1997 Ford F-350
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › F-350 › 1997
These records cover every 1997 Ford F-350. 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 F-350. Newest first.
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)
This IS not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it IS deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. equipment description: ford IS replacing all firestone wilderness at 15, 16, and 17 inch tires mounted on ford trucks and suvs. ford reports tread separation can occur due to a combination of the sensitivity of the tire…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Should the tread separate at highway speeds, a vehicle crash could occur, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
Remedy
The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on march 31, 2002. however, customers can contact ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.ford.com for possible assistance.
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and chassis. the tires on these vehicles were damaged during mounting onto the wheels. only trucks produced at the cuautitlan, mexico plant between september 1, 1996, and july 17, 1997, were affected by the defect.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The bead area of the tire was cut which could result in air loss. sudden air loss could occur resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
Remedy
Due to the age of the vehicles and this recall affecting original equipment tires only, ford will no longer accept claims for this campaign.
The retainer clip that holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm IS missing.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A loss of service braking can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect to verify that the retainer clips are installed and if clips are missing will install clips.
Owner complaints
155 complaints10 involved a crash11 involved a fire3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Engine · Power train
On the passenger side of the engine pan the dipstick adapter was manufactured poorly. The oil from the crankcase has caused the oring to swell and leak oil. The oil leak IS getting on the starter and clutch. The oil can cause a short in the electrical system. This can cause an accident or death…
On the passenger side of the engine pan the dipstick adapter was manufactured poorly. The oil from the crankcase has caused the oring to swell and leak oil. The oil leak IS getting on the starter and clutch. The oil can cause a short in the electrical system. This can cause an accident or death while driving. The oil on the clutch can cause loss of control and cause an accident or death. The oring can swell and fall off the adaptor and become lodged in the oil pickup. This will starve the motor of oil and cause a catastrophic failure of the motor while driving. This can cause an accident or death. Due to the inherent poor design the oring that IS submerged in oil should be compatible with oil or be able to be replaced. It IS not possible to replace the oring due to due to the terrible design of the dipstick assembly. To replace this oring with a proper oil compatible one requires the disassembly of the motor and the removal of the motor to gain access to the defective part. This IS a common problem on all vehicles of the same make and model from 1988-2006.
- Engine
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and it stalled a second time. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive home. Gladian repair shop of pittsburg, virginia was made aware of the failure and…
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350. While driving 25 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact restarted the vehicle and it stalled a second time. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive home. Gladian repair shop of pittsburg, virginia was made aware of the failure and suggested a list of unknown repairs. Camel brothers repair shop of prince george, virginia replaced the accelerator pedal position switch sensor, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
- Engine
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall. After restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the cam…
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall. After restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. The contact indicated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the cam shaft position sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 07v553000 (engine). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 92,000.
- Tires
We were travelling 65 mph on the 91 freeway toll road when my left rear tire tread completely separated from the casing causing my vehicle to swerve and jump and causing significant damage to my vehicle, including damaging the fuel fill line. fortunately there was no fuel leakage. The tire did not…
We were travelling 65 mph on the 91 freeway toll road when my left rear tire tread completely separated from the casing causing my vehicle to swerve and jump and causing significant damage to my vehicle, including damaging the fuel fill line. fortunately there was no fuel leakage. The tire did not deflate so there was no puncture or other externally caused damage to the tire or vehicle. I took the tire to a bf goodrich dealer on 10/19/14 for inspection, the tire was still fully inflated. the dealer deflated the tire out of safety concerns. had this been a front tire the potential for damage and injury would have significantly increased. the tire was purchased in july 2012 and was just over 2 years old. tire dot# IS BFW8 0211 0712. *tr
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling
