FaultScore

FaultScore report

1997 Ford Motor Home problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 1997 Ford Motor Home with NHTSA between 2000 and 2008. The largest single group is the tires. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 7 worst.

B

FaultScore 39/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Motor Home.

How this is worked out

The numbers

15

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 42 vs 50 Severity 34 vs 50 Early failure not reported
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 42
Against the median year of the Ford Motor Home. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 34
6.7% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 1997 compares with every other Ford Motor Home

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Ford Motor Home

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Tires 7 46.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 13.3%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

Electrical System 2 13.3%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 13.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 48,523 mi

Other & Unspecified 1 6.7%
Brakes 1 6.7%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2000 peak 3 Feb 2008

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Apache Junction, AZ Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

1997 FORD V-10. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE WHICH STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED.

NHTSA complaint #566280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Rocky Mount, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD MOTOR HOME. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. HE IS DISSATISFIED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. FORD STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE READY IN DECEMBER OF 2007, BUT THE CONTACT HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANYTHING. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,561.

NHTSA complaint #10218621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Valley Center, KS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON OUR 1997 FORD RV FOR A WIRING HARNESS IN SEPT. 2007. WE CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE "ON BACK ORDER." WE HAVE STILL NOT RECEIVED REPAIRS. FIVE (5) MONTHS IS AMPLE TIME TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THE CRUISE ON AN RV.

NHTSA complaint #10217025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Valley Center, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON OUR 1997 FORD RV FOR A WIRING HARNESS IN SEPT. 2007. WE CALLED THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE "ON BACK ORDER." WE HAVE STILL NOT RECEIVED REPAIRS. FIVE (5) MONTHS IS AMPLE TIME TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THE CRUISE ON AN RV.

NHTSA complaint #10217025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 48,523 miles Quincy, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ON MAY 5TH AT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT (APX. 2 TEASPOON) OF ANTIFREEZE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. PREVIOUS TO THIS THE OIL HAD BEEN CHECKED & THE LEVEL & COLOR WAS NORMAL. ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS NORMAL. DRIVEN 1 MILE HOME TO BE CHECKED OUT COMPLETELY NEXT DAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ENGINE WAS NORMAL & OK. 2.MAY 6, 2004: STARTED ENGINE - TERRIBLE CLUNKING & KNOCKING NOISE. WHITE SMOKING OUT OF TAIL PIPE. DETERMINED BY FORD MECHANIC: ROD WAS BENT & THE CYLINDER SCORED. THE HEAD WAS EXAMINED: HEAD GASKET & INTAKE GASKET NORMAL. NO CRACKS IN HEAD - IT WAS SENT OUT FOR INSPECTION; NO VISUAL OR NON-VISUAL CRACKS IN THE HEAD. MECHANICAL REASON COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. 3B. WE HAD TO HAVE A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE PUT IN. WE WERE UNABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10073122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apache Junction, AZ Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

1997 FORD V-10. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FIRE WHICH STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED.

NHTSA complaint #566280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Romeo, MI

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING FRONT LEFT TIRE SEPARATED AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. SIZE LT2252/R75, R16 M/S STEELTEX R4S ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK THIS IS A MOTORHOME ON A 1997 FORD E SUPER DUTY CHASSIS.

NHTSA complaint #8013941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spring Hope, NC

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD, SUPER DUTY, LT225/75R16 SIZE, DOT#: VDILIXA386. REAR OUTSIDE DUEL TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM INSIDE WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. FIRESTONE WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #895951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midland, GA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL P225 75 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CRACKING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LP GAS LINE ON MOTORHOME. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midland, GA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL P225 75 R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CRACKING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LP GAS LINE ON MOTORHOME. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #555237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TRAVELING 55MPH WHEN FRONT END BEGAN TO BOUNCE & SHAKE. PULLED OVER & CHECKED. NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A WIDE TREAD SEPARATION IN TIRE. IT WAS NOT FLAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE RETAILER & HAD ALL SIX TIRES CHANGED ON THE MOTORHOME. DO NOT HAVE THE TIRES. FIRESTONE, STEEL TEX, RADIAL LT22575R16 WITH 35,000 MILES ON A 1997 FORD CHASSIS.

NHTSA complaint #873218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE ENTIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE (LOOKED LIKE A RETREAD). IT WAS AN INSIDE TIRE ON A DUAL WHEEL CAMPER. WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A 1/2 MILE WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. WHEN WE STOPPED WE LOOKED BACK AND SAW THE TREAD FROM THE TIRE IN THE ROAD. WE WERE NOT ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE TIRE TREAD AS WE WERE BOTH IN OUR LATE 60'S AT THE TIME. WE HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL HOURS BESIDE THE ROAD ON A HIGHWAY UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THE ORIGINAL TIRE DEALER THAT REPLACED THE TIRE 31W TRUCK TIRE CENTER REFUSED TO GIVE US ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE TIRE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE TIRE TREAD ON SEPT 7TH. HOWEVER, TIRE DISTRIBUTIONS SYSTEMS INCORPORATED, 1201 DEMONBREUN, NASHVILLE, TN TOOK THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE TIRE WHEN WE WERE DISSATISFIED WITH THE LACK OF ADJUSTMENT BY THE OTHER DEALER. THEY DID REPLACE A TIRE ONLY BECAUSE WE BOTH TWO MORE NEW TIRE FROM THEM AND WE PAID THEM FOR ONE. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 TIRES IN TOTAL FOR THE ONE BAD TIRE TO GET ANY ADJUSTMENT. THE ADJUSTMENT CLAIM NUMBER WAS 7753110 FROM TDS. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED TO DRIVE OUR CAMPER ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE RECENT RECALLS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED.( DOT NUMBER: VDIL1XA416 TIRE SIZE: 75R16M-S )

NHTSA complaint #729917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midland, GA

TIRES

TREAD CAME OFF TIRE, TORE OUT LP GAS LINE TO REFRIGERATOR. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE DID NOT HAVE A FIRE OR WORSE. WE WERE LEAVING NEW BERN, NC AT THE TIME; WE RETURNED TO NEW BERN TO A FIRESTONE DEALER AND HAD THE TIRE REPLACED. WE WERE TOLD THAT FIRESTONE WOULD MAKE NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THE TIRE. OUR MOTORHOME IS IN STORAGE ABOUT 25 MILES AWAY, THEREFORE, AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT HAVE THE COMPLETE TIRE INFORMATION, HOWEVER THE TREAD CAME OFF JUST AS WE HAVE TODAY SEEN PICTURES ON TV OF TIRES FROM ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THE TIRES. WE FELT COMPELED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO YOU AT THIS TIME AND WILL FOLLOW UP WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO RETREIVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE RV. WE WILL CONTACT SHASTA AND REPORT THIS TO THEM ALSO. WE ARE NOW CONCERNED THAT THE REPLACEMENT TIRE AND THE REMAINING 5 PLUS SPARE ARE A HAZARD TO US AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. WE FEEL IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE ALL TIRES ON THE MOTORHOME NOW. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA complaint #726649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garden Grove, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT OR SPONGY BUT THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NO TROUBLE IN STOPPING. YH

NHTSA complaint #606580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Compton, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING ENGINE MISS AND SURGE. YH

NHTSA complaint #608538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seal Beach, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PROPANE FURNACE FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #606471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.