1997 Ford E-250
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › E-250 › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Ford E-250. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 1997 Ford E-250. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Remedy
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.
Ford IS recalling 225,000 my 1992-2003 econoline, my 1993-1995 taurus sho, my 1992-1998 crown victoria, my 1993 bronco, f-series, my 1995-1997 f-series super duty stripped chassis, my 1992-1998 mercury grand marquis, and my 1992-1995 lincoln town car vehicles. the affected vehicles were previously repaired using a wiring harness that IS not compatible with…
Risk and remedy
Risk
As a result, the fuse IS located in the output circuit rather than in the intended input power feed circuit, and may not offer the intended protection in the event of an electrical short to ground.
Remedy
Dealers will install a new wiring harness, or replace the mating electrical component. the recall began on february 18, 2008. owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could result in an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected as an interim repair. as soon as repair parts are available (expected october 2007), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a fused wiring harness. the recall began on august 13, 2007, and mailing completed by september 19, 2007. owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly IS out of alignment.
Risk and remedy
Risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to a wheelchair occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at 1-800-769-8267.
Owner complaints
24 complaints4 involved a fire1 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford E-250. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the fan switch that controls the fan speed melted and burned. The contact coasted to the side of the road, pulled the cover for the dashboard, and removed the wires that were connected to the switch. The vehicle was…
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford E-250. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the fan switch that controls the fan speed melted and burned. The contact coasted to the side of the road, pulled the cover for the dashboard, and removed the wires that were connected to the switch. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the burned wires switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 236,092.
- Engine and engine cooling
Spark plug ejection. possible fire hazard. *Tr
- Tires
I have michelin xps 235-83/r16 tires on my motorhome, less than 2 years old. For no reason, I have had 3 failures out of 4 tires. The last failure was in the rv lot, where I have been parked for the last 5 months, and the tire just blew out, same with the other 3 tires. There are many complaints filed on the internet. Please recall all of the defective tires.. *tr
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Ford motor company has failed to provide the necessary service to remedy the cruise control recall specified in odi ID number : 10056190. I have contacted the dealerships in asheville, north carolina & black mountain, north carolina monthly since I was advised of the recall august, 2007. each time I have been told that the repair kit IS unavailable from ford. *Tr
- Engine and engine cooling
Spark plug ejected from cylinder head and repeatedly struck pressurized fuel rail. *Jb
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator · Power train › Automatic transmission
Ford econoline ( 25V) 1997, engine burst into flames while driving. *bf prior to the fire the consumer had other work performed on the vehicle. The alternator was replaced, the overdrive light was on and it was difficult to shift into 2ND gear. the consumer wanted to know if the fire had anything to do with the faulty cruise control switch that are in ford vehicle. *jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
Heater temp control fails. *ak
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Cruise control failure, engine sped up, loss of brakes
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Blown spark plug right out of the head, took the threads with it costing over $3000.00 ford will not except responsability for there negligence in there machine shop can you help?
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor · Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint · Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint · Wheels › Rim
The ball joints and tires wore out faster than normal. Driver noticed this problem every 5000 miles. The cause was lack of lubrication. *ak ball joints were replaced twice along with the front rim and the rotors. *ph *jb
- Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Steering box failure. set screw on race nut backed out causing gear race nut to completely back out causing gear input shaft to move and bind on gear valve housing. this caused my steering to lock up to the right and force me off the freeway at 45 mph.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle was towed due to engine locking up, engine was replaced, consumer states there IS a tsb regarding this problem, tsb99-20-7. *slc
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Since I purchased this vehicle new the front end and brakes has constantly given me problems.vehicle pulls to the left when braking or if you let the wheel loose. Constant brake problems, master cylinder failure's, rotor failures, excessive brake pad failures,caliper failures, abnormal tire wear.…
Since I purchased this vehicle new the front end and brakes has constantly given me problems.vehicle pulls to the left when braking or if you let the wheel loose. Constant brake problems, master cylinder failure's, rotor failures, excessive brake pad failures,caliper failures, abnormal tire wear. Vehicle shakes at 65-70mph tires have been replaced 3 times in 57000 miles and balanced, this vehicle will not stop shaking. Dealer says they do not know what I'm talking about and they can not reproduce this shake. Dealer has replaced many brake parts since this vehicle was new. I just had another brake job completed at debartolo's service,inc 860/739-6073 and they are telling me that the front end can not be aligned and that they can not find the reason why the brakes constantly pull the vehicle to the left. Mr. Debartolo said it IS possible the vehicles frame may be bent. This vehicle has never been in an accident and mr. Debartolo said this problem has to be a factory problem since this vehicle was new. I stopped going to plaza ford since they could not fix this vehicle correctly. No one has ever worked on this vehicle except for the dealer until recently. This vehicle IS used for my business and being without it costs me alot of money and time. Now I'm very concerned for my employee's safety and others on the road.