While driving my 1997 ford F350 diesel pickup, pulling a 36FT gooseneck horse trailer with my two teenage daughters and their four horses, the engine in my pickup spontaneously ignited. there was no "check engine" warning light, and the engine temperature gauge showed normal. the only warning I…
While driving my 1997 ford F350 diesel pickup, pulling a 36FT gooseneck horse trailer with my two teenage daughters and their four horses, the engine in my pickup spontaneously ignited. there was no "check engine" warning light, and the engine temperature gauge showed normal. the only warning I had was smoke coming up from the left wheel well upon speed decrease to turn a corner. I was traveling a short distance from home and at a low rate of speed (less than 40mph) during the travel from my home to the local fairgrounds for rodeo practice. as I turned the corner, the smoke billowed. I immediately pulled over and smoke filled the cab of the pickup. my two daughters and I quickly evacuated the vehicle and called 911. we quickly unloaded the livestock from the trailer and got far away from the scene. my fiance, who was traveling behind us in another vehicle, tried putting the fire out with the fire extinguisher I carried in my pickup, but to no avail. as an emergency responder himself, he had the presence of mind to unhook the pickup from the horse trailer and push it away as it became engulfed in flames. by the time the fire department arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames and a total loss. from the time I noticed the smoke until the fire consumed the vehicle was less than 15 minutes. my daughters have been traumatized by this incident. we have suffered significant financial and economic loss as a result of this spontaneous fire. I need to make people aware of this to prevent others from suffering similar loss, injury or even death. I am aware that there are multiple electrical issues with this make/model vehicle. I received no recall notices from ford, or warning of any kind that something like this could happen to my vehicle as a result of a faulty part (which IS what we believed to be the cause of this fire). *tr
- Structure › Body
TL* the contact owns 1997 ford F-350. The contact stated that she noticed that the frame was fractured. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 175,000. *tr
- Wheels
Rear driver side tread separated from tire at 75mph in the state of nebraska.22hrs. Later in the state of ohio the passenger rear separated. Contacted firestone and they will not take any responsibility for incident. *tr
- Fuel system, gasoline
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the fuel gauge meter suddenly indicated that the fuel tank was empty. The contact also discovered that the panel for the fuel tank was detached, causing the fuel tank to be separated from the chassis. The vehicle…
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the fuel gauge meter suddenly indicated that the fuel tank was empty. The contact also discovered that the panel for the fuel tank was detached, causing the fuel tank to be separated from the chassis. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and the manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000 and the current mileage was 146,823.
- Engine and engine cooling
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350 turbo diesel. The contact stated that the oil gallery plugs in the engine block were leaking oil while he was driving. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the dealer stated that they would repair the vehicle free of charge. However, the dealer…
TL* the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350 turbo diesel. The contact stated that the oil gallery plugs in the engine block were leaking oil while he was driving. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the dealer stated that they would repair the vehicle free of charge. However, the dealer called him and explained that his vehicle was outside the warranty. The vehicle had not been repaired but the contact stopped driving it on the street. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that they used a new material when producing those models and the plugs would leak, but refused to assist in repair costs. There were photographs available. The current mileage was approximately 66,700. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
- Fuel system, gasoline
We drove the truck and it never got hot or acted up then we parked it and a little bit later it was on fire. *Tr
- Service brakes, hydraulic
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350 with a diesel engine. The contact stated that when he stopped at a traffic light, stop, the brake pedal felt unusually weak and there was a strong odor of brake fluid in the vehicle. The contact then accelerated to speeds of 10 mph and made a turn. In doing…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford F-350 with a diesel engine. The contact stated that when he stopped at a traffic light, stop, the brake pedal felt unusually weak and there was a strong odor of brake fluid in the vehicle. The contact then accelerated to speeds of 10 mph and made a turn. In doing so, he noticed flames from underneath the hood near the master cylinder. The engine was shut off and the fire department was called to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries. A fire report was filed accordingly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the dealer did not want the vehicle on the property and the contact to remove it immediately. There were no repairs made to the vehicle. The contact stated the vehicle was sold to a local junkyard. The approximate failure mileage was 275,404 and the current mileage was 275,404.
