1997 Ford F-150 Other or unknown Problems
- Complaints
- 52about this part
- Share
- 2%of 2,758 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 128,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 52 complaints about the other or unknown of the 1997 Ford F-150, 2% of the 2,758 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 128,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Motor runs rough at times with acceleration, cruise dont work, and after changing everything 3 times...it's a spark plug brand, and an unfinished recall a previous owner didn't have finished? Its a beautiful body design...but now I cant have recalls done that werent completed because of a careless first owner. Why should I suffer for his and fords wrecklesness? Not fair. I will not purchase another Ford. Recalls should never expire. …”
NHTSA complaint #10618410, filed 2014-08, 258,000 miles“My truck was turned off in my driveway for about an hour and it caught on fire under the hood. A neighbor came to tell us and the fire department had to come put out the fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10904737, filed 2016-09, 200,000 miles“I parked my vehicle in the garage and left and when I returned it was on fire and the fire department had ripped the garage door open and dragged it out the garage.. I have been told by several people that there is a recall for the brake switch. I find that interesting seeing how o had call Ford last summer around july2010 for I had just moved to this address I am at now. And I was told there is no open recalls... Hmmm... So, I do still have the truck at this point but do plan to have it towed out at end of this week.. Would be great if there is any recourse to this. …”
NHTSA complaint #10376992, filed 2011-01, 212,000 miles“The 97 F-150 had been parked outside not started for 2 days. Sunday morning we went to go to the lake and the truck started but would not go out of park,an issue I have had before,but this time the ABS light was flashing. I have been in the automotive repair business for 15 years, so I had a good idea were to start looking. The first place I looked was the brake safety switch located on the top of the brake pedal itsel. Every thing checked out fine. That is were I have had the problem before so I thought it was another broken wire but that was not the case. …”
NHTSA complaint #10232630, filed 2008-06, 174,892 miles“Ford f150 4.2 v6 w/110k miles failed in my driveway upon starting two days ago. After turninig the ignition I heard loud knocking and banging cominig from the engine and shut it down. I never got a recall I hear there were two of them. I called the dealer but received no help. The failure is prevalent and consistent with no official admittance yet from Ford that I've found. The dealership even explained to me they understood it as an engineering defect of expectation. What else does it take? So I ask NHTSA for your help please!!!!”
NHTSA complaint #10114673, filed 2005-03, 110,000 milesOther or unknown: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 22 | 20% |
| 2024 | 21 | 11% |
| 2023 | 66 | 16% |
| 2022 | 88 | 15% |
| 2021 | 97 | 9% |
| 2020 | 88 | 12% |
| 2019 | 132 | 10% |
| 2018 | 237 | 10% |
| 2017 | 162 | 11% |
| 2016 | 257 | 12% |
| 2015 | 208 | 12% |
| 2014 | 149 | 10% |
| 2013 | 229 | 8% |
| 2012 | 122 | 7% |
| 2011 | 116 | 5% |
| 2010 | 62 | 7% |
| 2009 | 10 | 3% |
| 2008 | 17 | 5% |
| 2007 | 20 | 4% |
| 2006 | 24 | 4% |
| 2005 | 41 | 4% |
| 2004 | 86 | 4% |
| 2003 | 19 | 4% |
| 2002 | 29 | 4% |
| 2001 | 40 | 3% |
| 2000 | 19 | 2% |
| 1999 | 16 | 2% |
| 1998 | 27 | 2% |
| 1997 | 52 | 2% |
| 1996 | 7 | 2% |
| 1995 | 9 | 1% |
| 1994 | 16 | 2% |
| 1993 | 8 | 1% |
| 1992 | 1 | 0% |
| 1991 | 6 | 2% |
| 1990 | 5 | 2% |
| 1989 | 3 | 1% |
| 1988 | 1 | 1% |
| 1987 | 3 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1982 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford F-150
529 complaintsTires
305 complaintsFuel system
246 complaintsBrakes
233 complaintsBody and structure
226 complaintsVehicle speed control
223 complaintsSuspension
204 complaintsSteering
202 complaintsElectrical system
198 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
151 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
148 complaintsWheels
115 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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