE AT ANY SPEED. *AK
HOOD LATCH FAILED CAUSING HOOD TO POP UP WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH.
BRAKES CONTINUALLY FAIL, UNABLE TO FIND PROBLEM.
LUG NUTS FAILED. YH
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. YH
VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ONGOING VIBRATION PROBLEM. WHENEVER A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, A GRINDING SOUND WOULD COME FROM THE WHEEL. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
FRONT SUSPENSION IS UNDERDESIGNED. UNABLE TO SUPPORT WEIGHT OF POWERSTROKE ENGINE. CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND BALL JOINT WEAR, AND PULLING TO RIGHT
THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE SURGES WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED. CONSUMER IS BEING TOLD THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.*JG
VEHICLE EXPEREINCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PLACING CAR INTO RECERSE CAUSING IT TO HIT A LOADING DOCK, WHEN PULLED INTO DRIVE IT AGAIN ACCELERATED FORWARD 450 FEET BEFOR IT SHUT OFF. NLM
DRIVER SIDE GLASS SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH. INTERIOR OF VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS WERE LEFT COVERED WITH GLASS.
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK, THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BLEW OUT. THE DRIVER WAS GOING ABOUT 40-45 MPH. *AK
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE STICKING IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER NOTIFIED AND HAD REPAIRED AND REPLACED SOME PARTS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF STEERING WITHOUT INDICATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SINCE HAVING PURCHASED THE TRUCK IT HAS FAID TWICE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND HAVE TALKED WITH MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WAS GIVEN YOUR CONTACT INFO BY OUR ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE I HAVE A COMPLAINT REGISTERED WITH THEM AS WELL.
BALLJOINTS GRINDING, METAL ON METAL, FAILURE DUE TO UNSERVICEABLE TYPE BALLJOINTS FROM THE FACTORY. *AK
A CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WAS PUT ON A DIESEL TRUCK. THIS CAUSED A BACK PRESSURE TO OCCUR. A HOLE WAS CREATED IN BOTTOM OF TURBO. CARBON MONOXIDE WAS ESCAPING THROUGH HEATER VENT, CAUSING A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM FOR DRIVER, WHO BECAME NAUSEOUS & HAD A HEADACHE. MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT PROBLEM, BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKE'S FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOT WORKING AND WOULD LOCK UP. ALSO, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD COME OUT FROM BEHIND. *AK
ENGINE WARNING LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED. *YC
WHEN INVOLVED IN A CRASH, IMPACT SPEED AROUND 30-35 MPH, FRONT END DRIVER'S SIDE. THE BUMPER WAS PUSHED BACK, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TO BUST. DAMAGES TOTALLING $6,000 DOLLARS. IN THIS CRASH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. THE TRUCK IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
UPON ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKES DURING TRAILOR HAULING(5TH WHEEL), THE EXHAUST DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE DOWN LINE DIRECTLY AFTER THE TURBO.
WHEN TURNING OR DRIVING UP A HILL OR UNEVEN GROUND CAN HEAR A POPPING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR WORK. WHEN THE CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE BACK THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED, THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. WHEN CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE COULD STILL HEAR THE NOISE, AND DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN HILL IN FIRST GEAR AND AT BOTTOM OF HILL, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND MOTOR WILL DIE?STALL. STOPPING AND PUTTING TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING IGNITION TO START, AND ENGINE WILL START. *AK
WHEN DRIVING DOWN A STEEP GRADE IN 1ST GEAR WITH FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR AND THE ENGINE DIED/STALLED. *AK'
WHILE DRIVING IN A FIELD THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SKID PLATE CRUSHED, ALLOWING THE ROCK TO DAMAGE THE DRIVETRAIN. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND OPERATED ERRATICALLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD/PARKED VEHICLE, EXTENDED CAB WAS COMPLETELY BURNT, STATE FARM INSURANCE ANALYSIS WAS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE BENCH SEAT RECLINED TO THE REST POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT23585R16 )
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG IN A HEAD ON COLLISION ACCIDENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
WHENEVER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE IN USE, THEY WOULD FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. WOULD CUT ON OR OFF ON THEIR OWN. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY AT A TIME OF NEED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS ENTERING A FREEWAY AT 45-50 MPH WHEN HE TRIED TO STOP VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
FRONT END MISALIGNMENT CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES. IN ADDITION, BELT TENSIONER ROLLER MAKES NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, AND POPPING NOISE FROM CAB WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN SURFACES DUE TO CAB MOUNTING BOLTS TO FRAME BEING LOOSE. *AK
DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RIGHT REAR BRAKE WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING TIRE TO SLIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE VEHICLE VEERS TOWARDS THE RIGHT WHEN IT'S IN OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. ALSO, REPLACED FRONT LEFT HUB CAP, AND TWIST IN FRAME. *AK
THE CEO SWITCH (IDLE VALIDATION SWITCH) FAILED. *YC
WHEN DRIVING ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE BACK BRAKES DO NOT GRAB AT ALL OR SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. ON 3/14/97 BRAKES ADJUSTED BY DEALERSHIP, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK
WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BRAKES: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH PREPARING TO MAKE LEFT TURN AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. ICE WAS ON HIGHWAY, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, CAUSE OF FAILURE UNKNOWN , VEHICLE NOT TAKEN IN FOR REPAIRS. MANUFACTURER INSISTS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL. *AK
WHILE DRIVING UNDER WET OR SNOWY ROAD CONDITIONS THE ENGINE GOES IDLE ONCE TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. COMSUMER ALSO STATED THAT HAS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ONCE TRYING AND PUTTING ON THE BRAKES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT'S HOW THE ENGINE WAS BUILT INTO THE FUEL COMPUTER. *AK
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN STEERING WHEEL. THE WIRE WAS TOO SMALL FOR AMPS. *BF THE CONSUMER DISCONNECTED THE WIRE. *NM
1997 FORD F-250 RECALL FOR SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT TWO DEALERS HAVE STATED THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO INFORM HIM WHEN THE PARTS COME IN. HE STATES HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO CALL TO FIND OUT. *KB
ALL FOUR FIRESTONE STEEL TEC RADIAL AT LT 235-85R16 TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO DRY ROT ON THE EXTERIOR TIRE WALLS. *MJS
VEHICLE WANDERS.
THE TIRE COMPLIANCE LABLE FOR REAR INFLATION STATES 80 PSI, HOWEVER THE TIRE APPEARS OVER INFLATED AT 80 PSI, DEALER RECOMMENDS 70 PSI.
NO FAILURE DESCRIBED.
NO FAILURE DESCRIBED.
VIBRATION AND PULLING, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES.
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: Sep 3, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.