1997 Ford E-350 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 4about this part
- Share
- 5%of 79 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,820miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Ford E-350, 5% of the 79 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,820 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This year both the airbags in my 1997 Ford e350 van have spontaneously deployed on two separate occasions--each occurring while the van was in 'park'. On 1/31/18 the driver's bag deployed when the van was warming up in a parking lot. My adult daughter started the van, plugged her phone into the top car adapter, and about a minute later (the van was still parked) there was a big 'boom' from under her seat and her seatbelt tightened. With the seatbelt still on, she leaned to her right to see what was causing the smoke from under her seat when suddenly the driver's steering wheel airbag deployed. …”
NHTSA complaint #11097778, filed 2018-05, 89,820 miles“Vehicle caught fire. Cause of fire was determined by Ford inspector to be a faulty electrical cable that shorted out due high moisture levels and no protection of cable.”
NHTSA complaint #821764, filed 1998-03Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 7% |
| 2017 | 1 | 8% |
| 2014 | 3 | 18% |
| 2013 | 1 | 8% |
| 2012 | 1 | 6% |
| 2011 | 1 | 5% |
| 2010 | 3 | 18% |
| 2008 | 2 | 5% |
| 2007 | 1 | 6% |
| 2006 | 7 | 13% |
| 2005 | 17 | 31% |
| 2004 | 5 | 11% |
| 2003 | 9 | 20% |
| 2002 | 6 | 11% |
| 2001 | 3 | 6% |
| 2000 | 4 | 7% |
| 1999 | 5 | 7% |
| 1998 | 5 | 8% |
| 1997 | 4 | 5% |
| 1996 | 1 | 2% |
| 1995 | 2 | 3% |
| 1994 | 2 | 4% |
| 1993 | 2 | 5% |
| 1992 | 4 | 10% |
| 1991 | 2 | 11% |
| 1990 | 1 | 4% |
| 1989 | 1 | 4% |
| 1988 | 3 | 27% |
| 1987 | 2 | 14% |
| 1986 | 6 | 55% |
| 1983 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford E-350
24 complaintsBrakes
18 complaintsEngine cooling
15 complaintsSuspension
6 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford E-350
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology