1997 Ford Ranger

THE FUEL FILLER HOSE ON MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS 1997 FORD RANGER DEVELOPED NUMEROUS CRACKS WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE TANK. THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN GASOLINE SPILLS WHENEVER SHE COMPLETELY FILLS THE TANK. THE TANK IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH 1990-1997 RANGERS, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS ONLINE POSTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK AND SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILED FUEL FILLER TUBE. THE MECHANICS ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $800 TO HAVE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL TANK EVERY TIME HE ADDS FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS SINCE BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME. HE HAS PHOTOS IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,479.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED NEW GOODYEAR MOHAVE R/S (NA), SIZE P215/70R/14 TIRES IN OCTOBER OF 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR MAINTENANCE IN MAY OF 2007, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT OFFERED HER REPLACEMENT TIRES, IF THEY QUALIFIED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS RARELY DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE TIRES SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,697.

NOTED FUEL RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A RUBBER PORTION OF THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT. CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY OFFERED TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. PART COST EXCEEDS $400. ESTIMATED LABOR IS ~$200. NOTE: THIS SAME PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS. SEE COMPLAINT NUMBERS 10151411, 870010 & 10110378. I DID NOT SEARCH THE DATABASE FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT THERE IS SUFFICIENT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BOTH FORD RANGER AND MAZDA B-SERIES VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER APT III P225/70R14 DOT# Y7FCPT40207. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. HE REPLACED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 109,170 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,130. THE CONSUMER STATED A BRAND NEW TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. UPDATED 08/24/07 *TR

TL*- THE FUEL LEAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY REFUELED. THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PARTS FOR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD HE NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO BE LOOKED AT, AND WOULD BE CHARGED AN $80 FEE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE $80 FEE IS APPROPRIATE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECAME DISENGAGED ON A FREQUENT BASIS. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR DEBRIS AND DIRT IN THE BUCKLE AND STATED THERE WAS NONE. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE CONTACT WOULD NEED TO BUY A NEW SEAT BELT, WHICH WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PRESSURE SPRING ASSEMBLT BECOMES WEAK OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. UPDATED 12/28/06. *JB

1997 FORD RANGER. WHENEVER I FILL UP WITH GAS, IT LEAKS OUT THE VENT OR THE FILLER TUBE. NOT EXACTLY SURE YET. IF I PUSH THE FUEL NOZZLE ALL THE WAY IN THE FILLER I CAN GET ALMOST A FULL TANK BEFORE IT LEAKS OUT THE BOTTOM. IF I JUST INSTALL THE FILLER HOSE AND LET IT FILL AUTOMATICALLY IT WILL START LEAKING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *NM