Problems · by component

1997 Ford F-250 power train problems

42 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford F-250 cite power train, 12% of all 343 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
42
12% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“THERE'S A RECALL ON MY 1997 F250 7.3 DIESEL. THE RECALL IS FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR. I TOOK IT TO FORD TO HAVE IT FIXED CAUSE I WAS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY VIN DID NOT QUALIFY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2010Power trainODI 10349721
“I HAVE A 1997 FORD F250 THAT WONT GO INTO PARK. THEREFORE, YOU CAN'T START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL. THE TRUCK ROLLS WHEN TURNED OFF, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENGAGED. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THIS RECALL HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/1997/FORD/F250 . I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT DIDN'T PERTAIN TO MY TRUCK, CALLED THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW FORD DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2010Power trainODI 10348112
“DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V171000 CONCERNING THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 15, 2005Power trainODI 10145294
“WHILE DRIVING, THE SEAT RECLINED WHICH LEFT THE DRIVER LAYING COMPLETELY DOWN. *JB THE SEAT BASE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT. *SC THE TIE RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, BECAUSE THE SHIFTER BOLTS HAD BROKE LOOSE FROM THE DASH MOUNTS, THE HEAD GASKETS FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. THE HUB/AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2005Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, SeatsODI 10105420
“ON DECEMBER 4, 2004, I TOOK MY TRUCK ON ABOUT A 600 MILE TRIP. DURING THE TRIP I TRIED THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH WORKED ABOUT 5 MONTHS EARLIER & FOUND IT TO BE NONFUNCTIONAL. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND MYSELF IN A POSITION THAT REQUIRED ENGAGING THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE, HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I PARKED THE TRUCK THAT EVENING & HAD NOT TOUCHED IT IN THE FOLLOWING MONTH AND A HALF. ON DECEMBER 10, 2004 MY WIFE CANCELED THE INSURANCE SINCE MY PLAN WAS TO LEAVE IT PARKED UNTIL SPRING OR I COULD AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED. THEN ON JANUARY 26, 2005 @ 05:00 AM, MY WIFE WOKE ME UP SAYING THAT MY TRUCK HAD JUST EXPLODED. I WENT OUTSIDE & SAW THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME THE MAIN CONCENTRATION OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE DRIVER?S SIDE. I NOTIFIED FORD, TO WHICH THEIR REPLY WAS SORRY FOR YOUR INCONVENIENCE BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE & IT IS ALSO OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2005Power train, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10112749

Showing 6 of 42 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: gear position indication (prndl)

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."

Power trainReported Oct 7, 1997NHTSA 97V171000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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