The 1997 Ford F-150 has 260 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
260
Brakes complaints
8%
Share of year
25
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
THE RETAINER CLIP THAT HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING.
Consequence
A LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO VERIFY THAT THE RETAINER CLIPS ARE INSTALLED AND IF CLIPS ARE MISSING WILL INSTALL CLIPS.
“WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. *AK THE PART THAT WAS ON FIRE WAS THE DEACTACH SWITCH…”
NHTSA has 260 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 brakes — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 96V184000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.