1997 Ford E-450
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › E-450 › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Ford E-450. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1997 Ford E-450. 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.
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. the recall began on august 7, 2006. owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)
Owner complaints
18 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford E-450. the contact stated the heater control switch failed to function; therefore, only cold air emits from the heater system. The contact believed the failure was related to the failure described in a manufactures recall . The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
- Tires › Sidewall
The 1997 tires with 18,000 miles on them have large cracks around the entire sidewall of all 6 tires (motorhome). Now afraid to drive because of all the firestone re-calls. Was wondering if these tires had a re-call (firestone steeltex radial R4S, lt225/75r16 m/s). No "incident" as of yet... *la
- Tires › Tread/belt
Tread separation, would ave caused a serious accident if tire had been located on front wheel. *ak
- Tires
Had 2 blowouts.1at 22000mi and 1 at 26000.threw all the tread on the 1ST one tire cool to touch and outside temp 58deg.looks like tread had never been glued on to carcus.the 2ND tire blew at 55mph outside temp56deg.looked as if part of the tread was glued.i know of 2 other class c motorhomes who have experienced the same problem.between the 3 mh we have had 7 blowouts. *Ak (dot number: VD1L 1XD tiresize: 225/75/16)
- Tires
Both right rear duals blew out. replaced all 6 tires for family safety. *Ak (tiresize: lt22575r16)
- Tires › Tread/belt
While traveling heard a loud noise. Pulled vehicle over and noticed tread separation. lt225/75r16. *Ak consumer has experienced blow out twice, also has experienced blow outs due to sidewall cracks.*jb
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. Rewelding of crossmember has not corrected problem, was still cracking, redone with support added. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. Rewelding of crossmember has not corrected problem, was still cracking, redone with support added. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. Rewelding of crossmember has not corrected problem, was still cracking, redone with support added. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. Rewelding of crossmember has not corrected problem, was still cracking, redone with support added. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. *mjs
- Structure › Frame and members
The front crossmember cracking at main frame, ford has issued a service bulletin #991411 to address this condition. *mjs
- Tires › Tread/belt
Tire failed while responding on an emergency ambulance call. tread peeled off and broke the left front break line. did body damage to the left front fender, door and running board. all firestone tires have been replaced on two ambulances since this accident.( dot number: vdil tire size: 225/75r16 )
- Tires › Tread/belt
Pe #00020; firestone, steeltex, p225/75r16. right inside rear tire tread separated from tire. vehicle IS a ambulance and moving approximately 60 mph. dot # begins with vd. tires were the production tires of the vehicle with 27000 mileage. vehicle IS a ford, E450, chassis.*ak the ambulance corp. Requests reimbursment for 12 tires that were replaced for tread separation. *Yh
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- HVAC Switch Failures
ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers…
ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers have reported a burning smell or smoke coming from the dash.One fleet reported a vehicle fire.No injuries were sustained.However, the bus was carrying special needs children when the driver noticed smoke coming from the dash.The driver was able to evacuate the children prior to the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames.This PE has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to determine if the blower motor switch failures create a situation where a vehicle fire is possible and presents a safety risk to the driver and other passengers.
- Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 IS closed with ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in…
Ea05-005 IS closed with ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.ford IS also including the entire population of 1998 explorers.ford has informed odi that testing to determine the cause of failures in the 1998 explorers will continue after this investigation IS closed.odi believes that the vehicles exhibiting the factors causing scds failure described in this report correlate well with the observed failure rates on these vehicles by model and model year.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that a safety-related defect does not exist in the non-recalled vehicles manufactured with scds that are not included in ford?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the non-recalled population for incidence of engine compartment fires.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for details.
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.
- 10018941Vibration/harshness above 45 mph (72 km/h) after tire balance.
- 10013320Fluid leaking from the vent on the transmission mounted parking brake assembly.
- 6091758Subject regarding dana 80 axle whine / dampened driveshaft.
- 622744Some cut-away vehicles may exhibit anti-skid brake system diagnostic trouble code c1229, c1230 and c1237.
- 620274Some vehicles with model 80 rear axles only may exhibit a whine above 35 mph.
- 615343Some vehicles with the dana 80 model axle may exhibit a customer concern with the level of sound (whine) that IS produced above 35 mph. Engineering IS investigating.
- 613239Some E-450 vehicles with the dana 80 model axle may exhibit a customer concern with the level of sound (whine) that IS produced above 35 mph. *Mjs
- 612878Some vehicles with model 80 rear axles only, may exhibit a whine above 35 mph. *Mjs
- 612659Some vehicles with model 80 rear axles only, may exhibit a whine above 35 mph.
- 612257Some vehicles with model 80 rear axles only may exhibit a whine above 35 mph.
- 610702Some vehicles with model 80 rear axles only may exhibit a concern with the amount of sound, whine produced above 35 mph.
- 605227For vehicles with model 80 rear axles, exhibiting a whine noise concern, a service kit with a dampened driveshaft IS availble.
Every Ford E-450 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.