1997 Ford F-350 SD

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Wheels1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel1
010

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
Wheels
Filed Jan 31, 201165,850 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,850 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,070. UPDATED 03/07/11*LJ UPDATED 12/20/11 *CN

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › DieselFire
Filed Sep 11, 2008150,000 milesGA

FORD F-350 DIESEL DUALLY CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST FINISHED BEING DRIVEN. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THE LOSS. IS FORD RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING THE LOSS? *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 13, 2007ND

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD FOR DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE NO PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2017
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20267400Routine
202514610Do not drive
202444320Routine
2023411500Do not drive
20221101710Do not drive
2021961540Do not drive
20201881630Routine
20194661260Above average
20182011050Above average
20175721460Above average
2016208440Above average
2015208470Above average
20147500Routine
201391000Routine
2012291000Routine
201143800Routine
201050710Routine
200919500Routine
2008101140Routine
200725200Routine
2006127211Fatalities reported
2005217481Fatalities reported
2004130320Routine
2003132520Routine
2002124480Routine
20011583120Routine
2000157370Routine
1999142330Routine
19983110Routine
1997 — this page3210Routine
19960100Routine
19952100Routine
19940100Routine
19930100Routine

Compare every F-350 SD year →

Reading this record

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.