NHTSA recall 97V171000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 97V171000 |
| Manufacturer | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| Reported | 1997-10-07 |
| Owners notified | 1997-10-20 |
| Component | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) |
| Units potentially affected | 866000 |
What is wrong
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 GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."
What can happen
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.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.
Notes
OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 20, 1997.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.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
| 1997 FORD EXPEDITION | Built 1996-07-22 to 1997-08-22. |
|---|---|
| 1998 FORD EXPEDITION | Built 1996-07-22 to 1997-08-22. |
| 1997 FORD F-150 | Built 1996-07-22 to 1997-08-22. |
| 1998 FORD F-150 | Built 1996-07-22 to 1997-08-22. |
| 1997 FORD F-250 | Built 1996-07-22 to 1997-08-22. |
| 1998 FORD F-250 | Built 1996-07-22 to 1997-08-22. |
| 1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR | Built 1997-05-12 to 1997-08-22. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Investigated as PE97019
This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.
| PE97019 | Preliminary evaluation, opened 1997-05-06, closed 1997-09-16. FAILURE TRANSMISSION PARK ENGAGEMENT/LOC. POWER TRAIN. |
|---|
From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| 042107 | 2005-04-28. Service bulletin. GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
|---|---|
| 04217 | 2005-04-15. Service bulletin. GENERAL POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 03148 | 2003-10-29. Service bulletin. NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT |
| 15749 | 2002-11-07. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE MAY EXHIBIT A NOTCHY OR STICKING FEELING IN SLOW SPEED TURNS WITH NO EFFECT ON STEERING EFFORTS OR ASSIST WHILE IN THE AUTOMATIC 4X4 POSITION. *TT |
| 01181 | 2001-11-30. Service bulletin. BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 01166 | 2001-11-01. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT WATER IN THE TRANSFER CASE, THIS COULD CAUSE LOW RANGE 4X4 LAMP TO ILLUMINATE, SHORT OF TRANSFER CASE SWITCH, OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BE ERRATIC OR INOPERATIVE. *SLC |
| 002310 | 2001-03-05. Service bulletin. SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 12248 | 2001-01-17. Service bulletin. SOME HEAVY DUTY AND SUPER DUTY VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS TRANSMISSION CONCERNS, INCLUDING STALL ON TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND / OR A BUZZ NOISE ON ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 5316 | 2001-01-16. Service bulletin. SOME SUPER DUTY 7.3L E4OD AND 7.3L 4R100 VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VARIOUS TRANSMISSION CONCERNS, INCLUDING STALL ON TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND / OR A BUZZ NOISE ON ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 5251 | 2001-01-13. Service bulletin. SOME SUPER DUTY VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIT DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT 4X4 LIGHTS ON, 4X4 INOPERATIVE AND / OR MULTIPLE GEM CODES. *TT |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.