U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Ford F SERIES (LIGHT) problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

105,250 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 14 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	3	20.0%
Braking behavior	2	13.3%
Electrical and battery issues	2	13.3%
Transmission and shifting	1	6.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Electrical System

Electrical System:Ignition

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Engine And Engine Cooling

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel System, Gasoline	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	2
Electrical System	1
Electrical System:Ignition	1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	1
Engine And Engine Cooling	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	1

Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2010

2011

2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 3

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10363019 · 2010-10-30 (October 30, 2010)

ONE GAS TANK STRAP BROKE ON MY 97 FORD F150 A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER ONE BROKE. I DROPPED AND DRAGGED THE GAS TANK WHICH BEGAN TO LEAK. I DON'T DRIVE THAT VEHICLE TOO MUCH. I WAS VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10363019 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10399962 · 2011-05-11 (May 11, 2011)

1997 FORD F-150 . THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE BEGUN TO ROT AND HAVE CHAFFED THE GAS TANK TO THE POINT THERE ARE SOME GAS VAPORS ESCAPING. NOT A FULL BLOWN LEAK AT THIS POINT. I WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING TO AVOID FIRE/EXPLOSION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10122263 · 2005-05-26 (May 26, 2005)

MY 1997 FORD F-150 TRUCK WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVE WAY IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE, AND NO LIGHTS WERE ON. I STEPED OUT THE FRONT DOOR OF MY HOUSE, AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I LOOKED OVER AT MY TRUCK, AND SAW FLAMES IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL, AND SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD SIDE AND BACK EDGES. I GOT THE FIRE EXTENGUISHER FROM THE HOUSE, SHOT UP IN THE WHEEL WELL, THEN OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE REST OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE SEEMED TO START IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AREA, AND I BELIEVE AS A RESULT OF A DEF…

Owner-reported narrative. 147,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122263 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10199481 · 2007-08-14 (August 14, 2007)

THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 1997 FORD F150 LOCK UP. WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES GRADUALLY OVERHEAT FROM A FAILURE OF THE CALIPERS TO RETURN TO THEIR NON-BRAKING POSITION. I HAVE REPLACED THE RUBBER BRAKE LINES, REPLACED THE DISK BRAKE PADS. TURNED THE ROTORS, LUBRICATED THE SLIDING PORTIONS OF THE CALIPERS WITH HIGH-TEMPERATURE GREASE AND TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MY NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BRAKES COMPUTER CHECKED AND REPAIRED. NEVER-THE-LESS, THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS PRESENTS AN EXTREME SAFETY RI…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199481 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10165178 · 2006-08-10 (August 10, 2006)

THE TRUCK STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WHICH WOULD COME AND GO. THESE PROBLEMS BECAME MORE SEVERE AND NUMEROUS AS TIME WENT BY. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND THEN THINGS LIKE THE RADIO COMING ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NO ONE HAD THE KEY EVEN IN. IT WOULD ALSO SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL FOR NO REASON. THESE WOULD ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE. THEN ONE DAY WHEN I WENT TO GO TO WORK I OPENED THE DOOR AND EVERYTHING CAME ON JUST OPENING THE DOOR. I GOT IN AND PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO START THE TRUCK BUT THERE WAS NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 164,745 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165178 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

