VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford F-250 transmission problems

The 1997 Ford F-250 has 37 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 11% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

37

Transmission complaints

11%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

1

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.

What owners report

WHILE DRIVING IN A FIELD THE VEHICLE HIT A ROCK, THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE SKID PLATE CRUSHED, ALLOWING THE ROCK TO DAMAGE THE DRIVETRAIN. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND OPERATED ERRATICALLY, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · August 24, 1997 · crash

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 1997 Ford F-250 have?

NHTSA has 37 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-250 transmission — 11% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Ford F-250 transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 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.