Owners filed 39 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control › cruise control. It has been recalled 2 times.
When it fails
09800098,000 milesMedian miles at failure
30 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 200,000–+ miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling
5
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
4
0
2
0
Tires › Sidewall
3
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
3
0
0
0
Electrical System
3
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
2
0
2
0
Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
2
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
2
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control09V399000
Filed Oct 13, 20094,500,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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.
Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy. FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel07V553000
Filed Dec 5, 20071,176,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. 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.
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 11, 201588,000 milesMD
WAS DRIVING MY 1997 F-250 FROM HOME TO THE DUMP WHEN THE STRAP ON MY FRONT FUEL TANK BROKE/RUPTURED AND THE TANK FELL TO THE GROUND, STILL ATTACHED BY FUEL LINES TO THE TRUCK. A PASSING MOTORIST BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. I HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK SINCE 2010 AND IT HAS BEEN OPERATED IN MD DURING THIS TIME FRAME AND HAD BEEN OPERATED IN MD BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THOUGH FORD HAS A RECALL ON 1997-99 FORD F-250 FOR THIS VERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS SPECIFICALLY NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 5, 201189,000 milesAR
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting
Filed Sep 20, 201057,123 milesNY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE STRAPS THAT HELD THE FUEL TANK TO THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE RUST AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 57,123. UPDATED 02/23/11 *BF UPDATED 04/29/11
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 16, 2010250,000 milesGA
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
Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Feb 20, 2010256,000 milesNC
THE FAILURE WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED A FIRE IN MY 1997 FORD F250 WHILE MY WIFE ,OUR 16 MONTH OLD AND MYSELF WERE SLEEPING. LUCKILY WE GOT OUT BUT EVERYTHING WE HAD IS A TOTAL LOSE. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 24, 2008215,000 milesTX
STRANDED ON HIGHWAY. TOW COST AND REPAIR. *TR
Steering › Gear Box › Shaft Sector
Filed Mar 14, 2008150,000 milesTX
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE STEERING MECHANISM BECOMES LOOSE AND MAKES RANDOM NOISES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS COMING APART. THE MECHANIC PLACED A TEMPORARY MAKESHIFT TO HOLD THE LINKAGE TOGETHER, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. HE THEN LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF HIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE REPAIRED FOR FREE SINCE IT WAS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 236,000. UPDATED 04/02/08. *LJ
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 29, 200898,000 milesMA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F250 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PAN LEAKED ON THE VEHICLE. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED UNLESS THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REMOVED. HE NOTICED PUDDLES OF OIL UNDER THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE MECHANIC PLACED A SEALANT AROUND THE OIL PAN, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000. UPDATED 03-12-08 *BF
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Feb 19, 2008110,000 milesMA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE BEGINNING OF 2008. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD, ALTHOUGH FORD STATED THAT ONE WAS SENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 14, 2007130,000 milesAZ
TRYING TO FIND OUT IF A 1997 F 250 4X4 WAS STANDARD ISSUE WITH DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG? *TR
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Aug 25, 2007203,125 milesNC
SPEED CONTROL ON MY 1997 FORD F250 DIESEL STOPPED WORKING. FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM PRESSURE SWITCH THAT APPARENTLY SHORTED THE HARNESS OUR. DISCONNECTED HARNESS FOR SAFETY. *TR
Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed May 31, 2007179,885 milesSC
WENT TO START MY TRUCK ONE MORNING AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER BURNED. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, OPENED THE HOOD AND PULLED THE WIRE FROM THE SWITCH. TRUCK IS 1997 FORD F250. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO CLINTON FORD IN ROCK HILL, SC AND THEY PUT A CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IN AT A COST OF $292.09. NOW I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 05S28 THAT APPLIES TO THE TRUCK THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE FOR. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT FORD DID NOT NOTIFY ME OD THIS SAFETY RECALL. THEN WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, I WAS BILLED FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
Filed Apr 25, 2007152,175 milesTX