- Tires › Tread/belt
Tread separation on two front tires of my van. Van started to vibrate, and developed a shimmy from side to side. van was taken to a local dealer where the problem was identified as tread separation.*ak (dot number: 7BAK pda tiresize: lt225/75r1)
- Tires › Tread/belt
While consumer was driving tires did not feel right. He thought he had a punctured tire. but, instead there was tread separation.*ak consumer has since purchased five new tires. (Firestone tires steeltex radial lt225/75r16- dotvdtl1xb426)*jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
This IS one of 2 1997 vans I own, the other van engine blew at 78000,this one did at 82000 ,and it IS thought to be due to the rear seal leaking on exhaust and starting fire at tank. *ak
- Tires › Tread/belt
One tire blewout and the tread separated on the other two tires (16 inch firestone tires). nlm
- Suspension › Front
Vehicle shakes and vibrates at 50-60mph. At a steady speed consumer can't feel it, but if braking to increase speed, it will shake. dealer has changed, and replaced so many things on vehicle to remedy problem.*ak
- Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly · Suspension › Front
Tie rod enf snapped off. vehicle had no steering. Also, there was looseness in front end, causing excessive wear of tires. mechanic said normally it was caused by ball joints, but they had never seen anything like it & had no explanation for it.*ak
- Tires › Sidewall
Sidewall of tire blew out. *ak (tiresize: lt22575r16)( dot number: tire size: lt22575r16 )
- Power train › Automatic transmission
No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
- Suspension › Front › Control arm
There IS a lot of vibration in the steering wheel and the tires are wearing out on the inside due to worn ball joints. Dealer indicates vehicle needs new ball joints. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Company van. Two complete overhauls of front brakes performed twice, rotors resurfaced twice. Dealer aware of the problem. Excessive brake problems, repairs made. Provide further information. *Ak
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Windshield › Electrical heating element
Valve in the heater system failed.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- HVAC Switch Failures
This investigation was opened based on one complaint and reports from four transportation fleets alleging 182 blower motor control switch failures.ODI was concerned that these melting and burning switches could lead to an open flame that could spread throughout the vehicle.After a comprehensive review of all data…
This investigation was opened based on one complaint and reports from four transportation fleets alleging 182 blower motor control switch failures.ODI was concerned that these melting and burning switches could lead to an open flame that could spread throughout the vehicle.After a comprehensive review of all data related to overheating blower motor control switches in the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the existence of a safety defect trend.ODI reviewed 1,036 complaints, claims, and field reports of failed blower motor control switches and determined that only two fires were likely to have been caused by a failing subject blower motor control switch.This represents a failure rate of 0.2 R/100K on a population of 1,076,975 vehicles that have been in service for up to 14 years.ODI has found that when the subject switches do fail and begin to melt, they are constructed in a manner that typically prevents the failing switch from igniting and developing into an open flame.Ford Motor Company has agreed to take two actions to further reduce the likelihood an overheated blower motor switch in the subject vehicles.Ford informed ODI that it has implemented a series of design changes to the subject switch that will help prevent it from developing internal high resistance short circuits.Ford has also informed ODI that it would release a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB-11-11-21) instructing subject vehicle owners to replace the electrical connector at the same time a failed switch is replaced.In light of the low rate of failure resulting in open flame and fire spread on the subject vehicles, and Ford's actions to reduce the likelihood of a switch failure through switch design changes and a TSB, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following (ODI) numbers: 10427875, 10114393, 10257890For additional information, see the attached closing report.
- Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton V-8 and V-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or…
On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton V-8 and V-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi IS not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi IS aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi?s analysis showed, it IS possible for a spark plug to detach from the engine cylinder threads in the subject vehicles.however, odi?s analysis of 474 complaints describing such incidents found only a very few alleged any safety-related consequences.none of these showed any evidence of a serious safety consequence.given the large population and relatively long exposure time of the subject vehicles, the complaint analysis indicates that the risk to motor vehicle safety from the alleged defect IS very low.in view of the foregoing, it IS unlikely that nhtsa would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize nhtsa?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency?s safety mission, the petition IS denied.
- Shift-lock
There is no summary currently available
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10148820This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.
- 10022675Brake booster system may exhibit a brake pedal kickback and/or grabbing condition when applying the brakes.
- 10018941Vibration/harshness above 45 mph (72 km/h) after tire balance.
- 10004072A bump steer steering feeling, noted when the vehicle's front wheels/tires contact road surface irregularities.
- 6092006Subject regarding tire balance hint.
- 6090542Information regarding front cover & water pump bolts-torque valve revision/3.8-4.2l. *Mjs
- 6090309Information regarding a change in the torque values of the engine front cover water pump bolts.
- 6089651Subject on engine coolant leaking into the engine oil on some vehicles.
- 637519Some vehicles equipped with 4r70w transmission (driveshaft >70 inch) may exhibit a vibration / roughness on acceleration or under load at about 50-55 mph.
- 630683Concerns with bump steer steering feeling noted when front wheels / tires contact road surface irregularities.
- 624689Some vehicles may exhibit a fuel fill valve sealing condition.
- 622802Some vehicles equipped with 4r70w transmission (driveshaft >70 inch) may exhibit a driveline vibration / roughness on acceleration or under load at about 50 - 55 mph.
- 616508Special field action regarding revised waranty information.
- 615386Service information for vehicles exhibiting stall on deceleration condition.
- 615371Information on super duty 7.3 dit diesel engine vehicles exhibiti lack of power.
- 615368Some super duty vehicles with 7.3L dit diesel engines may exhibit 4X4 lights on, 4X4 inoperative and / or multiple gem codes.
- 615367Information on super duty models with 7.3L diesel engines exhibiting rough idle / miss condition.
- 615279Some vehicles may exhibit brake rotor checking or signs of excessive heat build-up.
- 615198Some vehicles may exhibit brake rotor checking or signs of excessive heat build-up.
- 615176Malfunction indicator lamp on, with p0300 - p0308 misfire diagnostic trouble codes with a 4.6L engine.
- 615165Brief information concern vehicles exhbiting external oil leaks.
- 615162Brief information on vehicles exhibiting a stall on deceleration condition.
- 615155Brief information on vehicles exhibiting lack of power condition.
- 615154Brief information vehicles exhibiting hard start / no start condition.
- 615151Information on vehicles exhibiting rough idle / miss.
- 613754Some vehicles equipped with the 4.2L engine may exhibit a vibration or boom, off idle between 870 - 900 rpms.
- 613195Subject regarding external oil leaks - repeat message.
- 613183Repeat message regarding a stall on decel condition.
- 613141Repeat message regarding a hard start / no start condition.
- 613103Repeat message regarding vehicles exhibiting a lack of power.
- 613086Repeat message regarding vehicles exhibiting rough idle / miss condition.
- 608422Concerns with the oil dipstick and / or pcv valve dislodging from the engine and / or engine oil leaking from dipstick tube.
- 607708Vehicle stalls/quits while driving.
- 607157Vehicle stalls upon acceleration.
- 607148Lack of power due to failure of engine turbo boost
- 607139Repeat message, no change: hard start/ no start.
- 607132Repeat message, no change- rough idle/miss.
- 606839Addressing tire balance hints.
- 606484Concerns with engine coolant leaking into engine oil on some vehicles.
- 605809Subject on relative injector flow test success story.
Every Ford E-250 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.