- Service brakes, hydraulic
A steel brake line on my truck rusted and ruptured causing a complete brake failure. This IS the second occurrence of this problem on this vehicle. The brake line had rusted and had a partial failure, causing a leak. The rusted section was replaced about 5 years ago. The recent line failure caused an accident. *tr
- Electrical system · Vehicle speed control
Vehicle fire 1997 ford F350, caused by fire starting in brake master cylinder. *Jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Stopped at a stop signal and engine quit. cranked okay, but would not start. got it towed to my house. after lots of trouble shooting for not starting, noticed that the engine tachometer was not working when trying to start. replaced the cam position sensor, f7tz-12k073-b. the truck started right up.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
Cam shaft position sensor in truck has gone out suddenly and could be very dangerous when moving - loss of power steering and brakes. Evidently almost all engines have this part fail at some point and have done nothing to help the consumer.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
I have had two camshaft position sensor failures on my 97' F350 7.3L diesel in a matter of one year. This left me stranded on both occasions. I discovered on several ford truck discussion forums that this IS one the most common failures on these trucks through a variety of years. I could not find…
I have had two camshaft position sensor failures on my 97' F350 7.3L diesel in a matter of one year. This left me stranded on both occasions. I discovered on several ford truck discussion forums that this IS one the most common failures on these trucks through a variety of years. I could not find any person who owned a similar year truck and did not have this component fail on them. Please take action on this issue. *jb
- Vehicle speed control
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was parked for several hours when fire and smoke was noticed coming from under the hood near the windshield. the fire department was contact and after the fire was put out, it was determined the vehicle speed control module was responsible for the fire. a fire…
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was parked for several hours when fire and smoke was noticed coming from under the hood near the windshield. the fire department was contact and after the fire was put out, it was determined the vehicle speed control module was responsible for the fire. a fire report was taken by the fire department and photos were available. A police report was not taken. the vehicle was towed to the insurers lot for further investigation. the manufacturer was not yet notified.
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Hose, piping, and connections
Dt*: the contact stated the steering wheel became very difficult to turn while backing up. the vehicle was towed to the dealership who determined the power steering hose came loose, which caused the vehicle to leak power steering fluid and lose all power steering. the dealership informed the…
Dt*: the contact stated the steering wheel became very difficult to turn while backing up. the vehicle was towed to the dealership who determined the power steering hose came loose, which caused the vehicle to leak power steering fluid and lose all power steering. the dealership informed the contact the diesel engine vibration caused the rubber seal that held the power steering hose on to come loose. updated 9/18/2006 - *nm
- Unknown or other
Dt: the contact's vehicle was involved in an accident. Upon impact, the air bag did not deploy. This accident was a frontal impact collision. The driver was wearing a seat belt. no injuries were sustained. The vehicle had extensive damage. The insurance company IS having the vehicle…
Dt: the contact's vehicle was involved in an accident. Upon impact, the air bag did not deploy. This accident was a frontal impact collision. The driver was wearing a seat belt. no injuries were sustained. The vehicle had extensive damage. The insurance company IS having the vehicle repaired. *ak the consumer was informed by the repair shop that his vehicle was not equipped with air bags. updated 01/23/06. *Jb
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Why has ford recalled only later model trucks for the criuse control fire issue. It IS not a problem limited to those years. I experienced the exact same problem with my 1997 F-350. *jb
- Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
Dt: the contact stated the inside passenger side door will not open. when trying to open the door the handle would break. the door handle was replaced twice by a local mechanic. the mechanic did not know why this was happening. *ak
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
(1) vehicle randomly dying while driving in traffic (2) cam postion sensor, engine dies , loss of power steering, loss of power brakes (both a nessesity with a diesel pick up to be able to maintain control due to thier weight) (3) replace the cam position sensor at appoximately $140.00. *Jb
- Steering
1997 ford F350 steering problems.***no answer required***. *Mr a bearing inside the steering column cracked and resulted in the steering wheel locking up momentarily while driving. *nm
