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1997 Ford RangerProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 411 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Ranger, most often about the tires. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

37
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.7× the Ranger median · #7 of 35 years by complaints
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints41178 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage50kTires, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 17, 2021. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford Ranger has problems

411 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Tires577
Fuel system, gasoline552
Power train423
Service brakes, hydraulic363
Visibility360
Interior lighting340
Electrical system283
Structure251
Suspension251
20 other systems16334

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1997 Ford Ranger recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Fuel system, gasoline

10 owners mentioned a cost

$425median

Middle half: $285 – $500

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Ranger year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ranger median. How we score

'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'14'16'17'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Ford Ranger safety ratings

1997 Ford Ranger in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Ford Ranger frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Ranger, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FRONT SEAT BELTDP00005 · closed May 15, 2001
    No recall
  2. STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONSPE99045 · closed Oct 29, 1999
    No recall
In owners' words

What Ranger owners report

Recent tires complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAD FIVE (5) BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA TIRES FAIL WHILE DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE OVER ABOUT A TEN YEAR PERIOD. EACH FAILURE IS THE SAME. THE STEEL BELT OF THE TIRE PARTIALLY SEPARATES WHILE ROLLING. THE FIRST OCCURRED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE PULLING A SMALL FLATBED…
Complaint 11000343 · Jun 21, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/70/R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HE BEGAN TO HEAR A THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE…
Complaint 10421283 · Aug 24, 2011 · 131,000 miles
I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 4.0LTR.MANY SHOPS HAVE WORK ON THE FRONT AXEL WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS AND RETAINER NUT THIS NUT TAKES A SOCKET 2.3/8 R-6 MOST SHOPS DON'T HAVE IT SO THEY USE WHAT EVER THEY HAVE,CHISELL,LOCKING PLYERS ECT...CREATING FRONT END DAMAGE TO WHEEL BEARINGS,SEALS,…
Complaint 10326662 · Apr 20, 2010 · 1,500 miles

Own a 1997 Ranger?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.