Ford F Series (light)Model year report

1997 Ford F Series (light) Problems

Complaints: 15filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 105,250miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns 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 Series (light) (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford F Series (light). The part named most often is engine cooling, with 5 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and fuel system (3). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 7% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 105,250 miles. Of all complaints, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “I had just arrived back in lakeland fl from a trip to the east coast. I stopped at a store to buy a few things and when I came out and started my 5.4 liter f- 250 light duty truck it blew a spark plug on the passenger side. It was the second plug from the rear. My truck is a 1997 Ford with 100500 approximately miles on it. I had it towed to the Ford dealership that I bought it from for repair. The service manager said he had never heard of triton engines blowing spark plugs. …”

NHTSA complaint #10078508, filed 2004-06, 100,500 miles

Electrical system: “The truck started having electrical problems, which would come and go. These problems became more severe and numerous as time went by. At first it was just the warning lights coming on and then things like the radio coming on in the middle of the night and no one had the key even in. It would also shift into 4-wheel for no reason. These would only happen once in a while. Then one day when I went to go to work I opened the door and everything came on just opening the door. I got in and put the key in and tried to start the truck but there was nothing. …”

NHTSA complaint #10165178, filed 2006-08, 164,745 miles

Fuel system: “Our mechanic noticed that one of the straps at the rear of the gas tank was missing, and when filling up our 1997 Ford f150, the tank was getting close to being filled, gas started spewing out of the fill tube. We looked under the truck and noticed that the fill tube had shifted due to the rear strap being broken.”

NHTSA complaint #10401527, filed 2011-05, 163,500 miles

Brakes: “The front brakes on my 1997 Ford f150 lock up. While driving the brakes gradually overheat from a failure of the calipers to return to their non-braking position. I have replaced the rubber brake lines, replaced the disk brake pads. Turned the rotors, lubricated the sliding portions of the calipers with high-temperature grease and taken the vehicle to my nearest Ford dealership to have the brakes computer checked and repaired. Never-the-less, the brakes continue to lock up during normal driving conditions. This presents an extreme safety risk. …”

NHTSA complaint #10199481, filed 2007-08, 50,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

7% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 72,000 and 159,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 105,250 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

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 Ford F Series (light) 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 F Series (light).

Other model years of the Ford F Series (light)

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2002	13	120,000	—	—	—	Not enough data
2001	10	98,250	—	—	—	Not enough data
1999	6	123,000	—	—	—	Not enough data
1997	15	105,250	—	—	—	Stable
1994	16	3,345	—	—	—	Stable
1993	12	—	—	—	—	Not enough data
1992	9	—	—	—	—	Not enough data
1991	9	—	—	—	—	Not enough data
1990	8	60,000	—	—	—	Not enough data
1989	6	—	—	—	—	Not enough data
1988	6	130,000	—	—	—	Not enough data

All Ford F Series (light) model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Ford F Series (light) have?

NHTSA recorded 15 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford F Series (light) as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Ford F Series (light) is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 5 complaints (33% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.

Has the 1997 Ford F Series (light) 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 F Series (light) reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 105,250 miles and the middle half falls between 72,000 and 159,000 miles; 7% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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.