- Suspension › Front › Springs › Leaf spring assembly › Hanger,bracket
Dt: consumer was concerned of about rear leaf springs spring hanger and shackle. Consumers vehicle has extensive rust on the spring hanger consumer was told by mechanic that it would not be safe to haul any amount of weight until problem was fixed. Consumer purchased the parts to fix the…
Dt: consumer was concerned of about rear leaf springs spring hanger and shackle. Consumers vehicle has extensive rust on the spring hanger consumer was told by mechanic that it would not be safe to haul any amount of weight until problem was fixed. Consumer purchased the parts to fix the vehicle today. ford dealer told consumer that they sell a large amount of these parts, this was a common problem according to the ford dealer parts department. Consumer stated that this was a major structural item, it was riveted on, not bolted. Consumer looked at several other vehicles like his own, and they had the same problem. Consumer called ford to issue a complaint with them. Consumer estimated that it was to cost $500 to fix problem.*ak
- Tires › Tread/belt
Firestone steeltex failure on a 1997 ford F350. on june 20, 2005, the left front oem firestone steeltex tire failed at spped on I-95S between avberdeen and churchville maryland. since the truck IS driven very little, all tires have 40,000 miles on them and have substantial tread remaining. also…
Firestone steeltex failure on a 1997 ford F350. on june 20, 2005, the left front oem firestone steeltex tire failed at spped on I-95S between avberdeen and churchville maryland. since the truck IS driven very little, all tires have 40,000 miles on them and have substantial tread remaining. also, I meticoulsly maintain presures. without warning and at about 65mph, the tread seperated from the tire carcass causing vehcile to be difficult to control. nonetheless, I was able to pull off-road without incident. tire clearly shows that the tread seperated from the body of the tire causing instant pressure loss and sidewall failure. just another example why problems with these tires are not limited to suvs or the limited batches that were recalled.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- 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.
- 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.
- 10014086General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
- 10008580Lamp-brake-invadvertent disabling of brake shift interlock.
- 10008134Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on with diagnostic trouble codes p0603 (powertrain control module keep alive memory error) or p0605 ( powertrain control module read only memory error).
- 10004851Engine buck, surge or jerk (also known as hitching/hesitation) while the speed control IS active through all engine temperatures.
- 10004842Rough idle and engine miss due to injector bore scuffing at green engine break-in.
- 10004837Moaning noise during 1500-2000 rpm on neutral engine run-up, or while driving under load.
- 10004836Aftermarket wiring alterations - service tip.
- 10004834Low rpm, no start, runs poorly, stall. 7.3L dit engine.
- 10004832A high number of high pressure rexroth pumps and injection pressure regulators (ipr) are being replaced due to oil leaking, when all that IS required IS a new gasket or seal on either the pump or ipr.
- 100048317.3L dit glow plug start-up on-time during cold temperature - service tip.
- 10004830An engine vibration and/or moaning noise at 2600-3000 rpm.
- 10004814A no-start or reduced power condition may occur intermittently.
- 10004812Loss of power and malfunction indicator lamp may also illuminate with diagnostic trouble codes 128 and 845 or p0236 and p0238 stored in memory.
- 10003748New transmission cooler flusher - service tips. 2003 escort and super duty f series included.
- 6090873Locks failed. Yd
- 6090184Information on replacing and / or repairing malfunctioning (door, ignition and decklid) locks.
- 6090143Subject regarding 4r100 transmission flexplate replacement for vehicles with 7.3L diesel engine.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 630515Engine oil system priming procedures, service tips for reports of premature engine failure.
- 625715Brake shift interlock.*jb
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 616821Some vehicles may exhibit an engine buck, surge, or jerk (also known as hitching / hesitation) while the speed control IS active through all engine temperatures.
- 616551Oil leak from the front or rear cylinder head oil supply rail end plugs.
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 615504Some heavy duty and super duty vehicles may exhibit various transmission concerns, including stall on transmission engagement and / or a buzz noise on engagement.
- 615416Some super duty 7.3L E4OD and 7.3L 4r100 vehicles may exhibit various transmission concerns, including stall on transmission engagement and / or a buzz noise on engagement.
- 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.
- 615171Rear brake drag or excessive wear on rear brakes.
- 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.
- 613306Some trucks with E40D and california calibration 7-90p-r10/11 may stall during long decel conditions while in manual 1 or 2 gear.
- 613195Subject regarding external oil leaks - repeat message.
Every Ford F-350 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.