The 1997 Ford F-250 has 34 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
34
Brakes complaints
10%
Share of year
3
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.
“REAR BRAKE FAILURE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. FINALLY RESULTED IN CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. SELF DIAGNOSIS OF RAISING REAR OF VEHICLE WHILE IDLING IN DRIVE WITH REAR WHEELS SPINNING REAR WHEELS COULD NOT BE STOPPED WITH FULL BRAKE PRESSED. NO BRAKING ON REAR WHEELS. DISCONNECTING WIRE…”
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-250 brakes — 10% 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.