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1997 Ford F-250 fuel system problems

29 complaints (10% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 130,745.

owner complaints
29
of this car's complaints
10%
typical mileage
130,745
crashes
0
recalls
2

Which part fails

  • Storage: tank assembly: mounting
    4
  • Storage: tank assembly
    2
  • Storage: auxillary tank: selector devices
    2
  • Delivery
    2
  • Storage: auxillary tank
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Ford F-250 fuel system problems in other years

199019952000200520102014

Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Ford F-250 fuel system

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Fuel leak 8

Related recalls

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mountingReported July 29, 2011 · 1,100,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford is recalling certain 1997 through 2003 model year ford f-150, 2004 model year ford f-150 heritage, 1997 through 1999 model year f-250 less than 8,500 lbs. Gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr), and 2002 and 2003 lincoln blackwood vehicles manufactured from june 20, 1995, through august 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle.
Risk
As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may fail allowing the fuel lines to separate from the tank, or in some cases, causing the tank to contact the ground. Either scenario may result in a fuel leak presenting a fire hazard.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a ford or lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers may install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on september 16, 2011. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 11s21

Recall number 11V385000 · Recall details

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported August 17, 2000 · 670,509 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks manufactured at the kansas city or norfolk assembly plants. The front fuel line assembly could have a hole rubbed through in one of two locations. The first location is below the fuel rail connection where the flexible hose is crimped to the steel tube. The bracket that attaches the front fuel line to the transmission could have been bent during assembly. The second location is at the rear steel tube section forward of the rear bracket. During installation the rear steel tubes of the front fuel line assembly could have been bent downward. In vehicles equipped with a manual 4xz4 transfer case shifter, the shifter linkage may contact the steel tubes as it is being shifted between 4h, 4l, 2l and neutral.
Risk
This condition could result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect these lines and replace the front fuel line assembly if necessary. Owner notification began october 27, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673.

Recall number 00V231000 · Recall details

What 1997 Ford F-250 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 26, 2024 · Fuel system · 133,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-250. The contact stated that the fuel strap failed and there was a hole in the fuel tank. The contact stated that there was fuel leaking from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 11V385000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 00V231000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

Filed Jun 8, 2018 · Fuel system · 130,745 miles · CA

Fuel tank 1 seems to pump fuel into tank 2. Fuel switch on "front" seems to indicate proper amount of fuel. Fuel switch on "rear" always reads full. Sometimes fuel will flow out of rear tank as soon as fuel cap is removed. I drove about 75 miles with the fuel switch on "rear". When I arrived at my destination, I unscrewed rear tank cap and fuel spewed out.......maybe a gallon or so.

Filed Jan 28, 2015 · Fuel system · 168,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford f-250. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift from low gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v385000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 168,000.

Filed May 19, 2014 · Body, Fuel system · 248,000 miles · AK

Ref:een19-47774 (to be fwd by mail) the front tank strap on the vehicle failed and the tank dropped until supported by skid plate. Some diesel fuel spilled in garage, creating fire hazard but was cleaned up w/o incident. I contacted diehl ford in bellingham wa as no ford dealer in juneau ak at that time. I ordered and they sent 2 straps (f72z-9054-ba), bolts&nuts which I found out later were not authorized by safety recall 11s21! I contacted the local (temporary) ford repair facility--evergreen motor works relative to this repair and they discovered the safety recall 11s21 and stated that alaska vehicles were not covered by this recall.I cotacted ford motor co. By email and got the same answer. As a senior electrical engineer I know this is total bs as alaska has much worse weather conditions than any of the :south 48" states covered by safety recall 11s21!! Stanley ford is now the local ford dealer but still could not fix my ford f250 tank strap under the recall but could fix the safety recall 09s09 speed control mod! It should be also noted that the driver seat belt buckle failed about the same time!! Ford co. Did not seem interested in this problem. I replaced this immediately as I feel safety is very important! Signed/ [xxx] sr. Engineer information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Apr 22, 2014 · Body, Fuel system · 114,000 miles · VT

The fuel tank straps failed on my truck causing the fuel tank to detach and make contact with the ground while the vehicle was in motion. I had the tank and related parts replaced at a local shop. However, the mechanic informed me that the mounting points for the vehicle's gas tank straps were also rusted and new straps could not be installed in the normal manner. When the recall was issued I took the vehicle to a local ford dealer that attempted an official repair of the straps but concluded the mounting brackets were too damaged to install new straps. Whether the defect was all corrosion or a combination of corrosion and the effects of the tank being ripped from the remaining mounts when the straps failed was not determined. The dealer and I called a ford company representative who initially agreed to have ford cover the repair of the vehicle but this was later rescinded by a superior and I left with an unsafe, incomplete repair. I would like the national highway traffic safety association to examine the incidence of structural and mounting bracket failures due to premature corrosion not limited to the straps themselves. Several local mechanics have commented that they see this very, very frequently on ford trucks of that vintage. My truck will not pass inspection with the brackets rusted as they are. Given the seriousness of the issue, I believe this bears very close examination. Ford says it has not process to follow up on this concern. I continue to receive recall notices but they are useless since ford will not acknowledge related damage, damaged caused by the defective straps and/or additional issues that very likely exist with the corrosion resistance of some ford truck frames. This truck's frame has continued to experience significant frame based rust deterioration while other parts of the vehicle seem to follow a much more normal aging pattern.

