Ford Ranger 1997

• Recall 67334 [USA]: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
  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.
  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.
  ford's recall campaign number is 09s09.Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 85647 [USA]: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
  Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." these lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
  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.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles produced by the vehicle manufacturer.In order to determine if your aftermarket lamp assembly is affected by this noncompliance, please review the list of model numbers provided to us by dope, inc.The list can be found under "document search" located at the bottom of your screen. Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov .

• Recall 79581 [USA]: Without the amber side reflex reflectors, the lighting visibility may be affected, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
  K2 motor is recalling 1,921 aftermarket headlamps of various models sold for use on the above listed vehicles. These headlamps are missing the amber side reflex reflector which fails to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
  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.
  this recall only pertains to aftermarket replacement equipment and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by honda, ford, or chrysler llc. Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

• Recall 60811 [USA]: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
  Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
  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.
  this recall only pertains to pro-a motors aftermarket lamps and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the listed passenger vehicles.For more information on the lamp model numbers, click on document search and view document titled "lamp model numbers."customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.Safercar.Gov.

• Recall 4627 [USA]: Should the tread separate at highway speeds, a vehicle crash could occur, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
  This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Equipment description: ford is replacing all firestone wilderness at 15, 16, and 17 inch tires mounted on ford trucks and suvs. Ford reports tread separation can occur due to a combination of the sensitivity of the tire design to stress, aging, and manufacturing differences between plants. Ford is replacing these tires to prevent possible premature tire failure. Vehicle description: the vehicles listed below may have been originally equipped with firestone wilderness at tires or may have had wilderness at tires installed during the firestone recall launched in august 2000. Certain 1991 throught 2002 ford explorer certain 2001 throught 2002 explorer sport, and sport trac certain 1997 through 2002 mercury mountaineer certain 1991 through 2001 ranger certain 1999 through 2001 expedition certain 1991 through 1994, and 1997 model year f-series certain 1991 through 1994 bronco note: both original equipment and replacement tires are affected.
  the replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on march 31, 2002. However, customers can contact ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.Ford.Com for possible assistance.
  

• Recall 7609 [USA]: If the tread separates from the tire, the driver can lose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash causing injury or death.
  Tire description: firestone wilderness at, size p235/75r15, produced at the decatur, illinois tire plant and all firestone radial atx and radial atx ii tires, size p235/75r15. Operation of these tires at low inflation pressures, high speed, and in hot weather, can contribute to separation of the tire tread.
  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.
  

• Recall R/1999/021 [UK]: Throttle may not return to idle when cruise control is disengaged
  Certain of the affected vehicles could be fitted with a cruise control cable that may interfere with the cruise control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
  phase 1 - write to owners advising them to immediately stop using the cruise control system and offering them the option of dealers disabling the system should they so wish. Phase 2 - as soon as replacement cruise control cables become available recall all affected vehicles for replacement of the cable.

• Recall 2009292 [Canada]: Other
  On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur either when the vehicle is parked or when it is in operation. Correction: dealers will install a new switch or fused wiring harness. Note: this is an expansion of recall 2005028 (05s28) for vehicles not previously included in the campaign.

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

• Front seat belt investigation as of 20001002

  There is no summary currently available
  

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• Steering knuckle separations investigation as of 19990706

  There is no summary currently available
  

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Common OBD Error codes specific to this vehicle.

• P0442 [2] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (small leak)
• P0455 [2] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (gross leak)
• P0456 [2] Evaporative Emissions System Small Leak Detected
• P0457 [2] Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected
• P1442 [2] A/C Evaporator Air Temperature Circuit Range/Performance
• P0340 [3] Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1)
• P1309 [1] EGR Calibration High
• P1336 [1] Misfire Rate Catalyst Damage Fault - Bank 1
• P0732 [2] Gear 2 Incorrect ratio
• P0733 [2] Gear 3 Incorrect ratio
• P1762 [1] Coast Clutch Solenoid Circuit Malfunction
• P0171 [2] System too Lean (Bank 1)
• P0174 [2] System too Lean (Bank 2)
• P0125 [1] Insufficient Coolant Temperature for Closed Loop Fuel Control
• P0705 [1] Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit malfunction (PRNDL Input)
• P0708 [1] Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit High Input
• P1704 [1] Turbo Charge Relief Circuit Malfunction
• P1705 [1] Transmission Indeterminate Failure (Failed to Neutral)
• P1151 [1] Fuel Restriction Indicator Circuit Malfunction
• P2657 [2] A Rocker Arm Actuator System Stuck On Bank 2
• P2357 [2] Cylinder 10 – pressure too low
• P2325 [1] Ignition Coil "I" Primary Control Circuit High

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 as stated on window sticker ,also windows motor and controls

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 as stated on window sticker ,also windows motor and controls

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 mechanic determined that the front and rear subframe was severely corroded. After having an emissions inspection, the vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

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 mechanic determined that the front and rear subframe was severely corroded. After having an emissions inspection, the vehicle was deemed unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000.

