1997 Ford F-350 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 31, 2011 · 3 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other F-350 SD years
Not enough data 29th of 32 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford F-350 SD. That ranks 29th out of 32 F-350 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (1 complaints, 33%), typically at around 150,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 1997 Ford F-350 SD problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine and Engine Cooling1 · ~150,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control1
Wheels1 · ~65,850 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine and Engine Cooling133%150,000——
Vehicle Speed Control133%———
Wheels133%65,850——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2007, with 1 complaints
2007: 1200712008: 1200812011: 120111

n = 3 complaints · Source: NHTSA

1997 Ford F-350 SD recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Vehicle speed controlOct 13, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V399000 · 4,500,000 vehicles

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:dieselDec 5, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V553000 · 1,176,000 vehicles

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 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.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-350 superduty. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, the front passenger wheel broke in half. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop who stated that the wheel was defective. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The vehicle…

Wheels · received Jan 31, 2011 · NHTSA complaint 10379639

Ford f-350 diesel dually caught on fire under the hood while sitting in a parking lot. The vehicle was just finished being driven. The engine was shut off and the key was removed from the ignition. The fire dept came and extinguished the fire. Vehicle is a total loss. Insurance will not cover the…

Engine and Engine Cooling · received Sep 11, 2008 · NHTSA complaint 10241811

Received recall notice from ford for defective speed control deactivation switch. Local dealerships have no parts to correct the problem. *jb

Vehicle Speed Control · received Oct 13, 2007 · NHTSA complaint 10205566

Other Ford F-350 SD years

← 1996 F-350 SD · 1998 F-350 SD →

See all Ford F-350 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-350 SD?

Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control, wheels problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford F-350 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-350 SD a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-350 SD model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.