IllustrationTHE CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE BROKE. SPARE BOUNCED ONTO HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND US AT THE TIME. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT DEALERSHIP TOLD US CABLE LOOKED "FRAYED." BUT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT TO HAVE FRAYED. *AK
1997 Ford Club Wagon
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →28Owner complaints
Model-year median: 2
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1997 Ford Club Wagon
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 28 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 8 reports
- Tires: 6 reports
- Visibility: 6 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
- Power Train: 3 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Club Wagon years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 28 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Equipment complaints
2 reportsFRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD SHIMMY WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED. ALSO, WOULD LOCK UP ON WET ROADS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES & BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. LAST TRIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT WORK ON BRAKES. ADVISED OWNER TO MAKE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER/ TIRES/DRUMS AND ROTORS, AND ODOMETER FAILED TO WORK PRO…
Read full complaint
FRONT ABS BRAKES WOULD SHIMMY WHENEVER THEY WERE APPLIED. ALSO, WOULD LOCK UP ON WET ROADS. HAS HAPPENED 8 TIMES & BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES. LAST TRIP MECHANIC WOULD NOT WORK ON BRAKES. ADVISED OWNER TO MAKE FORD BUY BACK VEHICLE. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONER/ TIRES/DRUMS AND ROTORS, AND ODOMETER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY AFTER 39,000 MILES. *AK
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.