30th Aug 2004, 11:17

I own a 1997 F-150 XL super cab 4 x 2. The body exterior skin is cracking around the lower rear portion of the door windows. The interior metal skin of the drivers side door was fixed once for metal fatigue at 35,000 miles under warranty. The repair didn't hold. The problem is now occurring on the passenger side door as well. The metal is cracking right where the curve in the lower rear window frame straighten out. Curious as to how many others have experienced the same problem.

24th Jul 2005, 20:59

Why do people go crazy and say they won't buy another ford again when in reality, what do you expect from a new model? I always try to buy the year before the new model change. For instance, I'd get the 1996 F150 (if the year was 1997) because ford had made that model the best it would ever be. In the end, why complain about a truck that you know will have problems due to the design change?

25th Feb 2006, 09:12

I'm just curious as to how many of your trucks wear the Detroit stamp. You can find this kind of info on the manufacturer plate on the inside of the driver's side door.

21st Apr 2007, 22:03

It's the 4.2L Essex engine that's bad! It's basically the 3.8L Essex (headgasket blowing engine) that was in Thunderbirds and Taurus's. (Tauri?). Get the V8 instead (a few choices.)

28th Jul 2007, 12:41

I have a 97 F150 4x4 with 196,000 miles. I am replacing the left side BJ today, the first real money I have had to spend on this truck! Love Ford's!!!

27th Nov 2007, 16:33

I own a 1997 FORD F150, 4.6l with over 220,000 miles and it still runs perfect, Looks better than 90% of trucks out there and still smokes n/a imports. Most reliable and beautiful vehicle I ever owned.

11th Dec 2007, 15:36

I own a F150, 4.6L 1997 truck. Currently has 188,000 miles. ido primarily highway driving and have always got 18-19 mpg. The problems have been-

-5,000 miles the transmission was replaced under warranty (pinhole leak in the case).

-140,000 miles the power steering pump was replaced.

-150,000 miles the rear wheel seal was replaced and a tune up was done (the first one).

-Replaced the battery in 2006 (10 years old)

-Replaced the disk brakes twice, but don't remember the mileage.

Overall a great truck.

25th Jan 2008, 12:21

I have a 97 F150 4x4 ext cab with a 5.4 with 263,xxx miles on it and the only thing that was replaced on mine besides the normal wear and tear things is the trans at 211,xxx miles. and mine has a 7 inch lift and 37 in tires on it. The motor still runs strong and can spin the 37's.Oh not to mention I pulled my dads 2002 dodge ram quad cab home from alabama because his motor blew up at 106,xxx miles. I love my truck and I wouldn't ever get rid of it.

28th Jan 2008, 22:03

1997 F150 XL with the 4.6L

All I have to say is 284,000 miles and still runs strong. No rust and still looks good.

I think that's value!!!

6th Feb 2008, 11:16

Own a 1997 F-150 SuperCab 4.6, OffRoad pkg, manual tranny.

Both ignition coils needed to be replaced before 100k, and also the heater core. Now it looks like it is having cooling/head gasket issues. Having pampered this truck as much as I could, it has gone through normal wear, but seems like the issues were preventable.

Why? A friend of mine who has worked for Ford for many years has a plausible explanation. This was a redesigned truck, the model year it was also release alongside the pre-97 F-150. So Ford let engineering students do some of the design; BIG, BIG mistake. These are good trucks, but ask any Ford mechanic how much fun it is to take the dash apart.

If you were buying a house, would you let some architect-in-training design it for you? If so I think you would be as stupid as Ford, and you'd probably be stuck under your collapsed house anyway. I love this truck, but I am close to kicking it to the curb for something that someone cared enough about to let REAL engineers with REAL experience design it.

PS. The head gasket issue is becoming more and more common as these things age. That and the fact that I paid Ford $750 to diagnose and fix what was the ignition coil problem. They changed the sparkplugs and never got to the coil, raped me for it, and they expect me to be a loyal customer after that?!?

17th Feb 2008, 18:35

Wow whoever said there battery lasted 10 years I've never ever heard of that before I've been working on trucks my whole life must of been a dang good one wow.

19th Feb 2008, 23:29

I own a 1997 F-150 4x4 4.6L with 99,000 miles. I have had very few issues other than the transmission slipping a few times which was fixed by changing the oil and the engine idling rough sometimes. I recently have been hearing the ring and pinion gears humming, and have just discovered the transmission front seal leaking. Overall I am very happy with this truck. (i also have had the body tearing issues on both doors by the windows as mentioned above)

29th Feb 2008, 14:57

Hi, I own a 1997 Ford F150 4.2 V6 5 speed super cab. I bought the truck used in 2006 with 42,000 on it; now 175,000. I have only replaced the front brakes and the battery. Otherwise, it is the best truck ever.

I run the truck hard every day. It gets better gas mileage than a V8, and all my friends with Chevy trucks with the 5.7 cannot beat me. I will never own nothing but a Ford.

1st May 2008, 13:47

1997 F-150, 4x4, 3 door, 4.6 liter. I have just over 89,000 miles on this truck and am rather disappointed in it and Ford. This is my 7th or 8th Ford truck and the only one that is a money pit. The rear wheel seals have been replaced, inner and outer tie rods, pittman arm, rotors and drums, several sensors (and the check engine light is still on), various minor engine oil leaks that keep the engine bay a mess, one power mirror that quit working, sagging rear suspension, quirky transmissions shifts and unexplained rough idle at times. This truck gets driven approximately 40 miles each day (20 miles each way) to and from work, on the highway. It is a dog and only gets 11.25 MPG. This is definitely not like the Ford trucks that I used to count on.

The fella that said don't buy a newly designed truck is way off base. What should happen? Ford leaves all newly designed vehicles on the lot until they get the bugs worked out years later. That was a pretty poor excuse for poor design and engineering.

6th Jul 2008, 21:50

I have a 1997 Ford F150 4.6 4X4 with only 75000 miles on it, and have been very pleased with it. I would have bet it would have gone 200,000 with no problem. Took it out the other day, went 3mi. and it blew the head gasket. No warning at all. What a let down.

6th Sep 2008, 22:04

I have a 97 F-150 4x4 4.6 automatic. Its up to 96,000 and has never had any major problems, the engine and transmission are still in great condition. My only concern with this truck is that it seems to be developing a lot of rust on the undercarriage, to the point that it may no longer pass inspection in the years to come.

6th Oct 2009, 14:56

I have a 97 Lariat with 240K miles on it. It runs like a champ. No engine work ever done and I replaced the trans at 198K. I drive it daily and out of town.