IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales 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
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 reportsTHE LEFT FRONT TIRE THREW TREAD & WENT FLAT THIS TIRE HAD 5/32 TREAD. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPERATION ON EXAMINATION. WHEN INSTALLING TWO TIRES ON THE FRONT AND SPARE THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK AT ABOUT 25000 MILES TO PUT ON SNOW TIRES ONE OF THESE TIRES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A TREAD SEPARATION. HE TRUCK AT…
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THE LEFT FRONT TIRE THREW TREAD & WENT FLAT THIS TIRE HAD 5/32 TREAD. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPERATION ON EXAMINATION. WHEN INSTALLING TWO TIRES ON THE FRONT AND SPARE THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK AT ABOUT 25000 MILES TO PUT ON SNOW TIRES ONE OF THESE TIRES WAS FOUND TO HAVE A TREAD SEPARATION. HE TRUCK AT AB. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNFC1PR366 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)
CONSUMER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER VNHL1PY087, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK AND SEPARATE, CONSUMER VERIFIED THAT ALL TIRES WERE COVERED UNDER RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER WAS CHARGED 30 DOLLARS FOR A LABOR FEE AND DOES NOT FEEL SHE S…
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CONSUMER REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, P235/75R15, DOT NUMBER VNHL1PY087, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS BEGINNING TO CRACK AND SEPARATE, CONSUMER VERIFIED THAT ALL TIRES WERE COVERED UNDER RECALL 00T005, HOWEVER WAS CHARGED 30 DOLLARS FOR A LABOR FEE AND DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE . UPON IMPACT, BOTH SEATBELTS FAILED, RESULTING IN INJURIES; BROKEN RIB/ NECK INJURY, CUTS, AND BRUISES. DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL WHILE PASSENGER HIT WINDSHIELD. FRONT IMPACT, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. BOTH, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, INCLUDING BROKEN RIBS/ NECK INJURIES/ CUTS AND BRUISES. DRIVER HIT STEERING WHEEL WHILE PASSENGER HIT WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS SEAT BELTS UNLOCK, LEAVING OCCUPANTS UNRESTRAINED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE BAG OPENED. PASSENGER WAS HURT.*AK
FIRESTONE, RADIAL, P225/70R14, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, FORD RANGER WITH 40000 MILES. MILEAGE OF TIRE UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. NO ACCIDENT, NO INJURIES. PLEASE VERIFY MODEL OF TIRE AND ADD DOT CODE.*AK THE DOT # VNFC80A.*JB
TRAVELING ALONG I95 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC, HEARD A BUMPING NOISE, PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. JUST PURCHASE FOUR SET OF TIRES FROM CELLA FORD IN OCT OF 2000. UPON RETURNING HOME WENT TO CELLA FORD SPOKE WITH SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THEY WERE NOT A TIRE DEALER TAKE IT TO BU…
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TRAVELING ALONG I95 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC, HEARD A BUMPING NOISE, PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD SAW THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. JUST PURCHASE FOUR SET OF TIRES FROM CELLA FORD IN OCT OF 2000. UPON RETURNING HOME WENT TO CELLA FORD SPOKE WITH SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO INFORMED ME THEY WERE NOT A TIRE DEALER TAKE IT TO BUFFALO TIRES WHO WOULD CHECK THE TIRE AND TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. WENT THERE TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG HAD NO IDEA WHY IT WENT OUT. HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRE BECAUSE RIM RUBBED AGAINST THE TIRE INSIDE CAUSING OUTSIDE TO SEPARATE. CONTACTED CELLA FORD SERVICE DEPATMENT TOLD HIM WHAT WAS SAID AND HE INSISTED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE WRONG WITH THE TIRE, THAT IT JUST DIDNT GO OUT BY ITSELF. I EXPLAINE THE GENTLEMEN INSIST THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. WITH LACK OF CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY I FIND IT NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES. WILL NEVER PURCHASE FIRESTONE AGAIN.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8XFC80M389 TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)
WINDSHIELD WIPER AND WINDSHIELD CLEANER COMES ON ALL BY ITSELF. *AK
Official recalls
109V399000 · 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
2DP00005 · 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