1997 Ford Ranger: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 536 complaints
536
Total Complaints
100,000mi
Median Mileage
INTERIOR LIGHTING
Top Issue
43
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

67,250 25th Percentile
100,000 Median Mileage
131,498 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

INTERIOR LIGHTING
36
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
34
TIRES
27
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
24
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
21
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
21
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
19
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
SUSPENSION
13

Severity Assessment

43
Crashes
10
Fires
49
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE STEERING IS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT STAY IN CENTER WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK"
"CONSUMER STATES BRAKE CALIPERS STUCK AND OVERHEATED, CAUSING GREASE SEALS TO BLOW, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. *AK"
"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. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28