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Research · Standard Pickup Trucks · 2 NHTSA variants

1997 Ford F-250Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 343 owner complaints for the 1997 Ford F-250. Most complaints involve tires (44) and power train (42). The EPA rates it 13–15 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
13–15mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
16campaigns
Latest Jul 2011
Owner complaints
343
Top: tires
Fuel cost / yr
$4,300est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

16 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Remedy pending

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2003 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150, 2004 MODEL YEAR FORD F-150 HERITAGE, 1997 THROUGH 1999 MODEL YEAR F-250 LESS THAN 8,500 LBS. GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR), AND 2002 AND 2003 LINCOLN BLACKWOOD VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 20, 1995, THROUGH AUGUST 4, 2004, ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO ROAD DEICING CHEMICALS MAY CAUSE SEVERE CORROSION OF THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WHICH SECURE THE TANK TO THE VEHICLE.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jul 29, 2011NHTSA 11V385000

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

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 SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Vehicle speed controlReported Oct 13, 2009NHTSA 09V399000

Engine and engine cooling: diesel

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.

Engine and engine coolingReported Dec 5, 2007NHTSA 07V553000
See all 16 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

343 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 1996 – Aug 2024
  1. Tires44
  2. Power train42
  3. Engine and engine cooling40
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic32
  5. Suspension31
  6. Steering27
  7. Fuel system, gasoline26
  8. Electrical system25
  9. Vehicle speed control22

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each F-250 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996187
1997343
199857
1999830
Crashes reported
21
Fires reported
26
Injuries reported
13
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Tires

44 reports2 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 LD. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VIBRATION OF THE SPARE TIRE RUBS AGAINST AND CREATES A HOLE IN THE REAR FUEL TANK. THE SPARE TIRE IS SECURELY MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED TO SEND ANYONE OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,300. UPDATED 11/17/08 *BF UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2008TiresODI 10246641

Power train

42 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR FACILITY FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHEN THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT FIVE OF THE SEVEN SPOKES ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE OTHER THREE WHEELS EXHIBITED RUST HOLES AND CRACKS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,318. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND AFTER THE AXLE, HUB AND ROTOR WERE REPLACED AT A COST OF $ 1000.00. UPDATED 09/10/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2012Power train, WheelsODI 10466989

Engine and engine cooling

40 reports3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND HESITATE IN A JERKING MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT ONE OF THE ENGINES SPARK PLUGS DISLODGED. A SPARK PLUG KIT WAS INSTALLED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 5, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10417655
All 1997 F-250 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Standard Pickup Trucks
Engines
4.6L 8-cyl · 5.4L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
F250 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
141815$4,300592
F250 Pickup 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,600635
F250 Pickup 2WD
Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,600635
F250 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121714$4,600635
F250 Pickup 4WD
Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
121714$4,600635
F250 Pickup 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
111613$4,950684
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    14 city · 18 hwy · $4,300/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 2WD
    Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Man 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • F250 Pickup 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    11 city · 16 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Ford F-250 as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1997 F-250 questions

How many recalls does the 1997 Ford F-250 have?

16 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1997 Ford F-250 problems?

Owners filed 343 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are tires (44), power train (42), engine and engine cooling (40). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1997 Ford F-250 get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Ford F-250 at 13–15 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026