15 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

93.3%Usable mileage14 / 15 records

100.0%Valid incident date15 / 15 records

100.0%Valid filing date15 / 15 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates15 / 15 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	112.5% ODI 481859 HUBS REPLACED. Look up ODI 481859 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	222.2% ODI 480312 BRAKE PADS REPLACED. Look up ODI 480312 at NHTSA ↗	216.7% ODI 478420 BRAKE ROTORS OUT OF ROUND, CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK-UP AND VIBRATE. *SKD Look up ODI 478420 at NHTSA ↗	318.8% ODI 479522 BRAKE ROTORS TURNED, ALSO REAR DRUMS REPLACED. *SKD Look up ODI 479522 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	116.7% ODI 479571 BRAKE PROBLEMS. (2ND VEHICLE ON 480312) (F250) *AW Look up ODI 479571 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 480400 WHEN CRANKCASE IS FILLED W/OIL, SMOKE GETS INTO ENGINE, CAUSING SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION/RUNAWAY ENGINE, ALSO EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE/STARTING DIFFICULTY. Look up ODI 480400 at NHTSA ↗	225.0% ODI 479304 BRAKES FAILED. (F350) (ORIGINAL DOCUMENT ON 478141) *SKD Look up ODI 479304 at NHTSA ↗	111.1% ODI 482508 BRAKES WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *SKD Look up ODI 482508 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 478318 WHEN BRAKES APPLIED, VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT/LEFT. *AK Look up ODI 478318 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 10491004 THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY NEXT TO THE GARAGE FOR ABOUT 8 1/2 HOURS. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENTS AND CAUGHT ONTO THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE. *TR Look up ODI 10491004 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	110.0% ODI 10487498 · 125,000 mi 2001 FORD F150 WAS SITTING OUT IN DRIVEWAY OF OWNER'S HOME. HE HAD BEEN HOME APPROX 1/2 HOURS WHEN OWNERS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO FIRE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE CAB OF OWNERS VEHICLE. *TR Look up ODI 10487498 at NHTSA ↗	430.8% ODI 10474326 · 200,500 mi A SPARK PLUG WORKED LOOSE FROM THE HEAD AND BLEW OUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HEAD AND THE IGNITION COIL. ALL 8 PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, TWO DAMAGED SPARK PLUG HOLES REPAIRED AND TWO IGNITION COILS REPLACED. *TR Look up ODI 10474326 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 10434959 · 180,000 mi FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE AND DESTROYED COIL PACK RIPPING THE THREADS OUT OF THE HEAD. *TR Look up ODI 10434959 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	233.3% ODI 10275301 · 123,000 mi SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT ON FORD TRITON V8 ENGINE, 5.4 LITER. *TR Look up ODI 10275301 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	220.0% ODI 10444443 · 116,000 mi I HAVE A 2001 FORD PICKUP WITH 116,000 MILES THAT I HAVE BABIED SINCE I PURCHASED IT JUST THIS WEEK I HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD, JUST SO HAPPENED I WAS 45 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, SO A WRECKER CHARGE WAS DUE, TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY USUAL REPAIR SHOP BUT THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. SO I THEN HAD TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE, ANOTHE WRECKER CHARGE. FORD MUST KNOW FROM ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM AND VERY COSTLY. FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH ALUMINUM HEADS AND INSTALL A STEEL SLEEVE IN ALL SPARK PLUGS TO TAKE C… Look up ODI 10444443 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10436256 · 107,590 mi SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF PLUG HOLE, STRIPPING THREADS OF INTAKE CYLINDER HEAD. PLUG WAS FOUND LAYING BETWEEN VALVE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR Look up ODI 10436256 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	213.3% ODI 10158629 · 110,000 mi I USED TO BE A PROUD OWNER OF A 1997 FORD F150 4.2 LITER V6. THAT WAS UNTIL TODAY WHEN MY ENGINE HYDROLOCKED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 164000 MILES ON IT, HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AT APPROX. 110000 MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE V6 ENGINES, AND THAT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING DO TO THE "HIGH" MILES. I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A COMPLETE NEW SHORT BOCK,AND THE RECOMMENDED BY FORD 4MM HEAD GASKETS INSTEAD OF THE 3MM THAT THEY ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. THIS ENGINE LASTED ANO… Look up ODI 10158629 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	330.0% ODI 10023966 · 26,500 mi ON THIS DATE I WAS SUMMONED TO PICK UP MY 2001 FORD SVT F 150 PICKUP FROM MC GILVRAY FORD IN ATHENS, TX AFTER REPLACEMENT OF MY ENGINE VALVE LASH ADJUSTERS HAD BEEN MADE IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP RIGHT SIDE ENGINE TICKING. THE VEHICLE STILL MADE THE NOISE AND I GOT THE MECHANIC TO LISTEN. I ASKED HIM IF THEY CHECKED THE SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THEY ARE KNOWN TO LOOSEN ON THIS TYPE ENGINE DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. THE MECHANIC DISMISSED MY CONCERN AND INFORMED ME OF THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE NOISE WAS AND THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DRIVE IT A WHILE AND S… Look up ODI 10023966 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10122026 · 28,000 mi DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.. HEAR A LARGE NOISE FROMN THE ENGINE BAY. TRUCK BREAKS DOWN AND I HAVE IT TOWED. 