1997 Ford E-250 Review
Price Estimate: $1,249 - $1,773

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Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in California
$410/mo for E-250 HD Econoline
E-250 HD Econoline
vs
$381/mo
Avg. Midsize Van
Reliability
The 1997 Ford E-250 has 4 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
4 recalls foundChecking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
- Recall Number:
- 09V399000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 09S09
- Manufactured from:
- 1994-01-05 to 2002-12-05
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 4500000
- Defect Description:
- FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
- Defect Consequence:
- A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
- Corrective Action:
- FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
- Recall Number:
- 08V051000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 08S01
- Manufactured from:
- 1991-09-03 to 2003-09-15
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 225000
- Defect Description:
- FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
- Defect Consequence:
- AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
- Corrective Action:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
- Recall Number:
- 07V336000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 05S28
- Manufactured from:
- 1996-04-09 to 2002-08-02
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 3600000
- Defect Description:
- ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
- Defect Consequence:
- THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
- Corrective Action:
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
- Recall Number:
- 04V562000
- Manufacturer Recall Number:
- 04E-058
- Manufactured from:
- 1997-01-01 to 2004-08-01
- Number of vehicles affected:
- 1660
- Defect Description:
- ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
- Defect Consequence:
- IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.
- Corrective Action:
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. SURE-LOK WILL HANDLE THE REPAIRS FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR MOBILITYWORKS AT 1-800-769-8267.
Ford E-250 Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Working mans van
4.13 out of 5 starsbennyspc, 10/12/2002
1996 Ford E-250 XL Econoline 3dr Van
This van has been an all around great
performer. Excellent service and
maintenance help keep it reliable. I
have had no major probles even with the
high mileage (139,000) at time of
rating.
Good solid utility van
4.5 out of 5 starsdogfromnightwatch, 06/22/2004
1995 Ford E-250 Econoline 3dr Van
Tough, nice to drive, comfortable,
quiet, just about everything you would
want in a work truck. From now on I'm
a "Ford man".
Good Job Ford!!!
4.63 out of 5 starsbordercollie, 08/10/2003
1996 Ford E-250 XL Econoline 3dr Van
A great van for my business on the raod.
It weighs 7000 Lbs. loaded with all my
tools, but it hauls it day in and day
out.
I feel comfortable in it, which is
good, as I work 16 hour days some times,
It has a functional design, Very
useable intior design, and plenty of
power, which is useful for mergeing in
tight traffic. NO major problems, At
106,000 miles, only … repairs have been
the brakes.
Ford conversion van
1.25 out of 5 starspwistmo, 04/22/2003
1994 Ford E-250 Econoline 3dr Van
This vehicle is comfortable to drive.
That's about it. It has had multiple
transmission problems as well as some
engine problems. As you might expect,
it has a lot of sway when turning.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 Ford E-250, so we've included reviews for other years of the E-250 since its last redesign.
1997 E-250 Highlights
Super Econoline
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 14 MPG |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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