1997 Ford F Super Duty Problems
- Complaints
- 24filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 37,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns 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 Super Duty (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford F Super Duty. The part named most often is tires, with 13 complaints (54% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and brakes (2). 3 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 37,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Tires complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the gas recirculation valve (egr valve) filed under the same part.
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.
- Tires13 54%
- Engine cooling3 13%
- Brakes2 8.3%
- Electrical system2 8.3%
- Suspension2 8.3%
- Vehicle speed control2 8.3%
- Steering1 4.2%
Example complaints
Tires: “Tread separation discovered before pealing. Tire is out of round and causes vehicle to shake. Problem diagnosed by reputable mechanic. Tire size is lt225/75 r16 m/s. Failure discerned already at purchase of vehile at 27000 miles. I still have the tire. I contacted a firestone dealer in the milwaukee, wi area but he offered no reimbursement or warranty. (DOT number: vn1l1xa346 tiresize: lt225/75r1)”
NHTSA complaint #751276, filed 2001-08Engine cooling: “The brakes failed while driving. The consumer found the brakes reservoir empty, then inspected the brake lines and saw a hole in the rear brake line. Consumer lost control of vehicle when brakes went out and went over a curb, over parking lots, into a parking lot, and caused fuel tank and strap damage, front end and rear tad axle out of the alignment. Consumer found wear hole in rear brake line, EGR tube corroded, burnt engine cover, and carpet.”
NHTSA complaint #10127908, filed 2005-06, 26,420 milesBrakes: “While decellerating, brake pedal went soft, brake warning light activated, and vehicle was stopped with front brakes only, nearly causing an accident. Inspection revealed left rear brake hose (flexible) had been abraded by aftermarket modification by the motorhome manufacturer, fleetwood enterprises. Tag axle linkage added by fleetwood adjacent to brake hose caused hose to be abraded in two locations, one of which wore through causing brake fluid loss and failure.”
NHTSA complaint #755202, filed 2001-12Electrical system: “Took vehicle to dealer regarding recall notice received, dealer does not have the parts and cant get them, has been unable to receive them from manufacturer. Consumer states has been to dealership 3 times and dealer still unable to get part.”
NHTSA complaint #806515, filed 1996-12Mileage when problems were reported
67% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 26,420 and 287,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 97V209000Nov 13, 1997Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve…Covers: Ford F Super Duty 1993–1997
Vehicle description: motor home chassis. Hot exhaust gasses can leak from the exhaust gas return (egr) tube on the engine. A hole can develop in the flexible section of the tube. Heat damage to the passenger compartment floor and floor covering can occur.
- 97V187000Oct 29, 1997Tires › BeadCovers: Ford F Super Duty 1997, F-250 1997, F-350 1997
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and chassis. The tires on these vehicles were damaged during mounting onto the wheels. Only trucks produced at the cuautitlan, mexico plant between september 1, 1996, and july 17, 1997, were affected by the defect.
- 96V177000Sep 18, 1996Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery › CablesCovers: Ford F Super Duty 1997
A plastic coated steel support strap for the battery cable was damaged when it was crimped onto the cable.
Recall details for the 1997 Ford F Super Duty → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
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.
- 10014275Jan 1, 2005Transmission and drivetrain. A driveline clunk or bump when starting from a stop.
Other model years of the Ford F Super Duty
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 31 | 72,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Stable |
| 2005 | 27 | 80,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 14 | 60,844 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 27 | 96,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 34 | 82,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 32 | 83,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 63 | 85,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 93 | 110,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 14 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 24 | 37,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 8 | 4,999 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 12 | 231,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1994 | 20 | 73,750 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 8 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford F Super Duty model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Ford F Super Duty have?
NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1997 Ford F Super Duty as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 Ford F Super Duty is reported most often?
Tires is named most often, in 13 complaints (54% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.
Has the 1997 Ford F Super Duty been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 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 Super Duty reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 37,000 miles and the middle half falls between 26,420 and 287,000 miles; 67% 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.