Most common 1997 Ford Ranger problems
Share of the 411 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Ranger complaints by model year
Best Ranger years: 2023, 2022, 2020. Years to avoid: 2019, 1999, 2000, 1998, 1996. Compare all years →
1997 Ford Ranger recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control
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…
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…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1997 Ford Ranger:
Steering knuckle separations
There is no summary currently available
Front seat belt
There is no summary currently available
What 1997 Ford Ranger owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 67 →
Air bags.. Deflating, unserviceable, demand useless, only on passenger side, drivers side dislodged horn fuel/propulsion.. With fuel tank filled, first half(1/2) tank having excessive fuel consumed. Second (1/2) of fuel consumed at owners manual specifications of city and highway miles per gallon. Throttle pedal stiff, sticks, after normal daily warm up, extra foot pressure needed to dislodge pedal and cable, real sluggish as if not receiving enough fuel to injectors, even after regular maintenance completed.. Seat belts.. Drivers side hookup retaining latch malfunctions and " will not remain latched", several attempts need to be made before getting a strong seatbelt clip to latch locked on
Looked under my Ford Ranger and saw that both of the metal straps that hold the fuel tank to the vehicle had rusted through and broken in half. I saw that there was a recall for the same issues on my year, but only for the Ford f150, not the Ford Ranger, even though the issue is the same.
Wheels & tires all 60 →
Firestone or Ford should recall these tires. My tire blowout occured on a interstate junction (I-85n to I-77n, in charlotte, nc) at high speed (60mph) and sent my truck into ditch. I didn't think much at the time (since tires do blow out sometimes) but after the news reports that Ford and Firestone have known about the faulty tires for over 6-8 years, and only seem to care if fatatilities occur, I was very displeased and now want to file a comlaint to replace all 5 Firestone wilderness tires on my truck. I plan to buy new tires and will wait for a recall of some sort to refund my money. Not to mention the fact that I walked away from the violent blowout and subsequent crash, others were not as lucky. Thank you, scott pagan.( dot number: )
Tl contact owns a 1997 Ford Ranger. The vehicle has Bridgestone dueler apt III p225/70r14 dot# y7fcpt40207. While driving 70 MPH and attempting to change lanes, the front driver side tire blew out. The contact temporarily lost control of the vehicle, but was able to decelerate and pull off the road. He replaced the tire and found that the tread had separated. The current mileage is 109,170 and failure mileage was 109,130. The consumer stated a brand new tire blew out while on the freeway replaced all 4 tires. Updated 08/24/07
Brakes all 44 →
Idle speed rises to 3,000 RPM in between shifts and while coasting with clutch pedal depressed. Does not drop to normal idle speed until vehicle comes to a complete stop. This causes braking to be less effective.
Reporting numerous serious safety problems with vehicle since purchased used ---original occurrence date not certain but over a number of years mechanical failures occurred that could have resulted in serious injury or fatalities. The failures include but not exclusive to entire brake system failure due to brake lines corroded and leaked all hydraulic fluid --rear body support system gave out during driving and rear wheels and axles not attached to body ---vehicle lost control and went off into shoulder--radial axial arm rusted away and steering system failed while driving. Gas leaks from top of tank if filled to full --leaks on to ground and could result in gas fire and explosion --do not fill tank more than 3/4 ! All brake lines should be replaced and frequent checks of steering and suspension. I am reporting this to make owners aware and take precaution to prevent injury or death..
1997 Ford Ranger engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 21 / 24 / 22 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 18 / 23 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford Ranger a good car?
Based on 411 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Ranger rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Ranger at the same age. It is one of the Ranger years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford Ranger?
The fuel & propulsion system — 67 complaints, 16% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly › filler pipe and cap. Next are the wheels & tires (60) and brakes (44).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Ranger have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Ford Ranger, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Ranger?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2022 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 1999, 2000, 1998 and 1996. See the full Ford Ranger years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Ranger problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.