Model year record

1997 Ford F-Super Duty recalls & problems

The 1997 Ford F-Super Duty has 3 safety recalls and 24 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (14 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints24filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingNov 13, 1997

Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

Recall 97V20900064,000 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME CHASSIS. HOT EXHAUST GASSES CAN LEAK FROM THE EXHAUST GAS RETURN (EGR) TUBE ON THE ENGINE. A HOLE CAN DEVELOP IN THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE TUBE. HEAT DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FLOOR AND FLOOR COVERING CAN OCCUR.
Risk: DEPENDING ON THE MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE COMPLETED VEHICLE, IGNITION OF THESE MATERIALS COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EGR TUBE.

TiresOct 29, 1997

Bead

Recall 97V18700031,600 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLES AND THIS RECALL AFFECTING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ONLY, FORD WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT CLAIMS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

Electrical systemSep 18, 1996

12v/24v/48v battery › Cables

Recall 96V1770005,500 vehicles

Problem: A PLASTIC COATED STEEL SUPPORT STRAP FOR THE BATTERY CABLE WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS CRIMPED ONTO THE CABLE.
Risk: THIS DAMAGE CAN RESULT IN THE BATTERY CABLE DEVELOPING A SHORT TO GROUND. A SHORTED BATTERY CABLE CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CABLE INSULATION AND REPLACE THE SUPPORT STRAP WITH A REVISED, UNCRIMPED STRAP ATTACHED WITH TAPE. IN ADDITION, CONVOLUTE WILL BE ADDED BETWEEN THE CABLE AND THE SUPPORT STRAP. DAMAGED BATTERY CABLES WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
TiresTread/belt; Sidewall	14	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control; Engine	3	1	1	—
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery › Cables	2	0	0	—
Power trainAxle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal; Driveline	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	2	1	1	—
Suspension	2	1	1	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0	—
SteeringLinkages	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A1997 FORD F SUPER DUTY. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING. HE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THAT PROBLEM WHENEVER HE APPROACHED LOWER SPEEDS IN HIS VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR WITH A NEWER AND NON-DEFECTED SENSOR. AFTER THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THEY TRIED SEVERAL SENSORS AND NONE OF THEM WOULD START THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC THEN PLACED THE OLD SENSOR BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS ABLE TO TURN ON. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE FOLLOWING DAY. WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE NEXT DAY, THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR…
Mar 26, 2008 · 287,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
1997 FORD F-SUPER DUTY WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER PUT HIM ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. HE STATES THAT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING HIM THE PARTS ARE NOT IN AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE IN. *KB
Jan 1, 1901
Vehicle speed control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F-530 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE OF ARRIVAL. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE WAIT TIME FOR THE RECALLED PART WAS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB UPDATED 12/31/07 *TR
Sep 1, 2007
Tires › Tread/belt
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD F SUPER DUTY. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POUNDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. A TIRE SHOP INSPECTED THE TIRE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 38,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Jun 13, 2007 · 37,000 miles
SuspensionCrashFire
THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER FOUND THE BRAKES RESERVOIR EMPTY, THEN INSPECTED THE BRAKE LINES AND SAW A HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE. *NM CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES WENT OUT AND WENT OVER A CURB, OVER PARKING LOTS, INTO A PARKING LOT, AND CAUSED FUEL TANK AND STRAP DAMAGE, FRONT END AND REAR TAD AXLE OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER FOUND WEAR HOLE IN REAR BRAKE LINE, EGR TUBE CORRODED, BURNT ENGINE COVER, AND CARPET. *SB *NM
Aug 25, 2000 · 26,420 miles
Suspension
THE RV VIBRATED AT SPEED OFF 55 MPH AND HIGHER. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVELINE WAS UNDER COATED AND OUT OF ROUND. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS REPLACED/REPAIRS THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *PH *NLM
Mar 27, 2003
Tires › Tread/belt
HAD TREAD SEPARATION OCCUR AT 60 MPH ON RIGHT REAR INBOARD DULEY. AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 90 F.*AK
Jul 9, 2002
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
WHILE DECELLERATING, BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED, AND VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WITH FRONT BRAKES ONLY, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. INSPECTION REVEALED LEFT REAR BRAKE HOSE (FLEXIBLE) HAD BEEN ABRADED BY AFTERMARKET MODIFICATION BY THE MOTORHOME MANUFACTURER, FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES. TAG AXLE LINKAGE ADDED BY FLEETWOOD ADJACENT TO BRAKE HOSE CAUSED HOSE TO BE ABRADED IN TWO LOCATIONS, ONE OF WHICH WORE THROUGH CAUSING BRAKE FLUID LOSS AND FAILURE.
Nov 30, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE STALLINGClosedLed to recall 07V553000
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT PRODUCES IS VITAL TO THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM.CPS SIGNAL LOSS TERMINATES FUEL INJECTION RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.ONCE STALLED, THE ENGINE MAY RESTART RIGHT AWAY, OR MAY RESTART AFTER A DELAY (TYPICALLY 5 TO 10 MINUTES), OR MAY NOT RESTART AT ALL.IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THE DRIVER AND…
EA06012 · opened Jun 22, 2006 · closed Dec 7, 2007
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADClosed
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY…
DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006