NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
411 reports76,414 miles · Mar 10, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE GASOLINE HOSE FROM THE FILLER CAP TO THE TANK IS CRACKING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AS SEEN ON RANGER WEB FORUMS. THIS CAUSES GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE HOSE AS THE TANK FILLS. THE FUEL SPILLS ON THE GROUND OR VERY NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ENTIRE SCENARIO COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS HO…
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THE GASOLINE HOSE FROM THE FILLER CAP TO THE TANK IS CRACKING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AS SEEN ON RANGER WEB FORUMS. THIS CAUSES GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE HOSE AS THE TANK FILLS. THE FUEL SPILLS ON THE GROUND OR VERY NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ENTIRE SCENARIO COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS HOSE CRACKING OCCURRED YEARS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEWER, BUT NOT REPORTED UNTIL NOW. THIS CRACKING SHOULD NOT OCCUR AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE IF GAS FUMES WERE TO IGNITE. THE CRACKING OCCURS MOSTLY AT THE CORNER WHERE THE HOSE ENTERS THE GASOLINE TANK. IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR WITHOUT MAJOR COSTS DUE TO ITS LOCATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318601
150,000 miles · Jan 23, 2010
Electrical SystemFire
I CAME OUTSIDE TO MY 1997 FORD RANGER XLT AND IT WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AN IN THE CAB ALREADY. THEN IT EXPLODED! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10301995
195,000 miles · Dec 14, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL FILLER HOSE CRACKS PREMATURELY AT THE CONNECTION TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT FUEL SPILLAGE DURING REFUELING AS WELL AS PROBABLY SPLASHING OUT DURING DRIVING. FUEL VAPORS SURELY ESCAPE ALL THE TIME AS WELL. BOTH SITUATIONS LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD SAFETY ISSUE BASED …
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FUEL FILLER HOSE CRACKS PREMATURELY AT THE CONNECTION TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT FUEL SPILLAGE DURING REFUELING AS WELL AS PROBABLY SPLASHING OUT DURING DRIVING. FUEL VAPORS SURELY ESCAPE ALL THE TIME AS WELL. BOTH SITUATIONS LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD SAFETY ISSUE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF FORD RANGERS WITH SAFETY COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS FORD RANGER FORUMS. THE OEM FORD PART LISTS FOR ~$400. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10295637
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE SERVICE, AND I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. I WENT TO THE LEONARDTOWN DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009, WITH MY LETTER FOR RECALL, AND WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR MR. JOHN JARBOE THAT MY …
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I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE SERVICE, AND I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. I WENT TO THE LEONARDTOWN DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009, WITH MY LETTER FOR RECALL, AND WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR MR. JOHN JARBOE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. HE SHOWED ME A DIAGRAM OF THE SWITCH, WHERE IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TOLD ME THAT I CAN DISCONNECT IT MYSELF, AND IF I WANTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE OTHER PROBLEM. I THOUGHT FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THIS REPAIR NOT ME. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN HAVE IT TOWED IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I AM NO SURE IF THIS SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM, BUT EVEN IF IT ISN'T ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DEACTIVATE THE SWITCH NOT ME. I AM NOT A MECHANIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10293641
170,800 miles · Nov 24, 2009
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE --TWO INSTANCES FIRST IN SEPT 2009 AND TODAY --SEVERE CORROSION ON REAR BRAKE LINES AND LOSE OF BRAKE FLUID AND NO BRAKES ---NEED TO CHECK ALL 1997 FORD RANGERS XLT FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS CAN RESULT IN A CRASH. I HAVE HAD REPAIRS MADE AS AFRAID OF REPEAT ALSO NOTICE CORROSION AT FRONT BRAKE LINES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10293426
130,000 miles · Oct 15, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL FILLER TUBE CRACKS AT THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN FUEL POURING OUT AND FUEL VAPORS ESCAPING WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE PARKED. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. *TR FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SELLS REPLACEMENT FILLER TUBES FOR UPWARDS OF $500, NOT INCLUDING LABOR.
NHTSA ODI #10287474
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2009
Service Brakes, ElectricFire
DROVE MY 1997 FORD RANGER TRUCK TO LUNCH AT WORK UPON RETURNING SITTING DOWN FOR 10 MINUTES A COWORKER RAN INTO THE PLANT SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE MY MASTER CYLINDER FOR MY BRAKES WAS ON FIRE AND WAS PUT OUT THERE IS ALOT OF DAMAGE. I BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ABS BREAK SENSOR DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM OR …
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DROVE MY 1997 FORD RANGER TRUCK TO LUNCH AT WORK UPON RETURNING SITTING DOWN FOR 10 MINUTES A COWORKER RAN INTO THE PLANT SAYING MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE MY MASTER CYLINDER FOR MY BRAKES WAS ON FIRE AND WAS PUT OUT THERE IS ALOT OF DAMAGE. I BELIEVE WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ABS BREAK SENSOR DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THEM OR NOT HOPE YOU CAN HELP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284635
73,000 miles · Jul 27, 2009
Suspension
FOUND DRIVERS SIDE REAR SPRING SUPPORT (FRONT) THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME RAIL WAS BROKEN FROM RUSTING APART. WHILE REPLACING IT, ALSO FOUND THE REAR SPRING SUPPORTS (REAR) ON BOTH SIDES BROKEN FROM RUSTING APART. THIS APPEARS TO BE A POOR DESIGN OR UNDER ENGINEERED PART. THE TRUCK IS 1997 FORD RANGER PICKUP WITH ONLY 73K MIL…
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FOUND DRIVERS SIDE REAR SPRING SUPPORT (FRONT) THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME RAIL WAS BROKEN FROM RUSTING APART. WHILE REPLACING IT, ALSO FOUND THE REAR SPRING SUPPORTS (REAR) ON BOTH SIDES BROKEN FROM RUSTING APART. THIS APPEARS TO BE A POOR DESIGN OR UNDER ENGINEERED PART. THE TRUCK IS 1997 FORD RANGER PICKUP WITH ONLY 73K MILES ON IT AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED TO CARRY ANYTHING HEAVY. THIS SEEMS TO BE HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT THREE BRACKETS ARE BROKEN ON ONE TRUCK FROM RUSTING APART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10278379
106,000 miles · Jun 16, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
1997 FORD SPLASH RANGER SHORT BED TRUCK LEAKING GASOLINE FROM THE FUEL FILLER HOSE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE FUEL TANK. THE HOSE IS CRACKED BUT NOT ROTTEN AND FUEL LEAKS ON THE GROUND WHEN FILLING THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE TANK IS NEAR FULL. DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273943
95,000 miles · May 16, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
1997 FORD RANGER XLT SHORT BED TRUCK LEAKING GASOLINE FROM THE FUEL FILLER HOSE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE FUEL TANK. THE HOSE WAS CRACKED BUT NOT ROTTEN AND FUEL WOULD LEAK WHILE FILLING THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE TANK WAS NEAR FULL, BUT ALWAYS HAD FUEL VAPORS ESCAPING. A FIRE HAZARD AND EXCESSIVE HYDRO CARBON EMISSIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10268908
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