1997 Ford Econoline Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Econoline years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 24 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Econoline. That ranks 3rd out of 24 Econoline model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (20 complaints, 25%), typically at around 89,400 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 79owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Ford Econoline 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 20 | 25% | 89,400 | — | — |
| Tires | 13 | 16% | 126,500 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 14% | 106,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 9 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 5 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 5% | 2,300 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 4% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 3 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | 114,250 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford Econoline recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Problem: The battery cable harness does not have adequate protection from contacting and being damaged by the right engine mount.
Risk: If the battery cable or starter wire insulation is damaged by such contact, a short to ground can occur resulting in overheating of the wiring and possible ignition of surrounding components.
Fix: Dealers will inspect for chafing of the cable and will add insulation and a tie strap to the battery cable harness.
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.
1997 ford econoline. Consumer writes in regards to tire issues and repair reimbursement.* ld the consumer discovered the tires on her vehicle were recalled. However, she was never notified. Recall #12t007000. *jb
1997 ford econoline van. The spark-plug blew out of the aluminum triton engine destroying the existing threads. Fire hazard. Exposed fuel to engine compartment. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford econoline. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the brakes malfunctioned. The contact had to apply the brakes several times before they would engage. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The manufacturer, when called, stated that the master…
As i type this complaint, i am listening to secretary lahood,....if what he says is true i should hear something back from you fairly soon!! I have a complaint with the v10 ford engine.....if you go to the internet and type in "ford v10 engine spark plug ejecting" or anything similar to that…
1997 ford econoline with speed control recall. Consumer states that the dealer did not have any parts in september. He states that they still had no parts in december. As of april they still have no parts to repair this problem. *kb
Other Ford Econoline years
← 1996 Econoline · 1998 Econoline →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Econoline | 1 | 2 |
| 2018 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2017 Econoline | 3 | 1 |
| 2016 Econoline | 3 | 1 |
| 2015 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2013 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 Econoline | 0 | 1 |
| 2010 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 Econoline | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2006 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2005 Econoline | 0 | 2 |
| 2003 Econoline | 22 | 2 |
| 2002 Econoline | 23 | 2 |
| 2001 Econoline | 28 | 3 |
| 2000 Econoline | 39 | 3 |
| 1999 Econoline | 84 | 5 |
| 1998 Econoline | 46 | 2 |
| 1997 | 79 | 2 |
| 1996 Econoline | 81 | 3 |
| 1995 Econoline | 73 | 4 |
See all Ford Econoline problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
Similar Ford models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Econoline?
Owners most often report service brakes, hydraulic, tires, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, service brakes, hydraulic, accounts for 20 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Econoline?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Ford Econoline a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Econoline model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.