Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1997 Ford F-350. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
- Consequence
- 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)
FORD/TIRES
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
FORD/MASTER CYLINDER RETAINER CLIP
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (155)
155 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 155 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 30 | 19.4% |
| Tires | 29 | 18.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 26 | 16.8% |
| Power train | 21 | 13.5% |
| Steering | 12 | 7.7% |
| Suspension | 9 | 5.8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 5.2% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system | 7 | 4.5% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 2.6% |
How 1997 compares with other F-350 years
Best and worst F-350 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 101 | 6 |
| 1994 | 95 | 5 |
| 1995 | 134 | 2 |
| 1996 | 130 | 3 |
| 1997 | 155 | 3 |
| 1998 | 12 | 1 |
| 1999 | 413 | 12 |
| 2000 | 304 | 4 |
| 2001 | 160 | 5 |
| 2002 | 116 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1997 F-350 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Ford F-350 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford F-350 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 06V286000 (vehicle speed control), 97V187000 (tire), 96V184000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Ford F-350 problems?
Owners filed 155 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (30), Tires (29), Engine and engine cooling (26) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1997 F-350 compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 Ford F-350 model years at least five years old, the 1998 drew the fewest complaints (12) and the 1999 the most (413). The 1997 drew 155. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.