There are 5 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 1997 Ford F-350in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS WHEN FIRE AND SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACT AND AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL MODULE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND PHOTOS WERE AVAILABLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURERS LOT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET NOTIFIED.
DT: THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER'S CARPORT (PORT-A COUCHE) CAUGHT ON FIRE ALONG WITH THEIR HOME. THE HOUSE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED OR DRIVEN FOR 8 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER'S 1997 FORD F350 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AS THE RECALLED VEHICLE'S. *NM
WHY HAS FORD RECALLED ONLY LATER MODEL TRUCKS FOR THE CRIUSE CONTROL FIRE ISSUE. IT IS NOT A PROBLEM LIMITED TO THOSE YEARS. I EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 1997 F-350. *JB
IN 2003, MY 1997 FORD F-350 CREW CAB LOST THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. ON 05 SEP 2003 MY TRUCK, WITH THE ENGINE COLD, CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, CATCHING MY HOUSE ON FIRE. THIS RESULTED IN A CLAIMS TO BOTH MY HOMEOWNERS AND MY VEHICLE INSURANCE. MY VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS IN THE FIRE. THE VIN NUMBER FOR MY TRUCK WAS: [XXX]. *JB
THE ACCELERATOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED 3 TIMES, LEAVING ME AND MY PASSENGERS STRANDED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS. THE TRUCK WILL START BUT THERE IS NO RESPONSE OF THE ENGINE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE. IT IS A "FLY BY WIRE" SYSTEM WHICH HAS NO DIRECT MECHANICAL LINKAGE FROM THE PEDAL TO THE ENGINE AND THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 30374 MILES ON 7/23/98 AND NOW AGAIN AT 47801 MILES ON 10/13/99. THIS IS NOT A COMPONENT SUBJECT TO ABUSE AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY $100. DEDUCTABLE ON THE LAST REPLACEMENT.
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.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026