Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford Ranger owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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
Takata recall -- I believe all airbags are defective and more dangerous than riding with seat belts alone. I recommend 100% disabling of airbags and the removal of all airbags and associated hardware from future vehicles.
While traveling approximately 55 to 60 MPH vehicle was struck on the side by another vehicle changing lanes and traveling in same direction. This impact caused driver's side air bag to deploy. Driver received severe facial injuries and burns. No determination has been made as to why the driver's air bag deployed during a non-frontal crash. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
While driving 45 MPH consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle. Upon impact, neither airbag deployed. Both, driver and passenger sustained injuries, including broken ribs/ neck injuries/ cuts and bruises. Driver hit steering wheel while passenger hit windshield. Vehicle was totalled.
Vehicle was stopped and rearended by another vehicle, driver's seat went backwards, hit daughter, knocked her face into back window; passenger's seat broke &passenger was swung into back window; seats stuck in reclining position. Also, no deployment of driver's air bag.
Consumer was involved in a head on collision damage to the passenger right front corner. Impact 20 MPH, and the driver side air bag did not deploy. Consumer also stated there is over 5000 dollars worth of damage to the front end.
When driving at 35 MPH consumer had a trailer connected to vehicle, trailer hit a pothole in the road which caused the truck to flip over three times. Driver's side/ passenger's side air bags didn't deploy.
We were doing 30mph and we hit a sheet of black ice. Then we hit the guardrail. When we hit the driver side air bag did not go off until the vehicle stopped and the passenger side air bag did not go off.
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, plus numerous other minor cuts, bruises and abrasions. After about 45 seconds, a huge ball of fire erupted from under the crumpled hood. I felt the sudden heat on my face, since the windshield was gone and there was a huge gap between the hood and the trucks body. A lady, an angel of god really, helped me out of the truck and into the back seat of her car. …
Vehicle was in a very severe front/side collision. Vehicle was totaled, but none of the air bags deployed upon impact.
Airbag complaints in other Ranger years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1997 Ford Ranger?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the air bags of the 1997 Ford Ranger, 5% of the model year's 411 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford Ranger airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1997 Ford Ranger, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Ranger airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 53,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 19 crashes, 1 fire and 22 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.