1997 Ford Club Wagon Problems
- Complaints
- 28filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 78,500miles, 2 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Ford Club Wagon (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford Club Wagon. The part named most often is brakes, with 8 complaints (29% of the total), followed by tires (6) and visibility (6). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes8 29%
- Tires6 21%
- Engine cooling4 14%
- Equipment3 11%
- Wheels3 11%
- Air bags1 3.6%
- Electrical system1 3.6%
- Suspension1 3.6%
Example complaints
Brakes: “Front ABS brakes would shimmy whenever they were applied. Also, would lock up on wet roads. Has happened 8 times & been to dealership 8 times. Last trip mechanic would not work on brakes. Advised owner to make Ford buy back vehicle. Also, problems with air conditioner/ tires/drums and rotors, and odometer failed to work properly after 39,000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #859040, filed 2000-03Tires: “Due to a bad valve stem, the tire and rim were removed from the vehicle and taken to a tire dealership (big o tires) in monument co. For repair. The valve stem was removed and replaced without the trie being removed from the rim. The tire was reinflated to manufacturer specsof 80 PSI cold. The tire and rim were picked up and placed in the back of my jeep grand cherokee for transportation back to my residence. After about 5 minutes of being in the back of the jeep, the tire exploded tearing a 6 inch gash in the sidewall of the tire, an inch and a quarter from the tread surface. …”
NHTSA complaint #732954, filed 2000-09Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Heat blend door failed, no front heat/defrost, safety hazard, $391 to replace. Small plastic piece broke and only cold air produced through front heater. Found at least 9 other odi documents on the same problem for just the 97 model year, listed under e150, Club Wagon and econoline models. More than a coincidence it seems.”
NHTSA complaint #741220, filed 2001-02Engine cooling: “#4 spark plug came out of my 1997 Ford e350 van with a v-10 engine. The van has only 62,000 miles and has the original spark plugs. There was a small fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10263302, filed 2009-03, 62,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 62,000 and 95,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Ford Club Wagon. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club Wagon · 3 DR | not rated | 3 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 Ford Club Wagon in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1997 Ford Club Wagon.
Other model years of the Ford Club Wagon
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 | 156,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 28 | 108,206 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 28 | 78,500 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 17 | 40,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1995 | 15 | 95,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1994 | 17 | 229,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 12 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1992 | 15 | 117,141 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1990 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 8 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Club Wagon model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Ford Club Wagon have?
NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford Club Wagon as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Ford Club Wagon is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 8 complaints (29% of the total), followed by tires with 6.
Has the 1997 Ford Club Wagon been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Ford Club Wagon reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,500 miles and the middle half falls between 62,000 and 95,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.