NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
411 reports59,099 miles · Apr 14, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE SPEED WAS REDUCED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE SPEED WAS REDUCED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS RE-BUILT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,099 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 126,431. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE SEAT BROKE LOOSE. UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10265248
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2009
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
CONSUMER STATES THAT A COMPLAINT WAS MADE IN JUNE OF 2002 ABOUT A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN HER 1997 FORD RANGER AND WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION OPEN. *NJ
NHTSA ODI #10263371
141,000 miles · Mar 13, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. A FIRE COULD ERUPT IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE FILLER HOSE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASS…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. A FIRE COULD ERUPT IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE FILLER HOSE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
NHTSA ODI #10261714
139,609 miles · Dec 26, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER HOSES CRACKED AND CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN IT IS FILLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $600 TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASS…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER HOSES CRACKED AND CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN IT IS FILLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $600 TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,609 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,839. UPDATED 2/9/09 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE FULE FILTER. UPDATED 02/13/09. *JB UPDATED 07/20/09 *BF UPDATED ADDRESS. 07/21/09. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10252827
14,000 miles · Nov 14, 2008
Structure
RE: 1997 FORD RANGER. THE PEDAL MOUNT BRACKET (MOULDED ALUMINUM) FRACTURED, CAUSING THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE BRAKE. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER FAIL IN NORMAL OPERATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10248782
303,600 miles · Aug 16, 2008
Seat Belts
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT, BUCKLE LATCH DID NOT LOCK FIRMLY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LATCH WOULD DISENGAGE WITH A LIGHT TUG. THERE APPEAR TO BE BROKEN PARTS OR FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE MECHANISM PREVENTING PROPER FUNCTION. DUE TO THE MANNER OF CONSTRUCTION, THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE DEFECT IS NOT READIL…
Read full complaint
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE SEAT BELT, BUCKLE LATCH DID NOT LOCK FIRMLY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LATCH WOULD DISENGAGE WITH A LIGHT TUG. THERE APPEAR TO BE BROKEN PARTS OR FOREIGN OBJECTS IN THE MECHANISM PREVENTING PROPER FUNCTION. DUE TO THE MANNER OF CONSTRUCTION, THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF THE DEFECT IS NOT READILY VISIBLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238501
100,000 miles · May 13, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT'S SISTER OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER FUEL IS PLACED INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL LEAKS OUT ON TWO SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL OVERFLOW WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,819 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10227618
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAS A HOLE IN IT, THEREFORE WHEN YOU FILL UP YOUR VEHICLE; GAS LEAKS OUT ONTO THE GROUND. I WAS NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS FUELING ONE DAY AND I ENDED UP WITH A PUDDLE ON THE GROUND. THIS IS NOT ONLY A FIRE HAZARD, BUT ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ONE TOO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227532
110,000 miles · May 9, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL FILLER HOSE. THE HOSES (BOTH INNER & OUTER CRACK AND CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK IF FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE HOSE IS AN EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS PART IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PARTS THEY SELL." (THE PART COSTS BETWEEN $225…
Read full complaint
FUEL FILLER HOSE. THE HOSES (BOTH INNER & OUTER CRACK AND CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK IF FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE HOSE IS AN EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS PART IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PARTS THEY SELL." (THE PART COSTS BETWEEN $225.00 AND $500.00) PLUS LABOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227165
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 FORD RANGER AND FUEL FILLER HOSE BEING FAULTY. THE HOSE ITSELF HAS CRACKS IN IT AND LEAKS FUEL UPON REFILL PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DUE TO THE FUEL VAPORS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE TO THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO THE CRACKS IN FAULTY FUEL FILLER HOSE. THIS IS…
Read full complaint
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 FORD RANGER AND FUEL FILLER HOSE BEING FAULTY. THE HOSE ITSELF HAS CRACKS IN IT AND LEAKS FUEL UPON REFILL PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DUE TO THE FUEL VAPORS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE TO THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO THE CRACKS IN FAULTY FUEL FILLER HOSE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ISSUE. PLEASE PUT FORTH AN EFFORT TO CORRECT PROBLEM BEFORE FIRE, INJURIES, AND , POTENTIAL DEATHS ARE SUSTAINED, ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10226755
Illustration