1997 Ford Ranger Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1997 Ford Ranger, and owners have filed 411 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 1997 Ford Ranger
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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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 deactivation…
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…
411 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Ford Ranger have filed 411 complaints with NHTSA; 40 describe a crash and 8 describe a fire. Reports cite 44 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 105,096 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 76 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that while having a routine inspection at haldeman ford of kutztown, inc. (15465 kutztown rd, kutztown, pa 19530, (610) 683-3553) the mechan”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 17, 2021 · Structure
“Ford ranger 4x4 xlt 4.0l has had problems from the beginning front tires two out , fog lights, air conditioning, transmission shift points , check engine light when new and to this day gas mileage not”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 23, 2020 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Ford Ranger (Ranger Pickup 2WD, Ranger Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 16–22 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–21 / 19–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 2.3/3/4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Ranger model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Ranger model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 Ford Ranger | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 Ford Ranger | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 Ford Ranger | 5 | 11 |
| 1984 Ford Ranger | 6 | 12 |
| 1985 Ford Ranger | 1 | 27 |
| 1986 Ford Ranger | 4 | 35 |
| 1987 Ford Ranger | 4 | 50 |
| 1988 Ford Ranger | 1 | 89 |
| 1989 Ford Ranger | 1 | 73 |
| 1990 Ford Ranger | 3 | 105 |
| 1991 Ford Ranger | 2 | 132 |
| 1992 Ford Ranger | 2 | 189 |
| 1993 Ford Ranger | 3 | 232 |
| 1994 Ford Ranger | 4 | 438 |
| 1995 Ford Ranger | 1 | 321 |
| 1996 Ford Ranger | 2 | 413 |
| 1997 Ford Ranger | 1 | 411 |
| 1998 Ford Ranger | 5 | 576 |
| 1999 Ford Ranger | 4 | 755 |
| 2000 Ford Ranger | 3 | 670 |
| 2001 Ford Ranger | 4 | 515 |
| 2002 Ford Ranger | 3 | 346 |
| 2003 Ford Ranger | 1 | 243 |
| 2004 Ford Ranger | 10 | 404 |
| 2005 Ford Ranger | 9 | 289 |
| 2006 Ford Ranger | 12 | 271 |
| 2007 Ford Ranger | 5 | 270 |
| 2008 Ford Ranger | 5 | 326 |
| 2009 Ford Ranger | 7 | 169 |
| 2010 Ford Ranger | 8 | 156 |
| 2011 Ford Ranger | 5 | 235 |
| 2014 Ford Ranger | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Ford Ranger | 0 | 1 |
| 2017 Ford Ranger | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Ford Ranger | 11 | 268 |
| 2020 Ford Ranger | 7 | 129 |
| 2021 Ford Ranger | 6 | 117 |
| 2022 Ford Ranger | 5 | 37 |
| 2023 Ford Ranger | 4 | 18 |
| 2024 Ford Ranger | 13 | 86 |
| 2025 Ford Ranger | 13 | 43 |
| 2026 Ford Ranger | 8 | 7 |
Checking a specific 1997 Ford Ranger
How do I know if my 1997 Ford Ranger has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1997 Ford Ranger; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 09V399000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.