1997 Ford F-150 vs 1997 Ford F-250
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Ford F-150 | 1997 Ford F-250 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 2,758 | 304 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 325 | 316 |
| Investigations | 8 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 165 | 20 |
| Fire reports | 262 | 19 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–17 | 13–15 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 108,898 mi | 115,604 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford F-150 | Ford F-250 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 529 | 29 |
| Tires | 305 | 42 |
| Structure | 226 | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 213 | 30 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 215 | 24 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 223 | 15 |
| Suspension | 204 | 30 |
| Steering | 202 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 185 | 12 |
| Stalling | 86 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 76 | 9 |
| Overheating | 64 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 47 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 37 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 28 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 0 |
1997 Ford F-150
1997 Ford F-250
Compare all Ford F-150 vs Ford F-250 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.