Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
525–50K
2250–75K
2075–100K
36100–150K
21150K+
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
What owners actually said
411 reports
84,990 miles · Dec 26, 2004
Power Train
THIS TRUCK ACCERLERATES BY ITSELF, IT USED TO ONLY BE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS BUT NOW I CAN BE ON THE FREEWAY AND IN 4TH GEAR WHEN I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR, I'M FORCED TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL UNTIL THE RPMS GO DOWN, TRYING TO GET IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR ONLY GRINDS BECAUSE ITS RUNNING TOO HIGH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSU…
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THIS TRUCK ACCERLERATES BY ITSELF, IT USED TO ONLY BE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS BUT NOW I CAN BE ON THE FREEWAY AND IN 4TH GEAR WHEN I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR, I'M FORCED TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL UNTIL THE RPMS GO DOWN, TRYING TO GET IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR ONLY GRINDS BECAUSE ITS RUNNING TOO HIGH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR THE ENGINE WILL JUST BLOW UP! *AK
NHTSA ODI #10104519
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2004
Tires
MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER PICK-UP. HE WAS HEADED EAST ON I-240 WHEN HIS TRUCK SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BRING HIS VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY, WITHOUT A COLLISION. AFTER GETTING OUT TO INSPECT HIS VEHICLE HE FOUN…
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MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER PICK-UP. HE WAS HEADED EAST ON I-240 WHEN HIS TRUCK SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BRING HIS VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY, WITHOUT A COLLISION. AFTER GETTING OUT TO INSPECT HIS VEHICLE HE FOUND THAT HIS RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS THE CAUSE. THE TIRE, A FIRESTONE 14" WITH PLENTY OF TREAD, HAD SEPARATED (IE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE). THE TIRE WAS STILL COMPLETELY FULL OF AIR EVEN AFTER THIS SEPARATION. THE SEPARATION OF THE TREAD CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK (APPROX. $1700.00). THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, THE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
NHTSA ODI #10093403
Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT IDLED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WHILE STILL IDLING VERY HIGH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME , THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT IF THIS C…
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CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT IDLED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WHILE STILL IDLING VERY HIGH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME , THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT IF THIS CONTINUED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10067241
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE FUELING VEHICLE AT THE GAS STATION THE DRIVER NOTICED AT A FULL TANK THE GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DEETERMINED THAT THE TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10092886
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILLER HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10091714
48,000 miles · Sep 7, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MULTIPLE FAILURES OF FRONT ROTORS- STEPPED ON BRAKES- AND PULSES AND SHAKES, REMOVED TIRE TO CHECK ROTORS- ROTOR CRACKED- SAME SCENARIO EACH TIME- PASS SIDE 1ST TIME 30K (AUGUST 1999), 2ND TIME 48K(APRIL 2001) , 3RD TIME 58K, PADS FAILED- REPLACED NOV 2001, AND JAN 2002- REPLACED CALIPER AND PADS.- NOW HAS 84K AND SO FAR OK. 1S…
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MULTIPLE FAILURES OF FRONT ROTORS- STEPPED ON BRAKES- AND PULSES AND SHAKES, REMOVED TIRE TO CHECK ROTORS- ROTOR CRACKED- SAME SCENARIO EACH TIME- PASS SIDE 1ST TIME 30K (AUGUST 1999), 2ND TIME 48K(APRIL 2001) , 3RD TIME 58K, PADS FAILED- REPLACED NOV 2001, AND JAN 2002- REPLACED CALIPER AND PADS.- NOW HAS 84K AND SO FAR OK. 1ST TIME CHANGED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY- 2ND TIME 18 MONTHS LATER- FORD DEALER CHARGED $600 + FOR NEW ROTORS- 3RD AND 4TH TIME I CHANGED - ALONG WITH CALIPER -EACH TIME DEALER ASKED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IS CAUSING THE ROTOR TO FAIL- PLEASE CORRECT- EACH TIME THEY SAY - JUST A BAD ROTOR----AND WHEN THE 48K FAILURE OCCURED- FORD CLAIMED TO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THE REPAIR- THOUGH IT WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY-FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD FAILURE- FIGURED IT MADE MORE SENSE TO FIX IT MYSELF- RATHER THAN PAY A DEALER $650, AND HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN IN 18000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090583
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2004
Equipment
I HAD AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN LATE 1997, THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT LAST YEAR. SHOULDN'T IT LAST LONGER THAT 6 YEARS?*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082750
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2004
Interior Lighting
DOME LIGHTS STAYS ON FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. I HAD TO REMOVE THE BULBS, NOW I HAVE NO DOME LIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10082748
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2004
Air BagsInjury
I HAD JUST PUT MY TRUCK INTO DRIVE WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOID BY ITSELF WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO MY HAND
NHTSA ODI #10081331
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2004
Electrical System
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *AK
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
1997 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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