Belt separation on 2 tires in one month time span. Fusion touring 195 70r14 91t. These tires have 8/32 tread remaining. Failures were front right, then left read one month later. Caused difficulty steering as the car was all over the road plus bumpy ride. The tires are visibly bulging baloon. I felt tire temp with my hand. Uniformly warm except at the bulge where it was so hot as to burn my hand. Would ntsb like me to save a tire for evaluation? This second tire failure occurred at 70 mph on i-94 in michigan when a sudden vibration occurred and i observed the left rear fender bouncing up and down. I stopped to investigate and found the bulge and hot spot.

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the fuel tank was not secured and was hanging from the subframe of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the failure was caused by severe rusting and corrosion of the subframe. The failure was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 233,479. *tt

Takata recall -- i believe all airbags are defective and more dangerous than riding with seat belts alone. I recommend 100% disabling of airbags and the removal of all airbags and associated hardware from future vehicles.

The dome light started turning itself on while parked in front of my house. Sometimes it would turn itself back off. It would also turn on while i was driving at night. I couldn't get the light cover off so i pulled the fuse which leaves me with no windshield washer squirter. The check engine light is always on. No mater what is done or fixed, the light stays on which is a problem because cars will usually automatically fail inspection when the check engine light is on. How am i supposed to get it to pass inspection if its on 90% of the time? I never had a problem with my 93 ranger but other people with rangers have had the same issues & this site shows others with the same issues. Why won't ford recall & fix it when its a known problem? These things are safety issues!! I can't add when these things happen because they are ongoing issues for the last tenish years!

Excessive rust not caused by normal wear and tear, had spare tire carrier rust off while on the road

Farmr rusted through truck was sitting at home parked when it broke through

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that the speed control switch melted. The contact stated that he had not experienced a failure prior to the vehicle being repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Looked under my ford ranger and saw that both of the metal straps that hold the fuel tank to the vehicle had rusted through and broken in half. I saw that there was a recall for the same issues on my year, but only for the ford f150, not the ford ranger, even though the issue is the same.

I bought this truck in ohio in october 2014, after purchasing i noticed quite a bit of rust eroding the frame behind 20" low profile tires, i put factory suggested tires on it the leaf spring hangers broke in early dec. 2014 after that was fixed, the erosion was noticeable. Now the shock has fallen off and the frame has a crack through it at the leaf spring hanger. The truck is not drivable at this point. I need another frame or will have to junk the truck. *tr

Rear leaf spring hangers/shackles rusted off as well as the front ones on the rear leaf springs. Spare tire carrier fell down dragging the spare tire across the road. One crossmember holding up the front of the gas tank is ready to go. Both gas tank straps rotted off. Toyota was made to fix these issues. Why not ford? I work at a toyota dealership replacing rotten frames on tundras, sequoias, and tacoma vehicles. There is no difference as both the frames for toyota and ford are built at the same factory if i am correct? The vehicle was being driven down the road all times the above listed failed. Some times on the highway, others in town. I do not feel safe selling this vehicle to another individual when it's ready to go.

I walked out of my house one morning and my rear bumper was laying on the ground behind my truck. *tr

Wheel bearings keep going out on front tires becoming a real issue and hazard and safety they lock up on road and have gotten slides off road. Afraid it will be worse next time. They have gone out three times and been replaced. They are going out again and fear for our safety but this is our only vehicle for work an appointment need this truck. Please help. I don't have the money to keep replacing but love this truck. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 mph, the engine stalled. The vehicle restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing the mechanic was unable to locate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vin was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

I purchased used ford ranger 1997...Turns out chassis has a safety defect....It is rusted and needs to be welded.....Meineke said safety is a big issue...And we should talk to ford... Rust should never have happened.....What should i do? The part in question is frame chassy! Drop down would not allow me to list chassy. *tr

Air bags.. Deflating, unserviceable, demand useless, only on passenger side, drivers side dislodged horn fuel/propulsion.. With fuel tank filled, first half(1/2) tank having excessive fuel consumed. Second (1/2) of fuel consumed at owners manual specifications of city and highway miles per gallon. Throttle pedal stiff, sticks, after normal daily warm up, extra foot pressure needed to dislodge pedal and cable, real sluggish as if not receiving enough fuel to injectors, even after regular maintenance completed.. Seat belts.. Drivers side hookup retaining latch malfunctions and " will not remain latched", several attempts need to be made before getting a strong seatbelt clip to latch locked on

We were doing 30mph and we hit a sheet of black ice. Then we hit the guardrail. When we hit the driver side air bag did not go off until the vehicle stopped and the passenger side air bag did not go off. *tr

