1997 Ford E-150 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other E-150 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford E-150. That is the most of any E-150 model year in the database (24 years). The most reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (21 complaints, 21%), typically at around 90,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 4 fires, 2 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 102owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Ford E-150 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 | 21% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 20% | 77,123 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 | 15% | 81,432 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 8% | 137,500 | — | — |
| Tires | 8 | 8% | 150,258 | — | — |
| Steering | 6 | 6% | 162,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 6% | 163,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 5% | 175,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 5% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 3% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 3% | 136,190 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 1% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford E-150 recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: All in one mobility is recalling certain model year 1997 through 2008 conversion vans equipped with vmi/ricon 6-way power seat bases. There is a possibility of a defective weld at the joint between the pivoting plate and the pivoting plate pin.
Risk: The seat occupant may be injured if the seat base pin were to break.
Fix: All in one mobility will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on june 22, 2010. Owners may contact all in one mobility at 1-503-255-5005.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: 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 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle speed control:cruise control
Problem: Ford is recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 lincoln town car vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that is not compatible with the vehicle circuit polarity.
Risk: As a result, the fuse is located in the output circuit rather than in the intended input power feed circuit, and may not offer the intended protection in the event of an electrical short to ground.
Fix: Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. The recall began on february 18, 2008. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. As soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. The recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Problem: On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to a wheelchair occupant.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at 1-800-769-8267.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: on certain vans with ambulance prep packages or other severe-duty applications involving operation at or near the gross vehicle weight with frequent twisting of the vehicle body, such as off-road, rough road or speed bump events, the 35 gallon mid-ship fuel tank could develop a crack where it contacts the frame cross member. If the fuel tank cracks, fuel leakage could occur.
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and, if cracked, will replace the tank. Insulator pads will be installed on all vehicles to reduce the stress levels in the fuel tank. Owner notification began april 19, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford E-150. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in a parking lot, the contact leaned over to the passengerâs side to pick up the cell phone. The contact stated that after sitting back straight in the seat, the air bag deployed unintendedly and without impact…
The contact owns a 1997 Ford E-150 equipped with Milestar Tires, Tire Line: Grantland, Tire Size: 235/75/R15, DOT number: TB20R028. The contact stated while driving approximately 45-50 mph, the tires were bouncing. The contact stated upon checking the tires, his son noticed that the tires were…
My husband had just started up his e150 econoline van pulling out of the driveway and the airbag just deployed. There was no reason he was not in any accident he did not run over anything he didn't hit anything. And no one can tell me why this happened. If he had been on the interstate that he…
While backing out of tight parking spot 9/1/17, with multiple turns of the wheel, turned wheel one last time to pull forward into parking spot drive area but at that point, heard a clunk and all steering control was gone. Called for a tow. Tow truck drive assisted in the diagnosis noting that the…
Driving on bestbuy parking lot, went over a speed bumper heard a loud clunk coming from driver side front tire. Drove home, stopped van, got help, while turning the steering to left, loud metal clunk from that driver side, helper on floor noticed that bottom bolt holding power steering box is going…
Other Ford E-150 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 E-150 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 E-150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 E-150 | 8 | 1 |
| 2015 E-150 | 8 | 1 |
| 2014 E-150 | 6 | 6 |
| 2013 E-150 | 19 | 6 |
| 2012 E-150 | 12 | 8 |
| 2011 E-150 | 23 | 11 |
| 2010 E-150 | 10 | 7 |
| 2009 E-150 | 7 | 12 |
| 2008 E-150 | 11 | 17 |
| 2007 E-150 | 12 | 18 |
| 2006 E-150 | 17 | 14 |
| 2005 E-150 | 16 | 2 |
| 2004 E-150 | 33 | 5 |
| 2003 E-150 | 21 | 5 |
| 2002 E-150 | 28 | 3 |
| 2001 E-150 | 37 | 4 |
| 2000 E-150 | 50 | 6 |
| 1999 E-150 | 83 | 6 |
| 1998 E-150 | 60 | 5 |
| 1997 | 102 | 6 |
| 1996 E-150 | 59 | 3 |
| 1995 E-150 | 71 | 3 |
See all Ford E-150 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford E-150?
Owners most often report fuel system, gasoline, engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, fuel system, gasoline, accounts for 21 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford E-150?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Ford E-150 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other E-150 model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.