Total Complaints
2 filings
FORD F-550 SD · model year
1997 FORD F-550 SD
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDF-550 SD carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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-550 SD is tires:tread/belt with 1 filings, followed by service brakes (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-550 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.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140411SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 COACHMEN MIRADA RV EQUIPPED WITH A 1997 FORD F-530 SD CHASSIS. (NA) THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN AN INCLINE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSED. AFTER DOWN SHIFTING, THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Mileage: 32,000
20021209TIRES:TREAD/BELT
P22570/19.5. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE INNER RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TS GENERAL LMT460. P22570/19.5. DOT # A39Y1HC168, DOT # A39Y1HC158. TWO FAILURES BLEW OUT WHILE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER AND THE THIRD HAD A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRES APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO VISIBLE CRACKS OR DEFECTS WITH 50% TREAD REMAINING WITH 95 PSI. *TT
Mileage: 50,000
Compare 1997FORDF-550 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-550 SD have?▼
The 1997 FORD F-550 SD has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD F-550 SD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD F-550 SD is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 1997 FORD F-550 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.