VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford F-150 engine problems

The 1997 Ford F-150 has 578 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

578

Engine complaints

18%

Share of year

5

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

F-150 engine complaints by model year578 complaints1966: 1 complaints1978: 2 complaints1983: 3 complaints1984: 2 complaints1985: 4 complaints1986: 10 complaints1987: 10 complaints1988: 13 complaints1989: 18 complaints1990: 23 complaints1991: 19 complaints1992: 39 complaints1993: 57 complaints1994: 57 complaints1995: 76 complaints1996: 27 complaints1997: 578 complaints1998: 198 complaints1999: 256 complaints2000: 159 complaints2001: 282 complaints2002: 263 complaints2003: 98 complaints2004: 262 complaints2005: 228 complaints2006: 151 complaints2007: 146 complaints2008: 77 complaints2009: 51 complaints2010: 138 complaints2011: 513 complaints2012: 499 complaints2013: 564 complaints2014: 186 complaints2015: 276 complaints2016: 339 complaints2017: 374 complaints2018: 575 complaints2019: 375 complaints2020: 131 complaints2021: 96 complaints2022: 36 complaints2023: 26 complaints2024: 15 complaints2025: 5 complaints
F-150 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“CONSUMER'S SON WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS A BLOWOUT, AND FELT VEHICLE WAS JERKING. CONSUMER WAS FACING THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND SAW REAR ON PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED, AND RUBBER TREAD HAD COME OFF THE TIRE. ALSO, MUFFLER PIPE WAS HANGING…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 2, 2000 · crash

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Ford F-150 have?

NHTSA has 578 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 engine — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

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.