Total Complaints
1 filings
FORD L SERIES · model year
1997 FORD L SERIES
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997FORDL SERIES carries 1 consumer safety complaint 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 L SERIES is structure with 1 filings. 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 L SERIES, 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.
1
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 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050603STRUCTURE
DT: J-CRAFT MANUF. COMPANY IN KIMBALL, MN CONSTRUCTED AND INSTALLED A DUMP BOX AND RELATED EQUIPMENT ON CONSUMER'S NEW FORD LT8513 TRUCK CHASSIS, PURCHASED IN 5-1997 FROM LAKELAND TRUCKS (NOW BOYER TRUCKS), 740 SOUTH CONCORD ST. SOUTH, ST PAUL , MN 55075. A HALF MOON SHAPED AREA WAS TORCHED OUT OF THE LOWER SECTION OF THE FRAME WELL APPROX. UNDER THE DRIVERS' SEAT IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PTO ROOM FOR INSTALLATION. IN THE INTERVENING YEARS, NEITHER CONSUMER NOR THE MECHANICS WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE NOTICED THIS FACT. ON MAY 26, 2005, WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN THE SHOP FOR SERVICE, AND YEARLY DOT CERTIFICATION, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE TORCHED CUT OUT AND ALSO SAW THAT A CRACK EXTENDED FROM THE CENTER OF THE CUT OUT UP THROUGH THE WEAKENED FRAME WELL, PREVENTING BOTH THE MECHANIC FROM CERTIFYING CONSUMER'S LOW MILEAGE TRUCK AND THE CONSUMER FROM PUTTING THE TRUCK TO WORK. AS OF MAY 26, 2005, CONSUMER HAS HAD WORK AVAILABLE BUT THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY J-CRAFT TO THE CONSUMER'S TRUCK PREV
Mileage: 179,000
Compare 1997FORDL SERIES 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 L SERIES have?▼
The 1997 FORD L SERIES has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 FORD L SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 FORD L SERIES is STRUCTURE with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1997 FORD L SERIES 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.