Total Complaints
7 filings
FORD F SERIES (MEDIUM) · model year
1997 FORD F SERIES (MEDIUM)
7 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDF SERIES (MEDIUM) carries 7 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 SERIES (MEDIUM) is structure:body:door with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (1) and electrical system:starter assembly (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 SERIES (MEDIUM), 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.
7
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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110601FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A 97 FORD F150. I NOTICED YESTERDAY WHEN I LOOKED UNDER MY TRUCK THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS BUSTED, AND BOTH WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. *TR
Mileage: 160,000
20060601SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT AT 68,000 MILES, STARTER WENT OUT AT 90,000 MILES, TIE ROD SNAPPED AT 104,000 MILES, REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. *NM
Mileage: 104,000
20060601ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT AT 68,000 MILES, STARTER WENT OUT AT 90,000 MILES, TIE ROD SNAPPED AT 104,000 MILES, REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. *NM
Mileage: 104,000
20060601STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT AT 68,000 MILES, STARTER WENT OUT AT 90,000 MILES, TIE ROD SNAPPED AT 104,000 MILES, REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. *NM
Mileage: 104,000
20060601EQUIPMENT
BRAKE SYSTEM WENT OUT AT 68,000 MILES, STARTER WENT OUT AT 90,000 MILES, TIE ROD SNAPPED AT 104,000 MILES, REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND TUNE UPS. *NM
Mileage: 104,000
20050826STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS ON 1997 FORD F-150 HAVE CRACKS AT REAR OF WINDOW FRAME ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE CRACKS IN THE DOOR. *JB
20040111STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CRACK IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BY WINDOW . *AK
Compare 1997FORDF SERIES (MEDIUM) 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 SERIES (MEDIUM) have?▼
The 1997 FORD F SERIES (MEDIUM) has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD F SERIES (MEDIUM)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD F SERIES (MEDIUM) is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1997 FORD F SERIES (MEDIUM) 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.