Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 06V286000 · 2006 · reported 08/01/2006
OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1997 Ford F-350 Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Typical complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip — is about in line with the fleet median for that category across the 2075 model-years tracked on this site.
155Complaints
4Recalls
10Crashes
11Fires
3Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip (10.3% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.
4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 16 · 10.3% | Recalled | Recall 96V184000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 14 · 9% | Investigation closed | DP05005 |
| Tires:tread/belt | 14 · 9% | Recalled | Recall 01X001000 · Recall 97V187000 |
| Tires | 13 · 8.4% | Recalled | Recall 01X001000 · Recall 97V187000 |
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 11 · 7.1% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 · 3.9% | Recalled | Recall 06V286000 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 155 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Tires:tread/belt
NHTSA campaign 01X001000 · 2001 · reported 05/22/2001
SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Tires:bead
NHTSA campaign 97V187000 · 1997 · reported 10/29/1997
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. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
NHTSA campaign 96V184000 · 1996 · reported 09/25/1996
A LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER 7 TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND,LIKE METAL TO METAL. ALSO, EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE…”NHTSA complaint 897934 — filed 10/18/2001 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“WHEN PUMP FAILS THERE IS A TOTAL LOSS OF ALL BRAKING AND THIS HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING.”NHTSA complaint 742371 — filed 03/13/2001 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
“INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.”NHTSA complaint 878190 — filed 01/16/2001 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford F-350?
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip issues are the most-reported category, cited in 16 of 155 NHTSA complaints (10.3%), followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (14), tires:tread/belt (14), tires (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Ford F-350 have?
155 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, and 3 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Ford F-350 have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 06V286000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Ford F-350's reported problems?
4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