Plastic fuel line split at the input of the fuel filter that is located behind the engine attached to the vehicle frame. When the ignition is turned on gasoline sprays from this crack piece of plastic line. This is due to the fact that the fuel pump is electric and energizes anytime the ignition is on the pump is located in the gas tank at the rear of the truck . This is potentially very dangerous as the spraying gasoline could easily hit the catalytic converter or exhaust system when the vehicle is in motion. Fortunately i noticed the leak under the vehicle when i was warming up the car on as cool morning. As a result no real damage was done. Will cost about $350 to repair. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that fuel spilled from the vehicle and onto the ground as the contact attempted to refuel the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic whom located the failure at the fuel filter neck hose, which was cracked due to corrosion. The vehicle was repaired and the fuel filter neck hose was replaced. The manufacturer denied any assistance with the repair due to the vehicle's age. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000 and the approximate current mileage was 210,000.

Idle speed rises to 3,000 rpm in between shifts and while coasting with clutch pedal depressed. Does not drop to normal idle speed until vehicle comes to a complete stop. This causes braking to be less effective.

No incident occurred because i found it in time (thank god)! I came out my front door and noticed something hanging under my truck. I took it to car-x and they told me it was one of my supports holding up my gas tank. Right there i almost had a heart attack! I asked them to check it out. The next day they called me and told me they couldn't fix it because it was too rusty underneath. They even called the dealer, i got it from, and they told them they didn't want anything to do with it. Right now i have a ratchet belt holding it up but i'm afraid it won't last through a lot of rain and snow. *tr

Frame is nearly gone / rusted , rearend / axle fell out in middle of road. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that the rear fuel strap was completely rusted and detached from the vehicle. The front fuel strap was also rusted. The contact spoke with the dealer and was told there were no recalls for the fuel straps on the vehicle and provided no further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage and the current mileage was 225,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that the vehicle would lose power sporadically before abnormally accelerating. The contact stated that when the failure occurred, the failure could not be stopped by applying the brakes. In addition, there was an abnormal spike in engine rpms when the failure occurred. The vehicle would correct itself shortly thereafter. The failure mileage was 126,000 and the current mileage was 136,252.

Today my accelerator failed. I was sitting at a red light. I went to accelerate by pushing on the accelerator pedal with my right foot. There was no acceleration. The accelerator pedal had failed. Further investigation revealed three spot welds that held a plate to the firewall had failed. The accelerator pedal pivots on this plate and attached bolt. I was able to do a temporary repair today. But, the failure in traffic was very dangerous. *tr

My 1997 4x4 ranger, 61500 miles, has major frame rust and has in fact rusted through in one area. The frame rails also at the rear leaf spring shackles heavily rusted. I have owned this since oct.Of 2000. The body is clean and straight of any damage or rust. I expect a ford frame to last and not be the reason of the vehicles total failure in both saftey and of the vehicle life after 12-13 years with only 61,500 miles. The car in my opinion is unsafe to drive. Ford should stand behind their product and do what toyota has done with similar frame issues. I look foward to your reply. *tr

While working on and doing an underbody inspection i noticed that the drivers side rear spring hanger is almost rotted completely through. It is a cause for alarm for me and anybody driving near me on the highway. If not fixed it could possibly cause a deadly accident. The passenger side is rotted as well. Front suspension is rotting as at a fast rate. The truck seems to jump into other lanes after hitting pot holes or other road hazards. *tr

While going down hill and around a curve heard a loud noise from rear and felt back of truck move side ways. A short time after, another loud noise from rear and rear of truck dropped low . I lost control and went onto shoulder and slowed down was able to recover and at slow speed went home. On inspection found both rear leaf spring forward shackle supports failed due to corrosion. Was lucky not going faster as could have resulted in very serious crash. Please investigate and warn owners of possible failure of leaf spring. And loss of control truck is parked and not able to be driven. *tr

Last year i started noticing a gas smell when filling. Beginning of this year i noticed gas leak on ground when filling. I am now in the process of replacing the gas fill pipe, it has deteriorated to an unusable condition. Whether this is because of the gasohaul used in mn. Or poor quality in the manufacturing i couldn't tell you,but when i ordered the part they told me the same thing happened to their delivery truck. I believe this is an unsafe condition and should be looked into before there is an explosion or fire in a gas station while someone is filling their truck. Please contact me if more information is needed or what is being done with this matter. *tr

1997 ford ranger driver side rear spring hanger rusted away & broke causing weight of vehicle to be carried by truck bed floor. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that one minute after starting, the vehicle failed to shift into gear and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, however the manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 181,000 and the current mileage was 181,760.

The gas tank straps on my 1997 ranger have rusted through dropping the fuel tank while i was pulling into my driveway. Both the front and rear strap have rusted through. The tank is being held up with commercial grades straps. Is this model being included in the recent ford recall announcement? I did not see the extended cab ranger model mentioned.

