1997 FORD F-250 SD Complaints

View complaints related to 1997 FORD F-250 SD. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 40 complaints submitted for the 1997 FORD F-250 SD. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - GREENSBURG, KY

    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

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - AUSTINBURG, OH

    CONSUMER STATED THAT THE OIL PAN RUSTED RIGHT THROUGH. ALSO, IT A IGNITED A FIRE UNDER THE BASE OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER WERE WILLING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER. *AK

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - RIO VISTA, CA

    ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT WIRING HARNESS ON THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BROKE, AND ONE WIRE ON THE INSULATION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - KISSIMMEE, FL

    I HAVE A 1997 FORD F250HD WITH THE 5.8L ENGINE AND 78,000 MILES. I NOTICED AN EXHAUST LEAK AND DECIDED TO INSTALL EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS TO CURE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, WHEN I STARTED THE JOB I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BROKEN EXHAUST STUDS THAT HAD BROKEN FLUSH WITH THE HEAD. AFTER REMOVING THE MANIFOLDS FROM THE HEADS I ALSO FOUND MULTIPLE CRACKS IN THE MANIFOLDS, ONE ALMOST COMPLETELY AROUND THE RIGHT MANIFOLD. AFTER CONTACTING THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A COMMON ONE FOR MY YEAR AND ENGINE BUT WAS ONLY TAKEN CARE OF WHILE THERE WAS WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CASTING FOR THE MANIFOLDS FOR THOSE YEARS WAS WEAK. *LA

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - FALLSTON, MD

    1997 FORD F250HD MILEAGE OF 40,036 AND GARAGE KEPT EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED, CORRODED AND CRACKED-BOLTS RUSTED TO THE MANIFOLD, CAN'T GET SPARK PLUGS OUT BECAUSE RUSTED TO THE HEAD - MOTOR MOUNT STEEL IS RUSTED ALONG WITH THE BOLTS, VALVE COVER HAS RUST HOLES AND CORROSION, COIL THAT BOLTS ONTO THE VALVE COVER IS SWOLLEN FROM RUST AND CORROSION- BOLTS HAVE POPPED OUT AND ARE RUSTED, ALL EMISSIONS TUBES ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND RUSTED TOGETHER, OIL PAN BOLTS ARE ALL RUSTED AND DISINTEGRATED, TRANSMISSION LINES ARE RUSTED INTO THE RADIATOR, STEERING GEARBOX IS SEVERELY CORRODED AND BOLTS ARE RUSTING OFF, POWER STEERING LINES AND POWER STEERING ARE RUSTED THROUGH, AIRCONDITIONING LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH, ****BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTED THROUGH AND PROPORTIONATE VALVE FOR BRAKES IS SEVERELY RUSTED*****, DUST COVERS ON FRONT WHEELS RUSTED THROUGH, FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINT ARE SEVERELY RUSTED, ALL ALUMINUM PARTS AND BRACKETS ARE OXIDIZED, AND THE CORE SUPPORTS ARE RUSTED THROUGH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS NOT THEIR PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. THE ENGINE IN A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE RUSTED LIKE THIS. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE - IN THE PICTURES YOU CAN SEE THE FORD PART STICKERS ARE LIKE NEW WHILE EVERYTHING AROUND THEM IS RUSTED. *LA

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - FREEBURG, MO

    WHEN YOU ENAGE THE FRONT DRIVE AXLE A SEVEAR GRINDING NOISE OCCURS WHEN THE FRONT END IS JUST FREE WHEELING SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING BUT WHEN ROLLED OVER BY HAND ITS QUIET

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - ROSWELL, NM

    I HAVE A 1997 FORD F-250 PU WITH A TURBO DIESEL. THE TURBO STARTED LEAKING OIL AROUND AN O-RING. LEAK WAS SEVERE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY TURBO IS FAILING. I BELIEVE IT IS FOR THE O-RING FAILURE, WHICH VERY WELL MAY BE A DESIGN FLAW AND A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR AN ENGINE TO EXPERIENCE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS IN ORDER AND REPLACEMENT OF THE TURBO A NECESSARY ACTION FOR FORD TO UNDERTAKE.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - PETERSHAM, MA

    PROBLEMS WITH OIL PAN, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD.*MR THE FRONT END CASING CRACKED. THE OIL PAN, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION LINES RUSTED OUT. THE BOLT HEADS ROTTED OFF FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND THE HEADS CRACKED AS A RESULT. THE REAR END CAP RUSTED ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION CONTROL VALVES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE TILTED AS A RESULT IN A CRACKED FRONT END HOUSING LEAVING A 1" GAP. A FRONT TIRE ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. *PH *JB

    Source: CONSUMER LETTER
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - BEAVERTON, MI

    CRUISE WON'T SHUT OFF- HAS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES NOW AND HAVE COME CLOSE TO CAUSING WRECKS. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY CAN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS SMOKING AN APPEARS TO HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS- AGAIN "NOTHING WRONG"

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 1997 FORD F-250 SD
    - BEAVERTON, MI

    VEHICLE QUITS WHILE RUNNING. STARTS BUT WILL NOT KEEP RUNNING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BAD FUEL ECONOMY. CAN SMELL FUEL AT TIMES.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE