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 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2000
Interior Lighting
I HAVE A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT SUPERCAB. I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 1997. THAT YEAR I NOTICED THAT THE DOME LIGHT IN THE CAR BEGAN TO STAY ON. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHT OUT IS TO PULL THE FUSE OUT. I THINK THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS DR…
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I HAVE A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT SUPERCAB. I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 1997. THAT YEAR I NOTICED THAT THE DOME LIGHT IN THE CAR BEGAN TO STAY ON. I WOULD BE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHT OUT IS TO PULL THE FUSE OUT. I THINK THIS IS VERY HAZARDOUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS DRIVING. I HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO FIX THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THE LAST TWO YEARS AROUND THE COLDER MONTHS, BUT NOT IN THE WARMER MONTHS. I THINK THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART FROM FORD. THE REASON WHY IS THAT I HAVE TWO FRIENDS OF MINE WHO HAVE 1997 FORD RANGER, THEY HAVE AND ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ON THE INTERNET AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I ALSO CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE NO HELP. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THIS. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE CONSIDERED A SAFTY RECALL. THE FACT THAT DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH YOUR DOME LIGHT ON IS ILLEGAL, AND THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS HAZZARD TO DRIVERS AT NIGHT. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ? )
NHTSA ODI #718615
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2000
Air BagsCrash
AT 35 MPH VEHICLE RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRACTOR HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER PASSENGER'S SIDE OR DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #856682
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Interior LightingVisibility
DOME LIGHT COMES ON BY ITSELF AND FAILS TO TURN OFF. *ET
NHTSA ODI #784485
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
SteeringSuspension
DRY SPINDLES AND BALL JOINT BEARINGS, MECHANIC PUT PICKUP ON JACK SAID " WE WRE LUCKY WE DIDNT WRECK" TIRE LEANED OUTWARD , EVENTULAY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF. *AK--
NHTSA ODI #717808
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires
BRAKES AND TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #855247
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires
BRAKES AND TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE.. THE CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL TH E WAY TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, TWO FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #855246
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2000
Interior Lighting
DOME LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT WHEN KEY IS TURNED ON OR DOOR(S) SHUT. NO PARTICULAR INDICATION AS TO WHY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #717236
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999
Seats
I ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE, THE SEATBACK COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR, AND WOULD NOT RELATCHED I HAVE AN EXTENDED CAP SO THE SEAT FELL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE REAR FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STAY UPRIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE FRAME OF THE SEAT BROKE AND THAT I NEED A NEW…
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I ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE, THE SEATBACK COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR, AND WOULD NOT RELATCHED I HAVE AN EXTENDED CAP SO THE SEAT FELL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE REAR FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STAY UPRIGHT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE FRAME OF THE SEAT BROKE AND THAT I NEED A NEW SEAT. I AM WAITING FOR AN ESTIMATED COST FROM THEM. THEY ALSO STATE THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTNDED WARRANTY. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THIS IS FIXED. I ONLY WEIGHT 170 LBS SO I DONT GIVE THE SEAT ANY UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF STRESS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #716615
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES GRAB AFTER TRUCK HAS SET DURING MOIST CONDIATIONS
NHTSA ODI #715311
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1999
Visibility
WIPER OPERATION ERRATIC. OPERATE BY THEMSELVES, OR WILL NOT OPERATED WHEN TURNED ON.
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
1997 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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