2002 FORD F-150 LIGTHNING. 3RD TIME ITS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.. BLOWING A SPARK PLUG IN THE ENGINE BAY.. THIS TIME... WORSE THEN EVER... READ IT WAS A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH OTHER TRUCK MADE THIS YEAR ETC.. ONLINE SO I'AM PUTTING A COMPLAINT IN.. Look up ODI 10122026 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 10135319 MY 1994 FORD F150 BURST INTO FLAMES WITH NO WARNING OR SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. *JB Look up ODI 10135319 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 10165178 · 164,745 mi THE TRUCK STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WHICH WOULD COME AND GO. THESE PROBLEMS BECAME MORE SEVERE AND NUMEROUS AS TIME WENT BY. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND THEN THINGS LIKE THE RADIO COMING ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NO ONE HAD THE KEY EVEN IN. IT WOULD ALSO SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL FOR NO REASON. THESE WOULD ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE. THEN ONE DAY WHEN I WENT TO GO TO WORK I OPENED THE DOOR AND EVERYTHING CAME ON JUST OPENING THE DOOR. I GOT IN AND PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO START THE TRUCK BUT THERE WAS NO… Look up ODI 10165178 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10511772 · 160,000 mi IN HEAVY RAIN THE WIPERS AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS QUIT WHILE DRIVING - CAUSED BY A WINDSHIELD LEAK ONTO THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX. THIS WINDSHIELD LEAK IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT ON 1997 THRU 2000 FORD F150 PICKUPS. *TR Look up ODI 10511772 at NHTSA ↗	110.0% ODI 10487498 · 125,000 mi 2001 FORD F150 WAS SITTING OUT IN DRIVEWAY OF OWNER'S HOME. HE HAD BEEN HOME APPROX 1/2 HOURS WHEN OWNERS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO FIRE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE CAB OF OWNERS VEHICLE. *TR Look up ODI 10487498 at NHTSA ↗	17.7% ODI 10436256 · 107,590 mi SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF PLUG HOLE, STRIPPING THREADS OF INTAKE CYLINDER HEAD. PLUG WAS FOUND LAYING BETWEEN VALVE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TR Look up ODI 10436256 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 480400 WHEN CRANKCASE IS FILLED W/OIL, SMOKE GETS INTO ENGINE, CAUSING SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION/RUNAWAY ENGINE, ALSO EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE/STARTING DIFFICULTY. Look up ODI 480400 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	430.8% ODI 10458426 · 120,000 mi TRUCK STARTED MAKING NOISE EVERY TIME THERE WAS A BUMP. HANDLING FELT LOOSE. DISCOVERED THAT THE RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT HAD RUSTED COMPLETELY AWAY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MECHANIC REFERRED TO THE CONDITION AS "ROT". THIS SUPPORTS THE RADIATOR, A/C AND PROVIDES AN ATTACHMENT FOR THE FRONT FENDERS. I BOUGHT 4 VEHICLES THE SAME YEAR. CHECKED THE OTHER 3 AND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I WILL BE FILING REPORTS ON THEM TOO. *JS Look up ODI 10458426 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	320.0% ODI 10363019 · 72,000 mi ONE GAS TANK STRAP BROKE ON MY 97 FORD F150 A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER ONE BROKE. I DROPPED AND DRAGGED THE GAS TANK WHICH BEGAN TO LEAK. I DON'T DRIVE THAT VEHICLE TOO MUCH. I WAS VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR Look up ODI 10363019 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	133.3% ODI 10176813 · 140,000 mi ON 12/12/06 A LADY TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO BROADSIDE HER. I WAS DOING APPROX 40 MPH AT THE TIME. ALL HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NONE OF MINE DID, EVEN THOUGH THE ENTIRE IMPACT OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ACROSS MY FRONT END. ADDITIONALLY MY FUEL CUTOFF SWITCH DID NOT FUNCTION. WHEN THE VEHICLES CAME TO REST, AND I RECOLLECTED MY WITS, I REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND AT CLOSE TO FULL THROTTLE. *NM Look up ODI 10176813 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	17.7% ODI 10355710 · 170,000 mi GAS TANK LEAK AT STRAP HOLDING TANK IN PLACE. 2002 FORD F-150 4X4 4.6 LITER. AT THIS TIME I CAN NOT FILL THE VEHICLES TANK TO FULL. THE PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE WITH TIME. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS ONLY FILLED TO 1/2 FULL. *TR Look up ODI 10355710 at NHTSA ↗

