Sell your 1997 Ford F-150 for cash

The 1997 Ford F-150 is a pickup truck that came with a choice of 4.2L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl and 5.4L 8-cyl engines. At 29 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.

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1997 Ford F-150 at a glance

Body styleStandard Pickup Trucks
Engines4.2L 6-cyl, 4.6L 8-cyl, 5.4L 8-cyl
TransmissionsAutomatic 4-spd, Manual 5-spd
DriveRear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
FuelRegular Gasoline
Fuel economy12–15 city / 16–20 highway / 13–17 combined MPG
EPA annual fuel cost$3,950–$5,150 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles)
Tailpipe CO₂523–684 grams per mile
Versions tested by EPA10 configurations: F150 Pickup 2WD, F150 Pickup 4WD
Age29 years

Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data. Your car's exact equipment may differ.

What affects its junk value

  • Age: at 29 years old, most of a 1997 F-150's value comes from reusable parts and scrap metal, not resale.
  • Weight: as a pickup truck, it's heavier than a typical car, and scrap weight is a big part of any junk offer. See how scrap prices by weight work.
  • Catalytic converter: like all gas and diesel cars, it has a catalytic converter containing precious metals, one of the most valuable parts on a junk car. An offer assumes it's still in place. More on catalytic converters.
  • Recalls: NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 1997 F-150. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking it.
  • Known problems: owners reported the most issues with the engine and engine cooling, typically around 100,000 miles. If that's what failed on yours, it can still be sold as-is.

How junk car offers are calculated

1997 Ford F-150 recalls

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls covering the 1997 Ford F-150. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.

Fuel System, GasolineJul 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V385000

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…

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.

Vehicle Speed ControlSep 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V388000

On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.

Risk: A fire at the switch could occur.

SteeringMay 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V196000

On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.

Risk: This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.

Fuel System, GasolineAug 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V231000

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…

Risk: This condition could result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Exterior LightingJun 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V168000

Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to Ford, the vehicles were imported into…

Risk: The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.

Fuel System, GasolineJul 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V161000

Vehicle description: light duty 4-wheel drive pickup trucks. If the vehicle is overloaded, the rear leaf springs can be overstressed. A fatigue fracture of the spring can occur. The center leaf of the spring can fracture at the forward edge of the spring seat and, in some cases, contact the fuel tank.

Risk: Fuel tank contact can damage the tank and result in fuel leakage. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.

WheelsMay 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V095000

Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.

Risk: This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Vehicle Speed ControlJan 1998 · NHTSA campaign 98V007000

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with a 4.2l engine and originally sold or currently registered in one of the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine, michigan, idaho, wyoming, south dakota, colorado, nebraska, kansas, iowa, missouri…

Risk: Increased brake pedal efforts or some increase in stopping distance could result.

Power TrainOct 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V171000

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive…

Risk: The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.

Power TrainSep 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V147000

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The transmission bracket end fitting can separate from the shift cable assembly resulting in operator inability to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position.

Risk: This condition can result in unintended vehicle movement if the parking brake is not set.

Seat BeltsDec 1996 · NHTSA campaign 96V256000

The seat elt anchorage attachments are missing or misinstalled on these vehicles.

Risk: A loose fastener can eventually detach and would not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a vehicle accident.

Vehicle Speed ControlDec 1996 · NHTSA campaign 96V251000

Vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, michigan (upper peninsula), new york, maine, vermont, and new hampshire. Operation at highway speeds during extreme cold, northern climate winter conditions, can result in ice forming in the throttle body of…

Risk: This ice can cause the throttle plate to remain in the highway cruising position after the accelerator is released or the speed control is deactivated. Under such conditions, the vehicle stopping distances would be increased possibly result

Service Brakes, HydraulicSep 1996 · NHTSA campaign 96V184000

The retainer clip that holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm is missing.

Risk: A loss of service braking can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.

EquipmentAug 1996 · NHTSA campaign 96V161000

The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."

Risk: Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .

Common 1997 F-150 problems

Owners have filed 2,758 complaints about the 1997 Ford F-150 with NHTSA. 165 reports involved a crash and 262 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 127 injuries.

Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.

Most-reported components

  • Engine and Engine Cooling198
  • Tires168
  • Structure164
  • Fuel System, Gasoline155
  • Tires137
  • Engine and Engine Cooling136

Typical mileage when problems were reported

  • Engine and Engine Cooling100,000 mi
  • Tires70,000 mi
  • Structure75,000 mi
  • Fuel System, Gasoline140,000 mi
  • Tires53,000 mi
  • Engine and Engine Cooling96,000 mi

1997 Ford F-150 service bulletins

Manufacturers have filed 325 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 1997 Ford F-150. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.

Most common bulletin topics

  • Engine and Engine Cooling29
  • Unknown or Other21
  • Fuel System19
  • Engine and Engine Cooling17
  • Power Train15
  • Service Brakes13

Recent bulletins

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2016 · 16-0073

    For 1997-2003 F-150, 2004 F-150 Heritage, 1997-1999 F-250 Light Duty, or 2002-2003 Blackwood vehicles Safety Recall 11S21 has been issued for vehicles that are operated i

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsApr 2016 · TSB160073

    Safety recall 11S21 - Fuel tank strap fracture - requests for recall service action

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsSep 2014 · TSB-14-0164

    Ford/lincoln: safety recall regarding high corrosion areas for operating, for an extended time, vehicles where both or one strap of fuel tank can fracture, after contacti

  • Service Bulletin/Repair InstructionsAug 2014 · TSB-14-0147

    Ford/lincoln: safety recall issued due to one or both fuel tank straps fracturing due to being in high corrosion areas for an extended period and dislodging fuel tank. Mo

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA opened 18 defect investigations covering the 1997 Ford F-150.

