1997 Ford F-250 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-250 SD years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 23rd of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford F-250 SD. That ranks 23rd out of 32 F-250 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (11 complaints, 28%), typically at around 89,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 7 fires, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 39owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Ford F-250 SD 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 28% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 8 | 21% | 67,560 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 18% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 15% | 88,700 | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 10% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 5% | 57,123 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 5% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 3% | 88,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 3% | 40,036 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 3% | 40,036 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Ford F-250 SD recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
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.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Problem: On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3l diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on december 29, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
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
- Engine stalling (EA06012) — opened Jun 22, 2006, closed Dec 7, 2007, led to recall 07V553000.
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head (DP05005) — opened Sep 22, 2005, closed Jan 4, 2006.
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Was driving my 1997 f-250 from home to the dump when the strap on my front fuel tank broke/ruptured and the tank fell to the ground, still attached by fuel lines to the truck. A passing motorist brought it to my attention. I have owned the truck since 2010 and it has been operated in md during this…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-250 sd. While driving approximately 40 mph, the contact heard a noise coming from the engine area. Suddenly, the vehicle began to vibrate and hesitate in a jerking motion. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who stated that one of the engines spark…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f250 hd. The contact stated that he had to replace the straps that held the fuel tank to the frame due to severe rust and corrosion. The manufacturer was not been contacted. The current and failure mileage was approximately 57,123. Updated 02/23/11 *bf updated…
There's a recall on my 1997 f250 7.3 diesel. The recall is for the automatic transmission gear selector. I took it to ford to have it fixed cause i was experiencing the problem and he told me that my vin did not qualify. *tr
The failure was the cruise control started a fire in my 1997 ford f250 while my wife ,our 16 month old and myself were sleeping. Luckily we got out but everything we had is a total lose. *tr
Other Ford F-250 SD years
← 1996 F-250 SD · 1998 F-250 SD →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-250 SD | 9 | 6 |
| 2025 F-250 SD | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 F-250 SD | 40 | 4 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 43 | 16 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 126 | 17 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 166 | 12 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 265 | 14 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 1,164 | 11 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 398 | 9 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 1,155 | 14 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 290 | 3 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 296 | 2 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 26 | 0 |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 57 | 0 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 122 | 0 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 23 | 0 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 141 | 0 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 54 | 1 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 274 | 1 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 295 | 3 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 254 | 2 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 178 | 4 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 245 | 3 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 288 | 2 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 233 | 2 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 249 | 2 |
| 1998 F-250 SD | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 | 39 | 2 |
| 1996 F-250 SD | 11 | 1 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 9 | 1 |
See all Ford F-250 SD 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 F-250 SD?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford F-250 SD?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Ford F-250 SD a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-250 SD model years, the 1997 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.