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 Pickup
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
531.3%
Tires
318.8%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Body & Structure
212.5%
Steering
212.5%
Median failure at 125,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
16.3%
Wheels
16.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.3%
Suspension
16.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 75,000 mi
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.
Jan 1998peak 2Jan 2006
NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Ford Pickup
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE00029Opened 21 Jul 2000Closed 5 Jan 2001VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PROPANE VEHICLE CONVERSION
THE SECOND-STAGE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, DURING THE CONVERSION PROCESS, INSTALLS THE PROPANE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT-OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CARGO BED IN AN EXPOSED POSITION.THIS LOCATION APPEARS TO BE CONTRARY TO THE NFPA #152 GUIDELINES AND FORD'S BODY BUILDER LAYOUT BOOK - ALTERNATIVE FUELS GUIDELINES.IN A SIDE-SWIPE TYPE OF COLLISION, BETWEEN ONE OF THE SUBJECT CONVERSIONS AND A 1988 INTERNATION TRUCK, THE PROPANE TANK WAS IMPACTED AND THE PROPANE WAS RELEASED.THE RELEASED PROPANE REPORTEDLY IGNITED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT AND THE DRIVERS OF BOTHE VEHICLES INVOLVED WERE SERIOUSLY BURNED....
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 75,000 milesDerey, NYCrash1 injured
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE REAR END WILL SWAY TO THE LEFT AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
NHTSA complaint #8021543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melrose, FLCrash1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE T FLIPPING OVER ABOUT 4 TIMES. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8010667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rotterdam, NY1 injured
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VENTILATION SYSTEM DRAWS EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE.
NHTSA complaint #536404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Stony Point, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
PICK UP WONT PASS N.Y.S. INSPECTION ,DUE TO A FALSE READING ON COMPUTER THAT YOUR STATIONS USE ITS COST ME $350.00 SO FAR EVERYTHING SAFETY WISE WORKS PASSES EXCEPT A EMISSION READING , ALL SAFETY THING S PASS . THE TRUCK DON'T SMOKE RUNS GOOD EXCEPT THIS STUPID EMISSION THING THAT READS NOT READY. IT SAYS GO 60 MPH LET COST, THEN SPEED IT UP , NOW YOU KNOW 60 MPH IS PRETTY FAST FOR A TRUCK. I'M A CDL LICENSE HOLDER , AND I'M SRY I'M NOT GOING TO SPEED ON THE RDS IN MY AREA. I'M CERTIFIED TRUCK DRIVER BY THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION , WHO EVER CAME UP WITH THIS SHOULD USE THERE OWN CAR FOR WORK AND SEE THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY AS A MAINTENANCE WORKER FOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK MADE THIS LAW NOW TELL ME WHAT TO DO IT S BEEN TO SERVICE STATIONS ,DEALERS , AND THEY CANT FIND THE PROBLEM, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS SINCE YOU MADE THE LAW.
NHTSA complaint #10146684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 126,000 milesAlbany, NY
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL WOULD BE TOO LOOSE, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10053820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,000 milesTuttle, OK
STEERING:COLUMN
THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN JOINT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES NOT TO TURN WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10007126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesDerey, NYCrash1 injured
SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE REAR END WILL SWAY TO THE LEFT AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
NHTSA complaint #8021543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unknown, 00
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING STALLING PROBLEMS, DEALER CAN NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #565775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melrose, FLCrash1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE T FLIPPING OVER ABOUT 4 TIMES. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8010667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middleburg, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WOULD SKIP, MISS, BACKFIRE, AND HAD VERY LITTLE POWER, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE AC OFF, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND REV THE ENGINE, DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR DUE TO A RECALL AND STATED THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT HAS NOT, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Richmond, VA
WHEELS:RIM
CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME AND HEARD SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO SHOULDER TO CHECK. WHILE DOING THIS TIRE CAME OFF TRUCK AND CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN THE STREET. HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO STOP, BUT AFTER TIRE WAS OFF. HE WAS NOT INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #8003492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Middleburg, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WOULD SKIP, MISS, BACKFIRE, AND HAD VERY LITTLE POWER, CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE AC OFF, PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND REV THE ENGINE, DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR DUE TO A RECALL AND STATED THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT HAS NOT, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waukegan, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE DRIVER DOOR AND PASSANGER DOOR HAVE SIMMILAR CRACKS BY THE MIDDLE DOOR THE DEALEAR KNOWS ABOUT THE DEFECT AND WON'T DO ANY THING ABOUT IT, IF THIS TRUCK IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE DOORS WILL BUCKLE AT THAT CRACK IT IS A DEFECT FROM FORD THE CRACK IS LOCATED ON THE MIDDLE DOOR BY THE LOCK IN OTHER WORDS WHEN YOU OPEN THE WINDOW AND YOU PUT YOUR ARM ON THE WINDOW EDGE RIGHT BEHINDYOUR ELBOE THATS WHERE IT IS LOCATED.
NHTSA complaint #752299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockland, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN TRAVELING 10 TO 15 MPH VEHICLE STALLS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS.VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER. WHEN SITTING AT A STAND STILL VEHICLE STALLS. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN.
NHTSA complaint #890789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stone Creek, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS CRACKING, WILL WINDOW GO ACROSS TO OPENING.
NHTSA complaint #881972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hialeah, FL
TIRES
WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION FRONT END OF VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE DUE TO TIRE BLOWOUT. *AK THIS HAPPENED ON LEFT FRONT TIRE. ALSO THE ENTIRE TREAD PEELED OFF OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #869866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Charleston, AR
TIRES
TIRE BUBBLE AND CHUNKED OUT/SEPERATED CAN SEE STEEL BELT( DOT NUMBER: W208 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )
NHTSA complaint #729749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rotterdam, NY1 injured
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VENTILATION SYSTEM DRAWS EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN VEHICLE IS AT IDLE.
NHTSA complaint #536404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cypress, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CENTER ARM REST LOCKS IN THE UP POSITION BUT NOT IN THE DOWN POSITON.
NHTSA complaint #528280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.