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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

411Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Ford Ranger

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 411 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Tires: 57 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline: 55 reports
Power Train: 42 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 36 reports
Visibility: 36 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

09V399000 — Vehicle Speed Control

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Ranger years →

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

What owners reported most

Tires

57 Fuel System, Gasoline

55 Power Train

42 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

36 Visibility

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

0–25K

25–50K

50–75K

75–100K

100–150K

150K+

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

Wheels complaints

3 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2015

Service BrakesWheels

WHEEL BEARINGS KEEP GOING OUT ON FRONT TIRES BECOMING A REAL ISSUE AND HAZARD AND SAFETY THEY LOCK UP ON ROAD AND HAVE GOTTEN SLIDES OFF ROAD. AFRAID IT WILL BE WORSE NEXT TIME. THEY HAVE GONE OUT THREE TIMES AND BEEN REPLACED. THEY ARE GOING OUT AGAIN AND FEAR FOR OUR SAFETY BUT THIS IS OUR ONLY VEHICLE FOR WORK AN APPOINTMEN…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10680431

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001

Wheels

A ROCK WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN TIRE AND RIM , CAUSING ALLOY RIM TO CRACK. DEALER / MSNUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. RIM AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #884511

Mileage unknown · May 14, 1999

Service Brakes, HydraulicWheels

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH FRONT WHEEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SPLIT IN HALF, CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKES.. OWNER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TRUCK HOME SAFELY. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #837960

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

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

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.