VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford F-150 transmission problems

The 1997 Ford F-150 has 156 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 5% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

156

Transmission complaints

5%

Share of year

16

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Related recalls

97V171000TransmissionOctober 7, 1997 · 866,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."

Consequence

THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.

97V147000TransmissionSeptember 9, 1997 · 15,500 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TRANSMISSION BRACKET END FITTING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN OPERATOR INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE.

Common questions

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

NHTSA has 156 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 transmission — 5% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Ford F-150 transmission?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the transmission: 97V147000, 97V171000.

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.