Total Complaints
3 filings
FORD F-350 SD · model year
1997 FORD F-350 SD
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDF-350 SD carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 F-350 SD is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel (1) and wheels (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1997 F-350 SD, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110131WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,850 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,070. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 12/20/11 *CN
Mileage: 65,850
20080911FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
FORD F-350 DIESEL DUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST FINISHED BEING DRIVEN. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE LOSS. IS FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING THE LOSS? *TR
Mileage: 150,000
20071013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD FOR DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE NO PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB
Compare 1997FORDF-350 SD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 FORD F-350 SD have?▼
The 1997 FORD F-350 SD has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD F-350 SD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD F-350 SD is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL and WHEELS.
Is the 1997 FORD F-350 SD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.