1997 Ford RANGER: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000188 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)
FILED COMPLAINT BEFORE, YOU ALL SAID IT WASN'T SAFTY RELATED.IT SURE IS WHEN FORD MAKES PARTS OUT OF THIN PLASTIC/OR PUT IN WRONG PLEUM CHAMBER.THE BLEND DOOR WON'T OPERATE AND BREAKS ON SO MANY EXPLORER/RANGER.YOU CAN'T EVEN DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS IN THE RAIN OR IN THE MORNING.DO THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT/KILLED FOR SOMEONE TO CARE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000931 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
HEATER PLENUM (DOOR TO REGULATE HEAT TO CABIN) HAS BROKEN AND BURNED OUT CONTROL MOTOR CAUSING INTERIOR HEAT TO BE ALWAYS ON FULL HEAT
Owner-reported narrative. 95,905 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000931 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 10005708 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
97 FORD RANGER ,BOTH HEAD GASKETS LETTING COOLANT SEEP OUT.74,000 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006361 · 2001-01-25 (January 25, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS TURN OFF AND ON WHENEVER THEY WANT TO. THEY SOMETIMES WILL NOT RUN AT ALL OR THEY WILL STOP RUNNING DURING USE. THE DOME LIGHT ALSO STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF CAUSING A GLARE ON THE WINDOW. IT STARTED DOING IT WITH THE PASSENGER DOOR THEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR STARTED THE SAME PROBLEM. I CHECKED WITH A DEALER AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM WITH RANGERS FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND STILL TROUBLES MANY OWNERS RIGHT UP TO THE 2001 MODELS. *MR *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS…
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008964 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009970 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND THE WASHERS DID NOT WORK. ALSO THE DOME LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OR MORE. *JB THE WIPERS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE USED. THE DOME LIGHT WAS DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009970 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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