Complaints
536
Crashes
43
Fires
10
Injuries
49
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Ford Ranger Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#136 complaints
Interior Lighting
Avg mileage:87,667 mi
#234 complaints
Tires:Tread/Belt
Avg mileage:50,379 mi
Crash-related:3
#327 complaints
Tire Defects
Avg mileage:71,658 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford Ranger.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior Lighting | 36 | — | — | 87,667 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 34 | 3 | — | 50,379 mi | |
| Tire Defects | 27 | 1 | — | 71,658 mi | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 24 | — | — | 101,000 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 21 | — | — | 120,977 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 21 | — | — | 72,044 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 19 | — | — | 73,206 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 17 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 14 | — | 1 | 102,015 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 | 12 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 13 | — | — | 48,000 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 13 | 1 | — | 105,844 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 13 | — | 1 | 133,557 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 9 | — | — | 52,900 mi | |
| Fuel System | 8 | — | — | 120,362 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 8 | — | — | 101,334 mi | |
| Body Structure | 8 | — | — | 139,500 mi | |
| Airbags | 7 | 5 | 1 | 61,422 mi | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 7 | — | — | 118,749 mi | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 7 | 1 | — | 73,488 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 | — | — | 84,295 mi | |
| Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields | 6 | — | — | 146,995 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 5 | — | 1 | 60,000 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 | — | — | 115,208 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 5 | 1 | — | 69,898 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 | 2 | — | 70,000 mi |
Interior Lighting
36
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,667
Tires:Tread/Belt
34
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,379
Tire Defects
27
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,658
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
24
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,000
Gasoline Fuel System
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,977
Automatic Transmission
21
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,044
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,206
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
17
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
102,015
Air Bags:Frontal
13
complaints
Crashes
12
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,000
Suspension Failures
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,844
Unintended Acceleration
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
133,557
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
52,900
Fuel System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,362
Manual Transmission
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,334
Body Structure
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
139,500
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Avg Miles
61,422
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Door
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
118,749
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,488
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,295
Structure:Frame And Members:Underbody Shields
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
146,995
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
60,000
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
115,208
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,898
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,000
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Ford Ranger. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Ranger Years
1997 Ford Ranger — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Ford Ranger reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1997 Ford Ranger has 536 NHTSA complaints, 43 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Interior Lighting with 36 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Ford Ranger?
Top reported problems: Interior Lighting (36 complaints, avg 87,667 mi); Tires:Tread/Belt (34 complaints, avg 50,379 mi); Tire Defects (27 complaints, avg 71,658 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Ford Ranger?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 87,044 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Ford Ranger include 43 crash-related reports, 10 fire reports, 49 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Ford Ranger have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Ford Ranger as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Ford Ranger?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (interior lighting) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Ranger reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Ford Ranger
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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