1997 Ford F-350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
191 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Ford F-350, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 25/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports.
Typical
Where 1997 sits among all F-350 years
What owners report
“Per friendly ford dealership in las vegas, the tread separated from the left front tire.( dot number: tire size: t235/85r16 )”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 F-350
“Engine shuts off when going down grades, loosing power to brakes and steering. Turn signal will not stay on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 F-350
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 39 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 117,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 79,000 and 155,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE…
ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V388000.
Technical service bulletins
153 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1997 Ford F-350. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Ford F-350 reliable?
The 1997 Ford F-350 drew 191 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 25/100, scored against the model's worst year (1999).
What are the most common 1997 Ford F-350 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Ford F-350 are brakes & stability (40 complaints), wheels & tires (36), and engine (31).
At what mileage do 1997 Ford F-350 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Ford F-350 problems around 117,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 79,000 and 155,000 miles.
Does the 1997 Ford F-350 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Ford F-350. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.