1997 Ford Ranger problems
Owners have filed 536 complaints about the 1997 Ford Ranger with NHTSA. Tires account for 11.8% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of fuel system, gasoline at 11%.
Complaints536
Crashes43
Fires10
Injuries49
Deaths1
What owners report breaking
Tires 11.8% · 63
Fuel system, gasoline 11.0% · 59
Power train 8.2% · 44
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.0% · 43
Visibility 6.7% · 36
Interior lighting 6.7% · 36
Electrical system 5.2% · 28
Suspension 4.7% · 25
Severity
Of those complaints, 43 describe a crash, 10 describe a fire, 49 report an injury and 1 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 26 model years of the Ford Ranger in this data, 1997 sits 5th by complaint volume. 1999 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 7 in the last three years against 21 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 100,000 miles.
In owners' own words
Consumer has a 1997 Ford Ranger. Passenger's front tire blewout traveling at 60-65mph. Tread didn't separate, but there was hairline cracking along the sidewall. Tire blew in the center of the tread. Approximate mileage in low 60's.Orginal tires size p235/75r15 & dot# w2hl.*Ak all 4 firestone wilderness at tires experienced hairline cracking on the sidewalls at the tread line. *Slc Tires
The left front tire threw tread & went flat this tire had 5/32 tread. The right front tire had a tread seperation on examination. When installing two tires on the front and spare that were removed from the truck at about 25000 miles to put on snow tires one of these tires was found to have a tread separation. He truck at ab. *Ak (dot number: vnfc1pr366 tiresize: p225/70r14) Tires
Flat tire occurred at about 55-57 mph. Driver's side front tire split on exterior side, repair shop called this "delamination." Tires were original equipment, 29,000 miles. We replaced both front tires with new radials. Want to know if rear tires might also be unsafe. Found no listing of this tire in recalls or advisories. (Dot number: vnec tiresize: p225/70r14) Tires
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…