Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1997 Ford F-250
NHTSA data on file today
The 1997 Ford F-250 has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of . try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 1997 Ford F-250. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11V385000 FUEL TANK STRAP CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E066000 90 DEGREE 7-WAY RIGHT ANGLE ADAPTORS/TOW ASSEMBLIE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E067000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V286000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E052000 FMVSS 108/INSUFFICIENT LIGHTING VISIBILITY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V388000 SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #03V196000 FORD/STEERING GEAR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01X001000 Tires — Tread/Belt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V231000 FORD/FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V095000 FORD/LUG NUTS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V187000 FORD/TIRES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #97V171000 FORD/AUTO TRANSMISSION CABLE ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #96V184000 FORD/MASTER CYLINDER RETAINER CLIP NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #96V161000 FORD/EQUIPMENT; CERTIFICATION LABEL NHTSA notice
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1997 Ford F-250 has a notable number of recall campaigns, primarily focused on fuel system and vehicle speed control issues. However, without specific owner complaints, it's challenging to fully gauge the reliability. The recalls suggest potential issues with specific systems, but overall reliability is difficult to determine definitively.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel tank mounting | Unknown | $200–$800 | occasional |
| Speed control | Unknown | $100–$400 | occasional |
| Steering gear shaft | Unknown | $300–$900 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake pad inspections annually
- Cooling system flush every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel leaks under vehicle
- Overheating speed control
- Loose steering feel
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1997 Ford F-250 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.