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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 →
411Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
438
1994321
1995413
1996411
1997576
1998755
1999670
2000
Compare all Ranger years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tires
57Fuel System, Gasoline
55Power Train
42Service Brakes, Hydraulic
36Visibility
36
All reported categories
Interior Lighting
34Electrical System
28Structure
25Suspension
25Vehicle Speed Control
23Air Bags
22Steering
21Engine And Engine Cooling
14Equipment
14Exterior Lighting
14Seats
12Seat Belts
9Unknown Or Other
9Fuel/propulsion System
8Engine
4Latches/locks/linkages
4Fuel System, Other
3Service Brakes
3Service Brakes, Air
3Wheels
3Parking Brake
2Fuel System, Diesel
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Traction Control System
1Trailer Hitches
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

What owners actually said

411 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1997
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #522817

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1997
Steering

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH WHEN HEARD LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, STEERING WENTOUT, COULD NOT CONTROL VEHICLE. DUE TO THE DEFECT, VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD INTO A OPEN FIELD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP,CLAIMS NUT IN WASHER FELLOFF WHICH CAUSED THE PITMAN ARM TO DO THE SAME. DEALER HAD TO RESTALL A NEW ONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816381

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL BLINK ON AND OFF. THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED ON 8/4/97 AND THE LIGHT STILL CONTINUES TO BLINK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #815326

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION, IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH MADE IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR; AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814927

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUMES ENTERED INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WHEN TANK WAS FILLED. DEALER'S COMMENTS LEAKY AND RUSTY FUEL TANK. PROBLEM REOCCURRED 7-11-97. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814076

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING CAN SMELL GASOLINE IN INTERIOR OF TRUCK, CAB AREA, OWNER SUSPECTS LEAK IN FUEL INJECTOR, CHECKED BY DEALER, FOUND NO LEAKS. *AK DEALER REPLACED GAS TANK FILLER NECK. *YH

NHTSA ODI #813371

Mileage unknown · May 22, 1997
Power Train

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED IN 1ST GEAR AND ON AN INCLINE THE TRUCK JUMPS INTO NUETRAL AND ROLLS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #812453

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH HE HIT POTHOLE, CAUSING BOTH AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, OWNER NOTES SOME DAMAGE TO FRONT SPOILER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808416

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1997
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SEAT WENT BACKWARDS, HIT DAUGHTER, KNOCKED HER FACE INTO BACK WINDOW; PASSENGER'S SEAT BROKE &PASSENGER WAS SWUNG INTO BACK WINDOW; SEATS STUCK IN RECLINING POSITION. ALSO, NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809625

Mileage unknown · Mar 24, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER STATES BRAKE CALIPERS STUCK AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING GREASE SEALS TO BLOW, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810355

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