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Fuel System, Gasoline	Too few reports for a range	159,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10363019 · 72,000 mi ONE GAS TANK STRAP BROKE ON MY 97 FORD F150 A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OTHER ONE BROKE. I DROPPED AND DRAGGED THE GAS TANK WHICH BEGAN TO LEAK. I DON'T DRIVE THAT VEHICLE TOO MUCH. I WAS VERY LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE OR EXPLOSION. TR Look up ODI 10363019 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10399962 · 159,000 mi 1997 FORD F-150 . THE GAS TANK STRAPS HAVE BEGUN TO ROT AND HAVE CHAFFED THE GAS TANK TO THE POINT THERE ARE SOME GAS VAPORS ESCAPING. NOT A FULL BLOWN LEAK AT THIS POINT. I WILL BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING TO AVOID FIRE/EXPLOSION. TR Look up ODI 10399962 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10401527 · 163,500 mi OUR MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE STRAPS AT THE REAR OF THE GAS TANK WAS MISSING, AND WHEN FILLING UP OUR 1997 FORD F150, THE TANK WAS GETTING CLOSE TO BEING FILLED, GAS STARTED SPEWING OUT OF THE FILL TUBE. WE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT THE FILL TUBE HAD SHIFTED DUE TO THE REAR STRAP BEING BROKEN. *TR Look up ODI 10401527 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Too few reports for a range	110,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10158629 · 110,000 mi I USED TO BE A PROUD OWNER OF A 1997 FORD F150 4.2 LITER V6. THAT WAS UNTIL TODAY WHEN MY ENGINE HYDROLOCKED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE TRUCK NOW HAS 164000 MILES ON IT, HOWEVER, THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AT APPROX. 110000 MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE V6 ENGINES, AND THAT FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING DO TO THE "HIGH" MILES. I REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A COMPLETE NEW SHORT BOCK,AND THE RECOMMENDED BY FORD 4MM HEAD GASKETS INSTEAD OF THE 3MM THAT THEY ORIGINALLY INSTALLED. THIS ENGINE LASTED ANO… Look up ODI 10158629 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	Too few reports for a range	164,745 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10165178 · 164,745 mi THE TRUCK STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WHICH WOULD COME AND GO. THESE PROBLEMS BECAME MORE SEVERE AND NUMEROUS AS TIME WENT BY. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND THEN THINGS LIKE THE RADIO COMING ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND NO ONE HAD THE KEY EVEN IN. IT WOULD ALSO SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL FOR NO REASON. THESE WOULD ONLY HAPPEN ONCE IN A WHILE. THEN ONE DAY WHEN I WENT TO GO TO WORK I OPENED THE DOOR AND EVERYTHING CAME ON JUST OPENING THE DOOR. I GOT IN AND PUT THE KEY IN AND TRIED TO START THE TRUCK BUT THERE WAS NO… Look up ODI 10165178 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Ignition	Too few reports for a range	12,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10060906 · 12,000 mi COMPUTER CONTINUES TO GIVE ACODE OF MISFIRE ON NUM 5 CYLINDER. TOOK TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS; ALL THEY DID WAS INSTALL NEW SPARK PLUG, PROBLEM PERSISTS. BEEN INVESTIGATING AND TRYING DIFFERENT INDEPNDENT SHOP FO REPAIR *AK Look up ODI 10060906 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Too few reports for a range	63,505 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10133583 · 63,505 mi OWN A 1997 FORD F150 THAT CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH Look up ODI 10133583 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling	Too few reports for a range	180,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10434959 · 180,000 mi FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE AND DESTROYED COIL PACK RIPPING THE THREADS OUT OF THE HEAD. *TR Look up ODI 10434959 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	Too few reports for a range	120,611 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10163621 · 120,611 mi UPON STARTING ONE MORNING, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. HAD THE ENGINE INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM Look up ODI 10163621 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Too few reports for a range	100,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10078508 · 100,500 mi I HAD JUST ARRIVED BACK IN LAKELAND FL FROM A TRIP TO THE EAST COAST. I STOPPED AT A STORE TO BUY A FEW THINGS AND WHEN I CAME OUT AND STARTED MY 5.4 LITER F- 250 LIGHT DUTY TRUCK IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT WAS THE SECOND PLUG FROM THE REAR. MY TRUCK IS A 1997 FORD WITH 100500 APPROXIMATELY MILES ON IT. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF TRITON ENGINES BLOWING SPARK PLUGS. I HAPPENED TO KNOW A PERSON THAT WORKED IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND … Look up ODI 10078508 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2001: 2 complaints · 2002: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2001	0	0	2
2002	0	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2001	10	0	0
2002	13	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Fuel System, Gasoline	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Electrical System	Electrical System:Ignition	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Engine And Engine Cooling	Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fuel System, Gasoline	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 6.7% of complaints

Median mileage: 164,745 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10165178 · 164,745 mi

Look up ODI 10165178 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b