1997 FORD RANGER — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 373 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: FUEL SYSTEM (63 complaints · 16.9%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 38
  • Fires 8
  • Injuries 43
  • Deaths 1
Compare with 1996 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution FUEL SYSTEM appears in 63 of 373 owner complaints (16.9%) in this vehicle snapshot. FUEL SYSTEM: 63 complaints, 16.9% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 63 · 16.9% · 2 crash reports 1 fire reports SERVICE BRAKES: 33 complaints, 8.9% of reports SERVICE BRAKES 33 · 8.9% · 2 crash reports 1 fire reports POWER TRAIN: 30 complaints, 8.0% of reports POWER TRAIN 30 · 8.0% · 2 crash reports VISIBILITY: 26 complaints, 7.0% of reports VISIBILITY 26 · 7.0% TIRES: 22 complaints, 5.9% of reports TIRES 22 · 5.9% · 2 crash reports STRUCTURE: 21 complaints, 5.6% of reports STRUCTURE 21 · 5.6% · 1 crash reports AIR BAGS: 20 complaints, 5.4% of reports AIR BAGS 20 · 5.4% · 18 crash reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: 20 complaints, 5.4% of reports VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 20 · 5.4% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports SUSPENSION: 19 complaints, 5.1% of reports SUSPENSION 19 · 5.1% · 1 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 293 complaints, 78.6% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 293 · 78.6% · 31 crash reports 5 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
FUEL SYSTEM 63 16.9% 2 crashes · 1 fires
SERVICE BRAKES 33 8.9% 2 crashes · 1 fires
POWER TRAIN 30 8.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 26 7.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
TIRES 22 5.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
STRUCTURE 21 5.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
AIR BAGS 20 5.4% 18 crashes · 0 fires
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 20 5.4% 1 crashes · 1 fires
SUSPENSION 19 5.1% 1 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 293 78.6% 31 crashes · 5 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1997; the first recall shown was reported in Aug 2000. 1997-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1997-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1997-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1997-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 1998-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 1998-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1998-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 1998-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q1: 16 owner reports 16 1999-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 1999-Q3: 18 owner reports 18 1999-Q4: 12 owner reports 12 2000-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2000-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2000-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2000-Q4: 13 owner reports 13 2001-Q1: 23 owner reports 23 2001-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2001-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2001-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2002-Q1: 10 owner reports 10 2002-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2002-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2002-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2003-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2003-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2003-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2003-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2004-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2004-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2004-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2005-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2005-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2006-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2008-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2008-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2008-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2009-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2009-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2010-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2010-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2010-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2010-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2011-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2011-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2011-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2012-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2012-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2012-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2012-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2013-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2015-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2016-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2017-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1997 Jan 2021 Recall campaign 00T005000 ◆ Recall campaign 00T005000 Recall campaign 06E026000 ◆ Recall campaign 06E026000 Recall campaign 08E050000 ◆ Recall campaign 08E050000 Recall campaign 09E012000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E012000 Recall campaign 09E025000 ◆ Recall campaign 09E025000 Recall campaign 09V399000 ◆ Recall campaign 09V399000 Investigation PE99045 ● Investigation PE99045 Investigation DP00005 ● Investigation DP00005
  • Campaign 00T005000 was reported 367 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 08E050000 was reported 3,804 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 09E025000 was reported 4,077 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1997-Q1 Owner reports 2
1997-Q2 Owner reports 4
1997-Q3 Owner reports 5
1997-Q4 Owner reports 8
1998-Q1 Owner reports 10
1998-Q2 Owner reports 7
1998-Q3 Owner reports 8
1998-Q4 Owner reports 5
1999-Q1 Owner reports 16
1999-Q2 Owner reports 7
1999-Q3 Owner reports 18
1999-Q4 Owner reports 12
2000-Q1 Owner reports 12
2000-Q2 Owner reports 14
2000-Q3 Owner reports 17
2000-Q4 Owner reports 13
2001-Q1 Owner reports 23
2001-Q2 Owner reports 11
2001-Q3 Owner reports 7
2001-Q4 Owner reports 7
2002-Q1 Owner reports 10
2002-Q2 Owner reports 6
2002-Q3 Owner reports 4
2002-Q4 Owner reports 6
2003-Q1 Owner reports 5
2003-Q2 Owner reports 4
2003-Q3 Owner reports 3
2003-Q4 Owner reports 6
2004-Q1 Owner reports 3
2004-Q2 Owner reports 4
2004-Q3 Owner reports 9
2004-Q4 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 3
2005-Q2 Owner reports 3
2005-Q3 Owner reports 4
2005-Q4 Owner reports 3
2006-Q1 Owner reports 3
2006-Q2 Owner reports 1
2006-Q3 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 6
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
2007-Q4 Owner reports 1
2008-Q1 Owner reports 2
2008-Q2 Owner reports 4
2008-Q3 Owner reports 1
2008-Q4 Owner reports 2
2009-Q1 Owner reports 2
2009-Q2 Owner reports 3
2009-Q3 Owner reports 2
2009-Q4 Owner reports 4
2010-Q1 Owner reports 2
2010-Q2 Owner reports 7
2010-Q3 Owner reports 5
2010-Q4 Owner reports 1
2011-Q1 Owner reports 1
2011-Q2 Owner reports 2
2011-Q3 Owner reports 6
2011-Q4 Owner reports 4
2012-Q1 Owner reports 3
2012-Q2 Owner reports 2
2012-Q3 Owner reports 1
2012-Q4 Owner reports 3
2013-Q1 Owner reports 2
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 3
2015-Q2 Owner reports 2
2015-Q3 Owner reports 1
2015-Q4 Owner reports 2
2016-Q3 Owner reports 1
2017-Q2 Owner reports 2
2017-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 1
2018-Q2 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 00T005000
Recall campaign 1 06E026000
Recall campaign 1 08E050000
Recall campaign 1 09E012000
Recall campaign 1 09E025000
Recall campaign 1 09V399000
Defect investigation 1 PE99045
Defect investigation 1 DP00005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 00T005000

    Report date
    Component:
    TIRES
    Consequence:
    IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.
    Remedy:
    THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 06E026000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
    Remedy:
    PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 08E050000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E012000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09E025000

    Report date
    Component:
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING
    Consequence:
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy:
    DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 09V399000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 373 complaints · page 1 of 15

No complaints match the current filters.
EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources