How many recalls does the 1997 Ford F-150 have?

The 1997 Ford F-150 has 14 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 1997 Ford F-150 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 1997 Ford F-150?

Of 3,285 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is engine and engine cooling.

1997 Ford F-150 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Ford F-150 has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 9,402,062 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3,285 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 11V385000 2011-07-29 1,100,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

AS A RESULT OF THE CORROSION, ONE OR BOTH STRAPS MAY FAIL ALLOWING THE FUEL LINES TO SEPARATE FROM THE TANK, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSING THE TANK TO CONTACT THE GROUND. EITHER SCENARIO MAY RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy

FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSTRUCT THEM TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO A FORD OR LINCOLN DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK STRAPS REPLACED WITH STRAPS THAT HAVE INCREASED CORROSION PROTECTION. EARLY IN THIS CAMPAIGN, IF REPLACEMENT STRAPS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, DEALERS MAY INSTALL A CABLE SUPPORT UNDER THE STRAP AS AN INTERIM…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 05V388000 2005-09-07 4,500,000 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence

A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE…

STEERING 03V196000 2003-05-27 171,446 affected

Defect

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE SEPARATES FROM THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT, THE STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES DISCONNECTED.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE TO DETERMINE IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IF THE YOKE IS NOT FULLY SEATED AND BOLT GROOVE AND SPLINE IS VISIBLE, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REPLACED AS WELL AS…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 00V231000 2000-08-17 670,509 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS MANUFACTURED AT THE KANSAS CITY OR NORFOLK ASSEMBLY PLANTS. THE FRONT FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY COULD HAVE A HOLE RUBBED THROUGH IN ONE OF TWO LOCATIONS. THE FIRST LOCATION IS BELOW THE FUEL RAIL CONNECTION WHERE THE FLEXIBLE HOSE IS CRIMPED TO THE STEEL TUBE. THE BRACKET…

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE LINES AND REPLACE THE FRONT FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 27, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 00V168000 2000-06-19 20,637 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE…

Consequence

THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 98V161000 1998-07-15 202,000 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS. IF THE VEHICLE IS OVERLOADED, THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE SPRING CAN OCCUR. THE CENTER LEAF OF THE SPRING CAN FRACTURE AT THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE SPRING SEAT AND, IN SOME CASES, CONTACT THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence

FUEL TANK CONTACT CAN DAMAGE THE TANK AND RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SPRINGS AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP ON THE FORWARD END OF THE REAR SPRINGS TO PREVENT FUEL TANK CONTACT IN THE EVENT OF A LEAF FRACTURE. ANY FRACTURED SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.

WHEELS 98V095000 1998-05-13 1,520,000 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.

Consequence

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM PROCEDURE CAN BE COMPLETED BY OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. IT SPECIFIES THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE MUST BE VERIFIED TO BE 100…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 98V007000 1998-01-21 45,000 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A 4.2L ENGINE AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, NEW YORK, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE, MICHIGAN, IDAHO, WYOMING, SOUTH DAKOTA, COLORADO, NEBRASKA, KANSAS,…

Consequence

INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES.

POWER TRAIN 97V171000 1997-10-07 866,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.

POWER TRAIN 97V147000 1997-09-09 15,500 affected

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE TRANSMISSION BRACKET END FITTING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN OPERATOR INABILITY TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT SET.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE.

SEAT BELTS 96V256000 1996-12-27 133,000 affected

Defect

THE SEAT ELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS ARE MISSING OR MISINSTALLED ON THESE VEHICLES.

Consequence

A LOOSE FASTENER CAN EVENTUALLY DETACH AND WOULD NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, AS NECESSARY, REPAIR THE SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 96V251000 1996-12-18 22,000 affected

Defect

VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA), NEW YORK, MAINE, VERMONT, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING EXTREME COLD, NORTHERN CLIMATE WINTER CONDITIONS, CAN RESULT IN ICE FORMING IN…

Consequence

THIS ICE CAN CAUSE THE THROTTLE PLATE TO REMAIN IN THE HIGHWAY CRUISING POSITION AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED OR THE SPEED CONTROL IS DEACTIVATED. UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES WOULD BE INCREASED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FOAM INSULATING SLEEVE ON THE LINE FROM THE PCV TO THE HOSE FITTING ON THE THROTTLE PLATE.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 96V184000 1996-09-25 1,200 affected

Defect

THE RETAINER CLIP THAT HOLDS THE MASTER CYLINDER PUSH ROD TO THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM IS MISSING.

Consequence

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.

EQUIPMENT 96V161000 1996-08-29 134,770 affected

Defect

THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence

INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

198

283

TIRES

168

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

164

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

155

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

137

541

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

136

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

128

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

111

1838

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

101

122489

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

693

Total complaints3,285

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“The contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the transmission hesitated while shifting gears. The contact stated that when the gear changed, the vehicle would jerk. The contact replaced the control sensor however, the failure recurred. A dealer…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2023-11-01

“On two occasions now while traversing a slight downgrade (approx 8-10mph) applied brake (per pedal) and vehicle failed to stop! (felt as though it was sliding) which it wasn't. Continued to roll! After re-gaining composer and control of the vehicle (avoiding any collision) brake system returned to…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2023-10-28

“The contact owns a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle failed to shift into park(p). The contact stated that when he attempted to shift the vehicle into reverse(r), the vehicle shifted instead shifted into drive(d) and vice versa.…”

POWER TRAIN · reported 2023-08-23

“1997 ford f150, had recall 25527072 05s28 performed in march of 2006. The switch installed as part of the recall has failed and brake fluid has leaked from the switched and the harness. It is not apparent that the switch is leaking until the harness connector is removed from the switch. The…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2023-04-01

“1997 ford f150, had recall 25527072 05s28 performed in march of 2006. The switch installed as part of the recall has failed and brake fluid has leaked from the switched and the harness. It is not apparent that the switch is leaking until the harness connector is removed from the switch. The…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2023-04-01

“I filled the fuel tank and let the vehicle set in my drive over night. In the morning as I was approaching the vehicle in preparation to drive to work, I smelled a strong odor of gasoline. I looked under the vehicle and saw a wet spot about 3 feet in diameter. The wet spot was gasoline. As I was…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2023-03-13

“The contact owned a 1997 ford f-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence, the contact noticed smoke coming from the driver's side from the bottom of the front tire. The vehicle then caught on fire. The fire department came to extinguish the fire. A fire report was…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2022-05-31

“My interior and back exterior lights come on and go off randomly sometimes while driving on the roads. The light in the back above the truck bed is bothersome because it could cause attention of another driver causing a accident. My mother also has a ford f150 that does the same, however her truck…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2021-01-10

Defect investigations

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

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…

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

Investigation DP05005 Opened 2005-09-22 · closed 2006-01-04