1997 Ford F-150 suspension problems
204 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the suspension on the 1997 Ford F-150 — 7% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“While driving down the road at 35 mph with no load and nothing in tow the sub-frame cracked on both the driver and passenger side. On the driver side it cracked behind the rear tire. On the passenger side it cracked in front of the rear tire. The vehicle bowed and smashed the top of the bed into…”
filed Jul 19, 2015
“I was driving home from town when all the ball bearings fell out of the steering column and the steering wheel became loose and the truck began to sway from right to left, it was controllable at the low speed I was going but thank god I wasn't on an interstate or highway at a higher speed I could…”
filed May 10, 2012
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Suspension problems in other F-150 years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 F-150 | 1 | 1% |
| 2024 F-150 | 3 | 2% |
| 2023 F-150 | 6 | 2% |
| 2022 F-150 | 14 | 2% |
| 2021 F-150 | 13 | 1% |
| 2020 F-150 | 8 | 1% |
| 2019 F-150 | 10 | 1% |
| 2018 F-150 | 22 | 1% |
| 2017 F-150 | 11 | 1% |
| 2016 F-150 | 17 | 1% |
| 2015 F-150 | 11 | 1% |
| 2014 F-150 | 10 | 1% |
Other reported problem areas on the 1997 Ford F-150
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.