1997 Ford F150 XL review from North America
"A reliable, long-lasting, value"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The fan blower selector only works in the highest two out of four positions.
A wheel bearing went out at about 198K.
The U joints needed to be replaced at 200000 (not the originals)
At around 195000, the oil light started coming on and the pressure gauge drops frequently. There must be a short in the wiring, because we've put 10000 miles on it since then.
Sometimes the windshield wipers will turn on by themselves. To stop them you just whack the switch.
We put a block heater in it to make it start better in the cold.
The front bench seat is ripped on the back.
The intake gaskets are going out, but we don't feel like replacing them because we don't know how much longer the truck will last.
General comments?
This has been a very reliable truck.
I can't remember ever being stranded in this truck.
It is very easy to get buried in the snow due to the two wheel drive. If you get one, get the 4X4.
It rides pretty well for a truck, but the rear seats are nearly uninhabitable.
The third door is a nice feature for releasing the unfortunate occupants of the rear seats.
The gas mileage is not incredible, but is still not bad for a truck. Ours averages around 17mpg. But if you think that is low, how many miles do you think you can force someone to sit in the back seat anyway?
The headlights are not very bright, but they work moderately well.
The acceleration is very good for having the smallest motor in the lineup.
The exhaust also has a cool rasp to it when you put 'er down.
One cool feature about the rear seats, is that if you pull on a strap near the seat belt, the rear seat folds down into a flat, metal cargo floor.
Another cool feature I like about our Ford, is that the exhaust exits out the side in front of the rear wheels.
I would rate the 97 F150 two thumbs up!
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|
| Like a first wife, looks good on the outside, a little rough after time |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.2 V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 162000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 204000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 25th December, 2004 |