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1997 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ranger years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

110 reports with mileage · 301 unknown

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.

  • Tires. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

40 crash reports8 fire reports30 injury reports

Power Train complaints

42 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2002
Power TrainCrashInjury

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD POP. THEN, LOST CONTROL AND HIT A CLIFF. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED AXLE HAD BROKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003478

Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Interior LightingPower Train

WON'T GO IN ANY GEAR THIS MORNING SEEMED FINE YESTERDAY.THE DOME LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME EVEN WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE AND IS VERY INCONVENIENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757312

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other

REAR BRAKES PULLED, SERVICED, REPORTED UNVERIFIABLE, BEGAN LOCKING UP IN SHORT BURSTS WHEN STOPPING, REPORTED, FOUND FAULTY , REPLACED COMPLETE REAR ASSEMBLY. WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS CENTER WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STARTED AT TOP STRIP PASSENGER SIDE SPREADING ACROSS TO DRIVERS SIDE IN JUST MINUTES. DOOR AJAR SWI…

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REAR BRAKES PULLED, SERVICED, REPORTED UNVERIFIABLE, BEGAN LOCKING UP IN SHORT BURSTS WHEN STOPPING, REPORTED, FOUND FAULTY , REPLACED COMPLETE REAR ASSEMBLY. WINDSHIELD CRACKED ACROSS CENTER WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, STARTED AT TOP STRIP PASSENGER SIDE SPREADING ACROSS TO DRIVERS SIDE IN JUST MINUTES. DOOR AJAR SWITCHES FAILED CAUSING DOME LIGHT TO REMAIN ON MAKING NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IMPOSIBLE. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING ROUGH IN SECOND GEAR HARD TO DOWNSHIFT, VERIFIED, REPAIRED BEARINGS IN SHIFTER. REOCCURED A FEW MONTHS LATER, SERVICE CLAIMED UNVERIFIABLE, WORSENED STUCK IN FOURTH GEAR IN TRAFFIC, HAD TO BE PUSHED TO SHOULDER , AND DISENGAGED. FOUND TO BE FAULTY, AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT ,NO NOTICABLE CORRECTION , RETURNED TO SERVICE, CLAIMED UNVERIFIABLE, CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY CORPORAT OFFICE, ADVISED TO GO TO DIFERENT DEALERSHIP , WHILE INVESTIGATED INTERNALLY. DID SO, DEALER REPORTS UNVERIFIABLE, DROVE WITH SUPERVISOR OF SERVICE DEPT, WAS THEN VERIFIED, AND ORDERED REBUILT FOR 2ND TIME.EPAIR, SAME TIME AS EXTENDED WARRANTY TOOK EFFECT, REPAIRS DONE, NO NOTICABLE DIFFERENCE, IN FACT NOW WORSE, ALL GEARS NOW EFFECTED.AND AT TIMES, DIFFICULT TO SHIFT. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORPORATION ONCE MORE, IN EFFORT TO GET HELP WITH EXTENSIVE RENTAL CAR COSTS WHILE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED, WAS TOLD NOW THAT TWO INCIDENCES WERE IN NO WAY RELATED NOW THAT EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS IN EFFECT TOO MUCH TIME PASSED, THOUGH EVEN ONLY LESS VTHAN 1000 MILES, IS STILL UNREPAIRED TODAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756071

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2001
Power Train

MANUFACTURER FAILED TO NOTIFY CONSUMER ABOUT TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION WAS MADE OF SYNTHETIC, AND IT STARTED TO WEAVE, WHEN IT REACHED BAD PROPORTION OF OIL AND AIR, AND WILL LOSE TRANSMISSION, CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER ADMITTED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #897640

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
EquipmentExterior LightingPower Train

POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. …

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POWER STEERING HAD TO BE REPLACED, WAS MAKING A NOISE LIKE PUMP WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER PUMP REPLACED. RIGHT WINDOW IS LOOSE WHILE GOING DOWN. TRANSMISSION SLIPS OCCASIONALLY WHILE TAKING OFF. THERE ARE LOOSE BOLTS UNDERNEATH SEATS. FOG LIGHT FAILED. CONSUMER STATES OIL FROM MASTER CYLINDER DAMAGED HOOD. DOOR LOCK INSIDE DRIVER'S DOOR NEVER WORKED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #882240

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2001
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741713

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880457

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2000
Exterior LightingInterior LightingPower Train

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTED AND DOOR CLOSED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM SEEING AT NIGHT... NO WAY TO TURN OFF WITHOUT REMOVING THE BULBS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START WHEN TURNED ON THE DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SWITCHED OFF. HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. SHIFT KNOB COMES OFF WHEN PULLING SHIFT LEVER FROM 1ST …

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DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTED AND DOOR CLOSED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM SEEING AT NIGHT... NO WAY TO TURN OFF WITHOUT REMOVING THE BULBS. WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT START WHEN TURNED ON THE DO NOT GO OFF WHEN SWITCHED OFF. HAVE TO TURN THE WIPERS ON THEN OFF AGAIN. SHIFT KNOB COMES OFF WHEN PULLING SHIFT LEVER FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. MAKES SHIFTING DIFFICULT WHILE STARTING UP A HILL AND MERGING ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THE KNOB SLIPS OFF COMPLETELY AND THE SHIFTER ENDS UP IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #738540

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2000
Power Train

WHEN PAWL IS MOVED FROM PARK TO DRIVE ENGINE WILL STALL. SOMETIMES WILL NOT START UNLESS ROLLED VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE AND CLUTCH WAS PRESSED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #870390

Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726122

Official recalls

1

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP00005 · Front Seat Belt

Opened Oct 2, 2000 · Closed May 15, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations

Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available