# 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.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1997 FORD EXPEDITION](/makes/ford/expedition/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-22 to 1997\-08\-22.
- [1998 FORD EXPEDITION](/makes/ford/expedition/1998/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-22 to 1997\-08\-22.
- [1997 FORD F\-150](/makes/ford/f-150/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-22 to 1997\-08\-22.
- [1998 FORD F\-150](/makes/ford/f-150/1998/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-22 to 1997\-08\-22.
- [1997 FORD F\-250](/makes/ford/f-250/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-22 to 1997\-08\-22.
- [1998 FORD F\-250](/makes/ford/f-250/1998/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-22 to 1997\-08\-22.
- [1998 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR](/makes/lincoln/navigator/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-05\-12 to 1997\-08\-22.

## 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. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/97V171000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/97V171000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [042107](/bulletins/10014086.md), 2005-04-28, Service bulletin
- [04217](/bulletins/10013369.md), 2005-04-15, Service bulletin
- [03148](/bulletins/10003748.md), 2003-10-29, Service bulletin
- [15749](/bulletins/636384.md), 2002-11-07, Service bulletin
- [01181](/bulletins/625715.md), 2001-11-30, Service bulletin
- [01166](/bulletins/624099.md), 2001-11-01, Service bulletin
- [002310](/bulletins/616522.md), 2001-03-05, Service bulletin
- [12248](/bulletins/615504.md), 2001-01-17, Service bulletin
- [5316](/bulletins/615416.md), 2001-01-16, Service bulletin
- [5251](/bulletins/615368.md), 2001-01-13, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/97V171000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/97V171000)

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