IllustrationDRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE BAG OPENED. PASSENGER WAS HURT.*AK
1997 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
525–50K
2250–75K
2075–100K
36100–150K
21150K+
110 reports with mileage · 301 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 55 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
40 crash reports8 fire reports30 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
22 reportsAT 35 MPH VEHICLE RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRACTOR HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER PASSENGER'S SIDE OR DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE IN AN HEAD-ON ACCIDENT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 55 MPH CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING A COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURIES. ALSO VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK
VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH DEER, AIR BAG BURNED ARM OF OCCUPANT AND FILLED VEHICLE WITH SMOKE.
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. *AK
VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION, IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH MADE IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR; AND THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Official recalls
109V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
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 SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2DP00005 · Front Seat Belt
Opened Oct 2, 2000 · Closed May 15, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations
Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available