1997 Ford Ford Truck problems & reliability
34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Ford Ford Truck. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
3 complaints report injuries (6 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tires → | 10 | 29% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 18% |
| Electrical System | 5 | 15% |
| Power Train | 4 | 12% |
| Suspension | 3 | 9% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 6% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 6% |
| Steering | 2 | 6% |
| Structure | 2 | 6% |
| Wheels | 2 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 14 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“I was going down the road around 55 mph and had a sudden loose of power due to a spark plug blowing out of the engine and breaking a coil pack . This is a dangerous problem and seems to be a common one with ford f150 5.4 liter triton engines ford should have a recall on this. *tr”
Electrical System · filed Jan 19, 2010
“There was a recall on my 1997 toyota 4 runner. I have called the dealership several times and told that the part had to be ordered and they would call me. This has been ongoing for over 7 months. *tr”
Suspension · filed Aug 21, 2007
“My car burn by it self, it was parked in driveway I have talk to the dealer many times and they do not want to fixed. *nm”
Electrical System · filed Oct 4, 2005
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
11 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1997 Ford Ford Truck. The 10 most recent:
Vehicle exhibiting signs of front brake hose not aligned properly. *tt
4751 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 1, 1998
This bulletin mentions how some hub o-rings may be cut during the installation of the wheels. *tt
983302 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 4, 1998
For availability of major assemblies, please refer to the exchange program guide. *tt
982035 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 1, 1998
Verify the transaxle installed in the vehicle is the correct model and model year for the vehicle. *jd
BC0141970201 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 2, 1997
Glow plug diagnostic changes. *tw
BC0015961101 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 1, 1996
Trucks with 7.3l engines with hard starting concern and dtc of 340, 341 or 344 may have a damaged cmp sensor. *tw
BC0014961101 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 1, 1996
Revised hose part# f6hz-9j291-a has been developed to replace hose that shows signs of deterioration, cracks may appear in the outer covering of the hose. *tt
BC5221961001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 1996
Information on servicing vehicles with fluid leak from the front axle vent. Revised cover pt# f6tz-4033-ba. *tt
BC5220961001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 1996
Vehicles may experience unexplained mil light codes &/or irregular shifting (a4ld). The -12a581- (95-96) or -12b637- (97) wire loom is coming into contact w/ the center wiper access plate lwr ctr. *tt
BC5200961001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 1996
Information on part number for the rotunda tool that is stated in safety recall rcl/96s48-rcl/96s99. *tt
BC0846961001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 1, 1996
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1997 Ford Ford Truck in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1997 Ford Ford Truck?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.