Ford F-250 SDModel year report

1997 Ford F-250 SD Problems

Complaints: 39filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 95,000miles, 30 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 2campaigns on record
Trend: StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Ford F-250 SD (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford F-250 SD. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 11 complaints (28% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (8) and vehicle speed control (7). 30 of the complaints include a mileage, and 10% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 95,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 7 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the diesel and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

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.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “My cmp sensor started going out when on the freeway at 65 MPH and died and lost steering and brakes. It was a close call and went to Ford and they wanted 200.00 for a sensor so I called international it was 114.00 same part. I am not happy about Ford and there prices.”

NHTSA complaint #10188897, filed 2007-04, 152,175 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “There's a recall on my 1997 f250 7.3 diesel. The recall is for the automatic transmission gear selector. I took it to Ford to have it fixed cause I was experiencing the problem and he told me that my VIN did not qualify.”

NHTSA complaint #10349721, filed 2010-08, 250,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “The failure was the cruise control started a fire in my 1997 Ford f250 while my wife ,our 16 month old and myself were sleeping. Luckily we got out but everything we had is a total lose.”

NHTSA complaint #10312330, filed 2010-02, 256,000 miles

Electrical system: “On march 2nd,2007 my f250 diesel pickup, that was idling in the driveway caught on fire. The fire started on the driver's side of the vehicle and it melted the brake fluid reservoir and burnt up the area surrounding it. My 11 year old son noticed the blaze and shut off the truck and popped the hood and tried to shovel snow to put out the fire. I quickly opened the hood and put the fire out with the surrounding snow. I contacted Ford about a recall that they have on the gasoline pickups and they told me there were no recalls on my vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10185054, filed 2007-03, 130,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

10% of the 30 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 152,175 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (30 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 95,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

09V399000Oct 13, 2009
Vehicle speed control
Covers: Ford F-250 SD 1993–1997, 1999–2003, E-150 1992–2003, E-350 1992–2003 +12 more
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and…
07V553000Dec 5, 2007
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Covers: Ford F-250 SD 1997–2003, F-450 SD 1997–2003, E Series 1997–2003 +3 more
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

Recall details for the 1997 Ford F-250 SD → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

EA06012Engine stallingClosed · Jun 22, 2006

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.

10014086Dec 13, 2004Transmission and drivetrain. General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.

Other model years of the Ford F-250 SD

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2026	9	12	8	—	—	—	Too new
2025	17	3,106	8	—	—	—	Too new
2024	40	6,000	4	—	—	Too new to compare	Too new
2023	43	4,500	16	—	—	54 · Typical	Too new
2022	126	39,000	17	—	—	68 · More	Rising
2021	167	45,950	12	—	—	77 · More	Rising
2020	267	51,498	14	—	—	93 · More	Rising
2019	1,165	20,200	11	—	—	100 · More	Falling
2018	399	28,000	9	—	—	100 · More	Falling
2017	1,155	29,000	14	—	—	100 · More	Falling
2016	291	63,000	3	—	—	45 · Typical	Stable
2015	296	69,361	2	—	—	45 · Typical	Falling
2014	26	68,500	0	—	—	0 · Fewer	Stable
2013	21	42,000	0	—	—	—	Falling
2012	57	55,118	0	—	—	0 · Fewer	Stable
2011	122	34,500	0	—	—	25 · Fewer	Stable
2010	32	44,518	0	—	—	0 · Fewer	Stable
2009	23	30,507	0	—	—	—	Stable
2008	141	43,910	0	—	—	14 · Fewer	Stable
2007	54	30,000	1	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2006	274	40,000	1	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2005	295	41,450	3	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2004	254	55,838	2	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2003	178	49,000	4	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2002	245	75,000	3	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2001	288	74,254	2	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2000	233	79,150	2	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1999	249	97,000	2	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1997	39	95,000	2	—	—	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1996	11	104,000	1	—	—	—	Not enough data
1995	9	157,605	1	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Ford F-250 SD model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Ford F-250 SD have?

NHTSA recorded 39 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford F-250 SD as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Ford F-250 SD is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 11 complaints (28% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 8.

Has the 1997 Ford F-250 SD been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Ford F-250 SD reported?

Among the 30 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 95,000 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 152,175 miles; 10% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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.