1997 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
307 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 110 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Interior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 307 complaints (10.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 43 | 14.0% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 10.7% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 4.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 3.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Interior Lighting | 32 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 31 |
| Tires | 24 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 21 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 18 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 14 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
Interior Lighting: 32; Tires:Tread/Belt: 31; Tires: 24; Fuel System, Gasoline: 21; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 18; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 14; Electrical System: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 21
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 197 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 76 |
| 2001 | 57 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 19 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 76; 2001: 57; 2002: 28; 2003: 19; 2004: 17; 2005: 13; 2006: 11; 2007: 4; 2008: 9; 2009: 11; 2010: 16; 2011: 14; 2012: 9; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 8; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Interior Lighting leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 43 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10019237 · 2003-05-24 (May 24, 2003)
1997 FORD RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT THIS "T" HWY INTERSECTION, I RAN PAST IT, AND HIT A 12" DIAMETER TREE HEAD ON. ICE ON THE ROAD. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INDENTATION ON THE FRONT BUMPER WAS OVER TWO FEET DEEP. MY HEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY SMASHED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, AND MY I BROKE MY LEFT COLLAR BONE, FRACTURED AND BRUISED SEVERAL RIBS ON MY RIGHT SIDE, BROKE MY RIGHT FOOT HEEL BONE, CUT MY NOSE, PLU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025740 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
FAULTY FUEL TANK VENT HOSE. WHEN FILLING UP THE GAS TANK AND THE PUMP KICKS OFF WHEN FULL, GAS POURS ONTO PAVEMENT BELOW. I PULLED THE PART OFF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE HOSE WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS PART IS ALL ONE UNIT WITH THE FILL LINE AND IT COSTS A WHOPPING $247 TO BUY THE PART. I ASKED AUTOWAY FORD IN ST, PETERSBURG FLORIDA IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT BUT SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT. WE PURCHASED ONE FROM GATOR FORD THAT SAME DAY. I NOTICED YOUR SITE SHOWS EIGHT OTHER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS FAULT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051581 · 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)
THE LOCATION AND CONNECTION OF THE FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM CAUSED THE RELAY SWITCH UNDER THE DASH TO OVERHEAT AND THE BATTERY DRAINED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF.*JB ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON 1997 FORD RANGER IS MALFUNCTIONING. ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS ILLUMINATES WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. THE FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERATIVE, RELAYS UNDER THE DASHBOARD STARTED HEATING UP. CONSUMER CONCERED THAT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005671 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE STEERING SECTOR TO THE FRAME ALL BROKE OR SNAPPED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A SNAP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS OF THE TRUCK A 97 FORD RANGER. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FOR ON JANUARY 28, 2003 ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED, THE TRACKING ID IS KMM2029449C0KM CASE ID 688902. I AM NORMALLY OUT ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT OVER 65 MPH ON WEEKEND AND HAD THE BOLTS SNAPPED WHILE MOVING AT THIS SPEED I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD. IS THERE ANY RECOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018511 · 2003-05-11 (May 11, 2003)
MY '97 FORD RANGER STANDARD TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS HIGH IDLE CONDITIONS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. MY DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER AND EMISSIONS WARRANTY BUT I HAVE SAVED RECEIPTS OF THEIR ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM DURING TIME VEHICLE WAS WARRANTED BACK IN 1997. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS FOUND THE EXACT SAME HIGH IDLE PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1998 TO 2000 MODEL RANGERS AND THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB00-3-5. WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,668 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018511 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10265248 · 2009-04-14 (April 14, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR REMAINED LIT UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE SPEED WAS REDUCED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP FOR IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,099 miles reported. Look up ODI 10265248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052539 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
FULL INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT FUNCTION. NO LIGHTSACCORDING TO AUTO MECHANIC, POTENTIAL SEVERE INTERNAL WIRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081485 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329668 · 2010-05-10 (May 10, 2010)
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS: 1. INTERMITTENT WIPERS WILL WIPE 2, 3, 4, 5 TIMES AT RANDOM IN A ROW ALWAYS AND NOT IN THAT ORDER. 2. BACKUP LIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSE AFTER REPLACING ALL LIGHTING PARTS 3. HORN WORKS 1% OF THE TIME, UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE. 4. AC BLOWS HOT AIR INTERMITTENTLY EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF BLOWER BLEND DOOR. 5. GAS: WHEN BELOW 1/4 TANK AND MAKING RIGHT TURN TRUCK WILL STALL, EVEN AFTER WORK ON TANK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329668 at NHTSA ↗