Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Ranger, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires57
- Fuel system, gasoline55
- Power train42
- Visibility36
- Service brakes, hydraulic36
- Interior lighting34
- Electrical system28
- Suspension25
- Structure25
- Vehicle speed control23
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 44 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 76 1997 Ranger vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 52 people died inside them, and 17 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Ford Ranger failed the safety check 1.49% of the time — 7% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,769 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 10.6–15.1 L/100 km (about 16–22 mpg US), CO₂ 244–347 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.6 | 9.5 | 10.6 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 10.1 | 11.5 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.8 | 10.6 | 12.9 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 14.6 | 11.0 | 13.0 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 11.0 | 13.5 |
| Ranger 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 15.6 | 11.8 | 13.9 |
| Ranger · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.0 | 11.5 | 14.0 |
| Ranger 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 12.5 | 14.4 |
| Ranger 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 16.7 | 12.7 | 14.9 |
| Ranger 4X4 · Pickup truck: Standard · Regular gasoline | 17.0 | 12.7 | 15.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Ford Ranger.
| 2009292 14 Oct 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1997 Ford Ranger: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637922 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO 9/15/2001 MAY EXHIBIT LOW LINE PRESSURE READINGS WHILE IN DRIVE, NO 2ND GEAR, NO 3RD GEAR, NO ENGINE BRAKING IN MANUAL 1ST AND SLIPPING SHIFTS AND / OR DELAYED ENGAGEMENTS. *TT |
| 637755 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO 1-2 UPSHIFT, NO 2-3 UPSHIFT, A NO ENGINE BRAKING CONDITION IN MANUAL 1 OR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0732 (GEAR 2 INCORRECT RATIO) OR P0733 (GEAR 3 INCORRECT RATIO). *TT |
| 636235 | EXPERIENCING A CLICKING / POPPING NOISE FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 636056 | CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH 4X4 OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE A FLUID LEAK FROM THE FRONT AXLE VENT TUBE. *TT |
| 635998 | LOW LINE PRESSURE READING AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE (WOT), SLIPPING SHIFTS AND / OR DELAYED ENGAGEMENTS WITH POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0732, P0733, P1762 SET ON VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 12/1/2001. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 628153 | OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM SUPPLEMENT 7 REVISED INFORMATION - REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF WILDERNESS AT TIRES. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 627756 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD A/C CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 627752 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / ONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 625700 | INFORMATION ON CLIMATE CONTROL, LOUD A/C CLUTCH CYCLING NOISE.*JB |
| 624982 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT LOUD A/C CLUTCH CYCLING NOISE CONDITION. *JG |
| 624656 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD COMPRESSOR CYCLING NOISE. *YH |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622665 | ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT |
| 619449 | SUBJECT REGARDING 4.0L ENGINE HOTLINE PHONE NUMBERS. *TT |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 619423 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHATTER OR BINDING CONDITION WHEN OPERATING THE POWER SIDE WINDOWS EITHER IN THE DOWN OR UP MODE. *TT |
| 619330 | CONCERNS WITH VEHICLES EXHBIT FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE FRONT AXLE VENT TUBE. *TT |
| 619276 | ON SOME VEHICLES, INCLUDING SPORT AND SPORT TRAC, THE FRONT AXLE LEAKS FLUID FROM THE VENT TUBE. *TT |
| 617995 | SUBJECT PERTAINING TO BROKEN THERMOSTAT. *JB |
| 617968 | CONCERNS WITH BROKEN THERMOSTATS ON ENGINES. *JB |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FRONT SEAT BELT
STEERING KNUCKLE SEPARATIONS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation