10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
11,000 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Ford F-150:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #23

Aug 102009

F-150

  • 72,000 miles
Pull gear shifter down to D1 and smoke and fire came out of the steering column: All of the instrument lights went out and the truck was unable to use the overdrive function. Replaced several fuses and tried again with the same results. I dismantled the steering column and noticed that the wiring harness is two short and routed around the steering column causing it to break everytime the truck is put into D1. Ford Motor Company nor any auto store have any parts to repair the problem. The truck is still available for inspection. I took my truck to a Ford dealer and they did not have a fix for the problem. They recommend that I not use D2/D1/overdrive.

- Port Republic , MD, USA

problem #22

Feb 202003

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles
Doors have stress cracks on upper frame, I've paid to have repaired once, when I approached dealer they said O recall on that problem, would not help, now door switches keep interior lights on till it goes off on power saver, door ajar light stays on when moisture condition/rain, snow sleet and so on.

- Gansevoort, NY, USA

problem #21

Aug 012000

F-150 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles
Interior courtesy light and door ajar light will stay on after closing the vehicle doors. Stays on from 1 to 30 minutes before turning itself off, while "door open" alarm sounds. Dealer not notified. Original date of problem August 2000 (random occurrences). Currently every time door is opened and closed.

- O' Fallon, MO, USA

problem #20

Feb 012000

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After closing door, interior light, cargo light along with door ajar light sometimes will not shut off after getting inside vehicle. This makes it very dangerous to drive at night. I have heard of this happening with a lot of Ford pickups.

- Madison, SD, USA

problem #19

Feb 242003

F-150

  • miles
The dome light constantly stayed on.

- Creswell, NC, USA

problem #18

Dec 041998

F-150

  • miles
Interior panel instruction lights come off every other day, without warning. Unable to read panel.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #17

Jan 012001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Passenger's area dome light will come on intermittently, causing a distraction while driving at night. Dealership has not examined or repaired vehicle. Consumer states he has replaced the part that holds the plugs twice and it costs 450 dollars each time, consumer states he thinks he may have to replace them again, the interior light also comes on at times. Windshield wipers come on by themselves.

- South Boston, MA, USA

problem #16

Mar 012000

F-150

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Driver's and passenger's door will not align correctly when closing it. This results in door remaining open, which keeps dome light on, draining battery. The door switches for both doors were replaced.

- Middleburg, FL, USA

problem #15

Feb 212000

F-150

  • miles
Door ajar light and rear cargo light would momentarily stay on after closing the vehicle doors from 1/2 hours up 2 hours before turning itself off. Dealer notified. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #14

Jan 012001

F-150

  • miles
There are two lights that control dome and rear lights. There is an electrical short inside of vehicle.

- Roll, AZ, USA

problem #13

Dec 232000

F-150

  • miles
Dashlights go out while driving at night ever since this vehicle was new. Headlidhts have gone out twice while on the highway. The dealer said he would not be able to find the problem until I could bring it in with the lights out. Well they don't work at all now! I use a flashligh to check my speed and gauges at night. The dealer say there are no reports of electical problems. I know of two other owners with the same problems.

- Georgetown, KY, USA

problem #12

Jan 042001

(reported on)

F-150 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Fues to power windows continues to blowout. This has happened on several occasions. Also, dome light is affected. Dealer has been contacted.

- Zanesville, OH, USA

problem #11

Aug 012000

F-150 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Cargo light in vehicle never goes off. Consumer states when backing up, they can not see due to the light being on, consumer was told the problem is a switch on the door.

- Clanton, AL, USA

problem #10

Sep 151999

F-150

  • miles
Ongoing problem with cargo lights and courtesy lights remaining on intermittently or staying on for 45 minutes or more, also, ignition switch alarm remains on even after vehicle started. Dealer / manufacturer notified, and infomred consumer that vehicle was out of its warranty, and repairs would only be at consumer's cost. The cargo and interior light stayed on draining the battery.

- Edmont, OK, USA

problem #9

Aug 152000

F-150

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving windshield wipers will come on unexpectedly like twice a month without warning. Also, a short inside of steering column. Washer lever also on steering column, to get washer to operate must push handle in at angle. The dome lamp is defective and stays on when the engine is started.

- Georgetown, KY, USA

problem #8

Jul 072000

(reported on)

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When opening doors interior lights will come on, but they will not turn off when closing doors. Also, they will come on by themselves while driving down the road. Dealer has replaced door switches with same design about 3 times, each switch only lasts about 6-8 months.

- Lubbock, TX, USA

problem #7

Feb 022000

F-150

  • miles
Dome lights and the cargo lights remained on at all times. Door ajar light also remained on. Truck was taken to the dealership.relay switch overheated, and was replaced.

- Davids, OK, USA

problem #6

Oct 011999

F-150

  • miles
Interior courtesy light intermittently comes on while driving.also, power lock failed to lock after shifting into gear. Dealer/ manufacturer were not contacted at this time.

- North Ogden, UT, USA

problem #5

Feb 072000

(reported on)

F-150 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When the doors are shut and vehicle is not running interior dome light will not shut off. Dealer has been contacted.

- Charleston, TN, USA

problem #4

Oct 011999

F-150 4WD

  • miles
1st, transmission, when at the speeds of 40 and 45, hesitates and wants to upshift and downshift, the behaivor is not normal at all, and I am making an appt. To get it fixed. 2nd, the high beam/ low beam switch must be faulty, at times the lights will totally shut off. 3rd when refeuling, usually on a quarter tank and less when taking off the gas cap there is alot of pressure built up in the tank. 4th the interior lights will sometimes come on when either door is opened, I have to shut the door and reopen it.

- Council Bluffs, IA, USA

Read the next 3 complaints »