Fuel System, GasolineEA11006 · opened May 2011, closed Aug 2011Led to recall 11V385000

Fuel Tank Strap Failure Due to Corrosion

One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and fail (break or separate).If one strap fails, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle

Fuel System, GasolinePE10036 · opened Sep 2010, closed May 2011

Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion/Rust

One or both of the steel straps holding up the fuel tank and attaching it to the truck frame can corrode and break.If one strap breaks, the tank may tilt and drop and possibly contact the road surface.If both straps break, the entire tank may drop to the road.If either failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven,

Engine and Engine CoolingDP05005 · opened Sep 2005, closed Jan 2006

Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or t

Electrical SystemEA05005 · opened Mar 2005, closed Aug 2006Led to recall 05V388000

Engine compartment fires

Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in cert

SteeringEA02001 · opened Feb 2002, closed May 2003Led to recall 03V196000

Steering shaft separation

See attached summary for technical details

SteeringPE01033 · opened Sep 2001, closed Feb 2002

Steering column

SuspensionRQ98022 · opened Nov 1998, openLed to recall 98V161000

Rear suspension spring breakage

In july 1998, Ford submitted a part 573 notification to NHTSA concerning broken rear springs on certain 1997-98 Ford f150 trucks, with four-wheel drive.Ford stated that fatigue fracture of the rear springs may occur if the spring are over stresses(sic) by vehicle overloading.the broken piece of the spring leaf may spla

Vehicle Speed ControlEA98018 · opened Aug 1998, closed Sep 1999

Alleged loss of throttle control

The details of information and data evaluated during this investigation are stated in the engineering analysis closing report, dated september 30, 1999.a safety-related defect trend resulting from interference by the floor mat with proper operation of the throttle in the subject vehicles was not identified during the c

SteeringPE98024 · opened Apr 1998, closed Jul 1998

Tie rod end failures

There is no summary currently available

Vehicle Speed ControlPE98021 · opened Apr 1998, closed Aug 1998

Loss of throttle control

There is no summary currently available

Power TrainRQ98005 · opened Mar 1998, closed Aug 1998Led to recall 97V147000

Automatic transmission control

On september 4, 1997, Ford filed a defect information report concerning approximately 15,000 1997 model year F-150 trucks, manufactured from february 16 through march 4, 1996, and built at the norfolk or kansas city assembly plants.these vehicles could have incorrectly manufactured automatic transmission control cables

Vehicle Speed ControlRQ98003 · opened Mar 1998, closed May 2000Led to recall 96V251000

Ice formation in the throttle body

There is no summary currently available

SuspensionPE98009 · opened Feb 1998, closed Jun 1998

Independent front suspension torsion bar

Three consumers have reported failure of one of the two front suspension torsion bars in the subject vehicles.in one case the failure occurred while the vehicle was in operation, and the vehicles were parked when the other two failures occurred.no crashes have been reported.torsion bar failures are considered to be fai

WheelsEA97027 · opened Dec 1997, closed May 1998Led to recall 98V095000

Wheel separation

By letter dated may 6, 1998, the manufacturer advised NHTSA of its decision to initiate a safety recall of approximately 1,520,000 of the subject vehicles, including f-250 light duty trucks, and navigator vehicles built at the norfolk, michigan truck, kansas city, and ontario truck assembly plants between december 1, 1

WheelsPE97033 · opened Jul 1997, closed Dec 1997

Wheel separation from vehicle

In addition to the a failure report tabulations given above, the manufacturer reported that an additional 33 owner and field reports have been filed which refer to problems (lug not torque loss, lug bolt fracture) that did not involve actual wheel separation, but which may be potentially relevant events.the manufacture

Power TrainPE97019 · opened May 1997, closed Sep 1997Led to recall 97V147000

Failure transmission park engagement/loc

By letter dated september 4, 1997, the manufacturer advised NHTSA that a safety-related recall action would be initiated to correct a potential failure of the transmission shift cable in approximately 15,000 of the subject vehicles.the suspect cables were supplied to Ford by teleflex automotive and installed in the sub

Seat BeltsEA96020 · opened Aug 1996, closed Dec 1996Led to recall 96V256000

Seat belt anchorage separation

Ford notified odi that they are conducting a recall to inspect and, as necessary, repair the seat belt anchorage attachments on 1997 Ford f150 vehicles built from the beginning of production through april of 1996.odi's database contains one complaint alleging the center front seat belt anchorage was not bolted to the f

Seat BeltsPE96030 · opened Apr 1996, closed Aug 1996Led to recall 96V256000

Seat belt anchorage separation

Odi's database contains one complaint alleging the center front seat belt anchorage was not bolted to the floor.Ford submitted 28 additional field reports and warrant claims alleging that a seat belt was not bolted to the floor, not attached, not hooked up, or the owner complainted that the seat belt was loose.the caus

Other Ford F-150 years

‹ Sell a 1996 F-150 · Sell a 1998 F-150 › · All Ford F-150 years

Other 1997 Ford models

Selling a 1997 F-150: questions

How much is a 1997 Ford F-150 worth for junk?

It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.

Can I junk a 1997 F-150 that doesn't run?

Yes. We buy 1997 F-150s that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.

Can I sell a 1997 F-150 with open recalls?

Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 14 recalls for the 1997 Ford F-150; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What paperwork do I need to sell my 1997 F-150?

Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.

Before you sell

Sources

Data retrieved October 2026.

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