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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.

About this comparison →

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

Tires complaints

57 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000
Tires

VEHICLE HAS 18000 MILES ON IT AND HAS WORN OUT 2 SETS OF TIRES ON EDGES. SECOND SET STILL ON BUT NEED REPLACED SOON. ALIGNMENT CHECKED 2 TIMES AND WAS WITHIN FORD SPECS FOR THIS 4X4 TRUCK. 4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY USED FOR BAD WEATHER. FIRESTONE DISCOUNTED SECOND SET OF TIRES BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR $84.00 EACH. SECOND SET WEARING J…

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VEHICLE HAS 18000 MILES ON IT AND HAS WORN OUT 2 SETS OF TIRES ON EDGES. SECOND SET STILL ON BUT NEED REPLACED SOON. ALIGNMENT CHECKED 2 TIMES AND WAS WITHIN FORD SPECS FOR THIS 4X4 TRUCK. 4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY USED FOR BAD WEATHER. FIRESTONE DISCOUNTED SECOND SET OF TIRES BECAUSE OF PREMATURE WEAR $84.00 EACH. SECOND SET WEARING JUST LIKE 1ST SET. ONLY GET ABOUT 9000 MILES PER SET.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265\75R\15 )

NHTSA ODI #730365

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY REAR TIRE BLEW. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY , NOTHING IN THE ROAD. AFTER HAVING MY TIRE INSPECTED BY AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT INDIVISUALS NO ONE COULD COME UP WITH ANY REASON WHY IT BLEW OTHER THAN IT BEING A DEFECTIVE TIRE. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL 4 OF MY TIRES WITH DUNLOPS. BUT THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT EN…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY REAR TIRE BLEW. IT WAS A CLEAR DAY , NOTHING IN THE ROAD. AFTER HAVING MY TIRE INSPECTED BY AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT INDIVISUALS NO ONE COULD COME UP WITH ANY REASON WHY IT BLEW OTHER THAN IT BEING A DEFECTIVE TIRE. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED ALL 4 OF MY TIRES WITH DUNLOPS. BUT THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO REPORT INCASE THERE ARE MORE OF THIS SIZE TIRES FAILING ALSO.( DOT NUMBER: W29V1PK245 TIRE SIZE: P26575R15 )

NHTSA ODI #729906

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Tires

TIRE SEPERATED COMPLETELY FROM RIM AT HIGH SPEED. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CORRECT AS THE CAR HAD COMPLETED A DEALER MAINTENCE SERVICING APPROX. ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. BLOWOUT BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225X70RX14 )

NHTSA ODI #729884

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2000
TiresCrash

PE000 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING UP AND DOWN. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #HT TIRES, P232575R15. TIRES WERE FINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #868753

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2000
Tires

CONTRARY TO FORD/FIRESTONE'S CLAIMS THAT ONLY WILDERNESS TIRES MANUFACTURED AT THEIR DECATUR PLANT IS DEFECTIVE, I HAVE HAD 8 FLAT TIRES AND ONE BLOW OUT IN THREE YEARS WITH WILDERNESS TIRES HAVING DOT #S OF VNHL VICE VDHL. I HAD NOT HAD 9 FLAT TIRES IN( DOT NUMBER: VNHL1PY196 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728968

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2000
Tires

I HAVE A LEAK IN THE TIRE AND NO ONE WILL REPAIR IT DUE TO THE RECALL. FIRESTONE WILL NOT REPLACE TIRE EITHER DUE TO LACK OF AVAILABLE REPLACEMENTS. ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVES? I AT LEAST NEED MY TIRE REPAIRED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728523

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2000
Tires

BELT WAS SHIFTED AND REPLACED WITH 4 GOODRICH TIRES I DON'T BELIEVE RECALL IS ISOLATED TO P235 TIRE, I HAVE A REPORT FROM A FIRESTONE DEALER CONFIRMING MY STORY.( DOT NUMBER: W29V19K426 TIRE SIZE: P265/R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728279

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Tires

I CANNOT GET ANY ANSWERS REGARDING THIS SIZE TIRE, P215/75R15. I ALREADY KNOW THAT FIRESTONE IS NOT REPLACING THIS TIRE HOWEVER IF YOU COULD PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS TIRE AND MAKE IT WOULD GIVE ME THE DECISION TO EITHER CHANGE OUT THE TIRES OR KEEP THEM BECAUSE IT DOES NOT REL…

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I CANNOT GET ANY ANSWERS REGARDING THIS SIZE TIRE, P215/75R15. I ALREADY KNOW THAT FIRESTONE IS NOT REPLACING THIS TIRE HOWEVER IF YOU COULD PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THIS TIRE AND MAKE IT WOULD GIVE ME THE DECISION TO EITHER CHANGE OUT THE TIRES OR KEEP THEM BECAUSE IT DOES NOT RELATE TO THE CURRENT RECALL. I ASK ONLY BECAUSE I HAVE A FIVE MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND I WANT TO PROTECT HER THE BEST I CAN HOWEVER I AM ALSO NOT THE RICHEST PERSON IN THE WORLD AND THE COST OF THE TIRES IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD UNTIL PROBABLY NEXT MONTH OR SO. YOUR INPUT WOULD HELP ME TREMENDOUSLY IN EITHER SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS OR FEELING MORE ASSURED THAT TAYLOR IS SAFE IN OUR TRUCK. AGAIN, ANY SUPPORT OF INFORMATION WILL BE APPRECIATED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #728086

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Tires

WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P265/75R15. *AK DOT# W29V 1PK496. VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM THE FAULTY TIRE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #867840

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2000
TiresCrashInjury

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING NORTH ON A CLEAR DAY AND FAIRLY STRAIGHT TWO LANE ROAD FRONT TIRE BLEW AND CAUSED HER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD, AS SHE OVERCORRECTED SHE FLIPPED THE VEHICLE TWO OR THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND SHE BROKE HER PEVLIC BONE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #727772

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