Filed Apr 22, 2014 · Fuel system · 114,000 miles · VT

Driving the vehicle at a slow speed over a gravel road, the straps and/or their attachment points to the frame failed, allowing the tank to drop and make contact with the road. This was prior to ford's recall regarding the straps and a repair was made at the local shop. Repairs consisted of a new tank, sending unit and straps. The shop indicated that the straps had failed but new straps could not be fitted because, either because of the mechanical action of tearing away the tank or because of deterioration, the mounting points were not in sufficiently good shape to reattach the straps. The shop fashioned an attachment consisting of chains suspending the tank from the frame. Subsequently, on receiving ford's recall notice regarding the straps, I took the vehicle to a ford dealer who, after an attempt to repair, indicated the vehicle needed more work to implement the correction. The dealer (and I) spoke to a ford representative who initially authorized the repair but, when the extend of the required repair was somewhat greater than anticipated, was overruled by someone else at ford and ford denied the repair. The truck effectively could not be inspected in the future because of this defect and it use was lost other than occasional use on the property. Follow-ups with ford resulted in their claim that ford was only liable for the straps and not any consequential or related damage and no other recourse was available. I would like the national highway traffic safety association to look into the ramifications of limiting a safety recall of this nature to the defective straps only and not the consequences of the defect.I am also requesting and examination of ford's willingness to send a vehicle back onto the streets with an uncorrected know safety issue.

Filed Feb 8, 2014 · Fuel system · 114,967 miles · IL

November,2005 woke up to heavy odor of gas coming from my attached garage found my 1997 f-250 truck had lost gallons overnite took to local ford dealer told me tank rusty,under skid plate& spare tire. Cost me $734.27 I said is there a problem with these tanks,was asked about recall was told no recall-went home called ford motor co.told them my situation &costs for a garage kept,rarely saw snow & meticulously kept up inside & out truck ,they were no help at all. Sold this truck approx 2006 to my friend who owns a local harley davidson business,it is still running and looking great. Then bought 1997 f-150 at local ford dealer 5/14/12 that I got a recall on for the same problem, had work done for thefuel tank/strap asy took it in done at no cost,I believe I am owed a refund & interest on the $734.27 on the 1997 f250 in my garage also were 2 harleys one being a collectible I feel ford chose to keep this matter hushed and I could have lost everything. I believe I am due a refund asap I should not have had to pay for ford motor company's mistakes and attempted cover up. Thank you for your time & attention to my long overdue matter, any help to right this wrong would be greatly appreciated.

Filed Nov 1, 2013 · Fuel system · 156,000 miles · MO

Rear gas tank leaking gas.straps appear to have rubbed hole in tank.

Filed Aug 10, 2012 · Fuel system · 146,000 miles · WY

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f250. The contact stated he smelled fuel coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered fuel leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The failure and the current mileage was 146,000. Updated 09/19/12*lj the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired by a local shop. The manufacturer offered no assistance. Updated 09/19/2012

Filed Mar 6, 2012 · Fuel system · 180,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford f-250. While the vehicle was parked and turned off, the contact noticed an overpowering gasoline smell coming from the rear of the vehicle. After examining the vehicle, the contact noticed that the fuel tank was leaking next to the fuel tank straps. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the federal safety agency campaign id number:11v385000 applied to his vehicle and that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 180,000.

Questions about the 1997 Ford F-250 fuel system

Does the 1997 Ford F-250 have fuel system problems?

Owners have filed 29 complaints about the fuel system of the 1997 Ford F-250, 10% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1997 Ford F-250 fuel system problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 130,745 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford F-250 fuel system?

Yes, 2 recalls: 11V385000, 00V231000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Ford F-250 have the most fuel system problems?

The Ford F-250 model years with the most fuel system complaints are 1999 (41 complaints), 1990 (40 complaints) and 1993 (37 complaints).

Other 1997 Ford F-250 problems

Tires 42Transmission 34Brakes 31Engine 31Suspension 30Steering 23Electrical 19Body 18Acceleration 15Visibility 12Wheels 10Airbags 7Seat belts 7Seats 5Lights 4Locks 1

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