1997 Ford F-150 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 202 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 1997 Ford F-150, 7% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 111,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “tie rod” (24% of reports).
- 202steering complaints
- 111,000median miles at failure
- 13mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 23%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Tie rod: mentioned in 49 of 202 complaints (24%)
- Steering shaft: mentioned in 22 of 202 complaints (11%)
- Gear box: mentioned in 14 of 202 complaints (7%)
- Loss control: mentioned in 11 of 202 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 42 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 202 complaints, 13 mention a crash, 5 an injury.
Ford F-150 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-150 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2025 F-150 | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2024 F-150 | 4 | 2% | 9,250 |
| 2023 F-150 | 17 | 4% | 108,050 |
| 2022 F-150 | 9 | 2% | 10,100 |
| 2021 F-150 | 42 | 4% | 64,500 |
| 2020 F-150 | 10 | 1% | 54,279 |
| 2019 F-150 | 22 | 2% | 11,800 |
| 2018 F-150 | 83 | 4% | 16,075 |
| 2017 F-150 | 59 | 4% | 30,500 |
| 2016 F-150 | 64 | 3% | 48,500 |
| 2015 F-150 | 84 | 5% | 38,200 |
| 2014 F-150 | 159 | 10% | 70,000 |
| 2013 F-150 | 216 | 7% | 74,500 |
| 2012 F-150 | 204 | 11% | 72,000 |
| 2011 F-150 | 419 | 19% | 76,000 |
| 2010 F-150 | 48 | 6% | 60,500 |
| 2009 F-150 | 29 | 9% | 57,500 |
| 2008 F-150 | 53 | 14% | 63,184 |
| 2007 F-150 | 29 | 6% | 69,250 |
| 2006 F-150 | 55 | 9% | 60,000 |
| 2005 F-150 | 34 | 3% | 80,000 |
| 2004 F-150 | 75 | 4% | 41,000 |
| 2003 F-150 | 15 | 4% | 46,610 |
| 2002 F-150 | 25 | 3% | 82,759 |
| 2001 F-150 | 33 | 3% | 75,000 |
| 2000 F-150 | 68 | 6% | 60,000 |
| 1999 F-150 | 50 | 5% | 61,000 |
| 1998 F-150 | 96 | 7% | 84,926 |
| 1997 F-150 | 202 | 7% | 111,000 |
| 1996 F-150 | 20 | 6% | 122,848 |
| 1995 F-150 | 25 | 4% | 37,385 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:gear box:shaft sector
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
Risk: This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated and bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection. Owner notification began on may 30, 2003. 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Steering wheel frame is cracked and allows for large movement before the vehicle may respond. Aluminum appears to have several hairline cracks and warping around the collar holding the steering column and you may loose control while turning or when the road surface is uneven at mid to high speeds…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that while at a stop sign and attempted to make a right turn, the steering wheel became hard and a pop sound emerged from the steering column. The vehicle was driven for approximately a half a block then the steering wheel seized. The…
I just started having issues with my steering. I was turning right and my steering wheel locked up and i had to tug hard to unbind and regain control of my truck. I have not had an accident, but this just started happening and has happened several times while driving and turning. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1997 Ford F-150s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 202 owner complaints about steering for the 1997 Ford F-150 (7% of the 2,758 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford F-150 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 111,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 1997 Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “tie rod”, in 49 of 202 complaints, followed by “steering shaft” (22).
Other 1997 Ford F-150 problems
See all 1997 Ford F-150 problems or steering problems across all F-150 years.