MY CMP SENSOR STARTED GOING OUT WHEN ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH AND DIED AND LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. IT WAS A CLOSE CALL AND WENT TO FORD AND THEY WANTED 200.00 FOR A SENSOR SO I CALLED INTERNATIONAL IT WAS 114.00 SAME PART. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT FORD AND THERE PRICES. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 14, 200763,989 milesPA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-250HD. THE OIL PAN RUSTED AND CAUSED THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE DAILY AND NOTICED THE FOLLOWING DAY THAT THE OIL GAUGE INDICATOR WAS LOW. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HEARD A NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63989. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE OIL PAN DETERIORATED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. PER THE CONTACT, IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR AN OIL PAN TO RUST AND IT WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. *AK UPDATED 06/15/07 *TR
Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Mar 14, 2007130,000 milesMI
ON MARCH 2ND,2007 MY F250 DIESEL PICKUP, THAT WAS IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND IT MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND BURNT UP THE AREA SURROUNDING IT. MY 11 YEAR OLD SON NOTICED THE BLAZE AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK AND POPPED THE HOOD AND TRIED TO SHOVEL SNOW TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. I QUICKLY OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH THE SURROUNDING SNOW. I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT A RECALL THAT THEY HAVE ON THE GASOLINE PICKUPS AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I TALKED TO A LOCAL FORD MECHANIC THAT SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. HE THEN GAVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SENT ME A LETTER THAT STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I AM NOT SURE WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE, BUT I AM OUT A TRUCK AND I WOULD HATE TO SEE ANY ONE GETTING HURT BECAUSE OF AN OVERSIGHT BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
Filed Feb 23, 2006MD
1. NO EVENT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. 2. FAILURE OF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR ON FORD F250 WITH 7.3 LITER NAVISTAR DIESEL WITH RESULT THAT TRUCK WOULD NOT START OR RUN. 3. CALLED A FORD MECHANIC WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS REGULARLY AND I SHOULD CARRY A SPARE CPS. REPLACED CPS AND TRUCK STARTED AND RAN PROPERLY. PART COST ABOUT $190. NB: I HAVE TO SEARCH RECORDS FOR THE DATE - ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. DATE BELOW IS NOT ACCURATE. *JB
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Sep 7, 2005150,000 milesNJ
TRUCK WAS PARKED ON STREET FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. NOTICED AN ORANGE GLOW THROUGH THE TREES. RAN OUT AND DISCOVERED MY TRUCK TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. POLICE AND FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED ON SCENE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. INSURANCE HAS TOTALED THE TRUCK. *JB
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jun 29, 200570,000 milesDE
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTED. CONSUMER NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR IN AUGUST 2004. THEN , IN JUNE 2005 THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE FRONT LINES. IN AUGUST 2004 CONSUMER REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE HIMSELF IN THE REAR, WHICH WAS STILL GOOD. *AK
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jun 28, 2005WV
DT: 5TH WHEEL CAMPER HAD A TOTAL OF 8 BLOW OUTS IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HAD 3 BLOW OUTS IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. THE TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED BY CARLISLE. CONSUMER WAS WORRIED ABOUT 2 PLY TIRES. CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE TIRE SIZE TO AN UPGRADED SIZE AND TO 8 PLY TIRE. TIRES THAT BLEW OUT WERE CARLISLE AND GOODYEAR. CONSUMER HAD A 1997, DAMON, CHALLENGER. . THEY FIRST SET OF TIRES HAD KNOTS ON THEM. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED ANY OF THE DEALERSHIPS THAT SOLD THE TIRES. CONSUMER WANTED THE MANUFACTURER TO STOP SELLING THE TIRES TWO PLY SIDEWALLS WERE NOT ENOUGH TO CARRY THE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER. CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT THE TWO PLY TIRES WERE A SAFETY HAZARD. THE SPEEDS WAS FROM 55-60 MPH WHEN THE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE FAILURE LOCATION INCLUDED ALL FOUR LOCATIONS, ON BOTH AXLES. *AK
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jun 20, 2005KY
DT: APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A TRAVEL TRAILER CONSUMER SET OUT FOR A TRIP AND THE TIRES BEGAN BLOWING OUT ABOUT 200 MILES AFTER THEY STARTED. THREE OF THE TIRES BLEW OUT ON THIS TRIP FROM KENTUCKY TO NEVADA. THE SIDEWALLS BLEW OUT, AND ONLY THE RIMS WERE LEFT. CONSUMER CONTACTED GOODYEAR, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. BUT THERE WAS A BETTER TIRE HE COULD PURCHASE. DEALERSHIP WHERE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TOLD HIM THEY WEREN'T RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED CONSUMER MADE SURE THERE WAS ENOUGH AIR IN THE TIRES, AND THE LOAD WASN'T TOO HEAVY. THE FENDER WAS TORN UP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.*AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Oct 13, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.