VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford E-150 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 122 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 7.2 times the median E-150 year — the 1997 model ranks #2 of 43 E-150 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across fuel system (24), engine (22), and brakes (19), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

122

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

4

Crash-involved

4

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1997 compare to other E-150 years?

E-150 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted180 complaints1976: 3 complaints1978: 0 complaints1979: 0 complaints1980: 0 complaints1981: 2 complaints1982: 3 complaints1983: 1 complaints1984: 3 complaints1985: 3 complaints1986: 12 complaints1987: 20 complaints1988: 15 complaints1989: 37 complaints1990: 17 complaints1991: 20 complaints1992: 86 complaints1993: 95 complaints1994: 180 complaints1995: 104 complaints1996: 81 complaints1997: 122 complaints1998: 81 complaints1999: 115 complaints2000: 61 complaints2001: 52 complaints2002: 37 complaints2003: 31 complaints2004: 36 complaints2005: 24 complaints2006: 23 complaints2007: 15 complaints2008: 12 complaints2009: 10 complaints2010: 14 complaints2011: 30 complaints2012: 19 complaints2013: 29 complaints2014: 9 complaints2015: 10 complaints2016: 11 complaints2017: 0 complaints2021: 1 complaints2023: 0 complaints
E-150 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1997 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all E-150 years to avoid →

What are the most common 1997 Ford E-150 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Fuel System2420%
Engine2218%
Brakes1916%
Tires & Wheels87%
Electrical System87%
Steering76%
Suspension76%
Speed Control54%
Transmission54%
Visibility & Wipers43%
Airbags32%
Body & Structure32%
Seats22%
Other22%
Lighting22%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)11%

Does the 1997 Ford E-150 have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

10V271000OtherJune 15, 2010 · 13 units

Defect

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2008 CONVERSION VANS EQUIPPED WITH VMI/RICON 6-WAY POWER SEAT BASES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AT THE JOINT BETWEEN THE PIVOTING PLATE AND THE PIVOTING PLATE PIN.

Consequence

THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY BE INJURED IF THE SEAT BASE PIN WERE TO BREAK.

Remedy

ALL IN ONE MOBILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ALL IN ONE MOBILITY AT 1-503-255-5005.

09V399000Speed ControlOctober 13, 2009 · 4,500,000 units

Defect

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

08V051000Speed ControlFebruary 4, 2008 · 225,000 units

Defect

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence

AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

07V336000Speed ControlAugust 3, 2007 · 3,600,000 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

04V562000OtherNovember 26, 2004 · 1,660 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.

01V114000Fuel SystemApril 5, 2001 · 151,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.

Consequence

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND, IF CRACKED, WILL REPLACE THE TANK. INSULATOR PADS WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO REDUCE THE STRESS LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. WE PULLED OVER AND IMMEDIATELY GOT THE CHILDREN OUT OF THE CAR. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS BLAZING. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · August 25, 2011 · fire

“1) ENGINE BEGINS TO RUNS ROUGH. ) EGR PORTS BECOME CLOGGED 3) INTAKE HAS TO BE REMOVED AND PORTS CLEANED AND INJECTORS FLUSHED. WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW WITH THE FORD 6 CYL. ENGINE, AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT IT. IT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 14, 2004

“WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY ABOUT 70MPH TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND GOT DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED FREE WHEELING. ABS LOCKED UP, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DIDN'T CONTACT DEALER.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · February 8, 2000 · crash

“THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR WHEN AN EXPLOSION INCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN THE TRUCK BURNING UP. THE MOTOR AREA, FRONT WHEELS AND COMPLETED CAB WERE DESTROYED. GAS TANK DID NOT BLOW UP. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · April 24, 2013 · fire

“CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED GOODYEAR. CONSUMER RECEIVED A PARTIAL REBATE ON FOUR TIRES, P23575R15. CONSUMER FEELS THAT GOODYEAR SHOULD REIMBURSE ENTIRE AMOUNT. *AK TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA, GOODYEAR KEPT TIRES SO DOT NUMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE, GOODYEAR AGREED TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, SEPARATION OF SIDEWALLS…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · June 18, 2001

1997 Ford E-150 — common questions

Is the 1997 Ford E-150 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 122 complaints put the 1997 model at #2 of 43 E-150 years. It is one of the E-150 years to avoid.

What are the most common 1997 E-150 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are fuel system (24 complaints), engine (22 complaints), brakes (19 complaints).

Does the 1997 Ford E-150 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1997 Ford E-150. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 1997 Ford E-150 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Ford E-150 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the E-150 years to avoid are 1994, 1997, 1999, 1995, 1993, 1992, 1998, 1996, 2000, 2001, 1989, 2002, 2004, 2003, 2011. The cleanest record among E-150 years belongs to 2023.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.