VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford F-150 body & structure problems

The 1997 Ford F-150 has 231 body & structure complaints filed with NHTSA — 7% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

231

Body & Structure complaints

7%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Body & Structure complaints by year

F-150 body & structure complaints by model year231 complaints1985: 3 complaints1986: 9 complaints1987: 5 complaints1988: 9 complaints1989: 8 complaints1990: 4 complaints1991: 9 complaints1992: 8 complaints1993: 14 complaints1994: 34 complaints1995: 18 complaints1996: 7 complaints1997: 231 complaints1998: 143 complaints1999: 98 complaints2000: 69 complaints2001: 67 complaints2002: 45 complaints2003: 35 complaints2004: 104 complaints2005: 77 complaints2006: 45 complaints2007: 31 complaints2008: 23 complaints2009: 33 complaints2010: 93 complaints2011: 33 complaints2012: 24 complaints2013: 48 complaints2014: 31 complaints2015: 147 complaints2016: 201 complaints2017: 108 complaints2018: 191 complaints2019: 31 complaints2020: 22 complaints2021: 35 complaints2022: 14 complaints2023: 21 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 2 complaints
F-150 body & structure complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THERE IS GRASS/WHEAT AND WEEDS THAT PACK IN TIGHTLY BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CROSSOVER, CATCHES ON FIRE. THE SPARKS IN THE FIELD, CAUSING THE FIELD TO CATCH ON FIRE. TUCKER FORD HAD TRIED TO CONTACT FORD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · July 10, 1998 · fire

Common questions

How many body & structure complaints does the 1997 Ford F-150 have?

NHTSA has 231 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 body & structure — 7% 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.