Ford ranger 1997 rear leaf spring mounts completely rusted away. Heard loud banging noise when driving. Inspected truck and found both driver and passenger rear spring mounts completely rusted away. Front spring mounts almost rusted away -near loss of rear axel and suspension !!! Very dangerous failure without any warning. If had occurred at highway speed could have been total loss of rear suspension. Also dropping axel with leaf springs not good for any traffic following vehicle. Major safety problem as no other rust apparent on truck outside or elsewhere under truck. Inferior metal used for spring mounts which is apparently very prone to rust compared to rest of truck. Highly recommend all ford ranger owners be notified and advised to have spring mounts inspected before fatal accident occurs. Can not stress enough that there were no symptoms noted before failure, and no apparent rust on truck to indicate any problems. *tr

Reporting numerous serious safety problems with vehicle since purchased used ---original occurrence date not certain but over a number of years mechanical failures occurred that could have resulted in serious injury or fatalities. The failures include but not exclusive to entire brake system failure due to brake lines corroded and leaked all hydraulic fluid --rear body support system gave out during driving and rear wheels and axles not attached to body ---vehicle lost control and went off into shoulder--radial axial arm rusted away and steering system failed while driving. Gas leaks from top of tank if filled to full --leaks on to ground and could result in gas fire and explosion --do not fill tank more than 3/4 ! All brake lines should be replaced and frequent checks of steering and suspension. I am reporting this to make owners aware and take precaution to prevent injury or death.. *tr

Within the past two months i had a split in the flexible fuel filler pipe on my 1997 ford ranger xlt. In the course of having it replaced, the repair shop removed the gas tank and found the same condition with the metal straps that hold the gas tank in place, extensive corrosion as reported on the ford f150. It appears the possibility of gas tanks dropping out of the vehicle may be more extensive than the initial reports and may apply to other ford pick-up trucks. *tr

Fuel line cracked above gas tank . Strong gas odor after driving or during refill -gas will spill out when filling tank up to full and gas smell can also be smelled during commute. Will be taking it in to greenway ford dealership here in orlando this week. *tr

I was leaving the parking lot of the grocery store i had been shopping at, and the drivers side reclining seat latch assembly that controls the angle of, and locks the back of the seat into position, gave way and the back of the seat collapsed backwards causing me to go backwards as well. Fortunately i was able to stop my vehicle without causing a collision or injury. The vehicle is now at home, and with internet research it seems that the reclining seat latch assembly has been a weak point with ford ranger trucks and ford explorer suv vehicles for years. The ford dealer/service center that i do business with, now tells me that the replacement part is obsolete and they will have to contact various dealers still listing it in their inventory to see if they can get the part, as the parts supplier for ford that made the replacement latches went out of business during the bad economy. I'm amazed that a recall has not been issued, given the potential for great harm and possible injury or death from the failure of this component.

Fuel tank straps failed due to corrosion/rust causing fuel tank to partially fall. Defective straps were replaced with new ones. *kb

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that when the vehicle is filled with gasoline, the gas will spill back out. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the bottle neck on the filler cap is corroded. This causes a strong smell of gas when driving the vehicle. The dealer was very familiar with the failure, but the vehicle is no longer under warranty all and there is no recall. The failure mileage was 72000 and current mileage was 75000.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. While traveling 10 mph attempting a left hand turn the contact noticed that the steering wheel would no longer respond causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The steering wheel could be turned in any direction but the wheels would not respond to the movement. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic where the contact was informed that the steering box had separated from the vehicle. There were no prior warnings and the failure was not diagnosed. The current and failure mileages were 85000.

Rear leaf spring brackets rusting and breaking. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact attempted to engage the cruise control at 55 mph, but to no avail. Prior to the failure, the contact received repairs under nhtsa recall campaign id number: 09v399000 (vehicle speed control). The contact stated the failure surface immediately after recall repairs. The failure mileage was 95,000 and the current mileage was 96,000.

Driving down road rear spring broke another time spar tire came of almost causing crash ,have repaired both rear spring brackets ,two front suspension , lost spare and frame about to brake away . What should i do . Have lot of money invested . *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, both rear springs fell from the vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence without incident and contacted the dealer in which he purchased it. The dealer advised it was the contacts responsibility to have the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated the vehicle has had numerous failures including a hole in the fuel tank and muffler failures. The vin was not available and the current and failure mileages were approximately 119,000.

I came outside to my 1997 ford ranger xlt and it was on fire under the hood an in the cab already. Then it exploded! *tr

Fuel leaking around filler top. First time service replaced the hose clamp, but now the filler top is cracked. Oem replacement part is $500 plus labor of removing gas tank , etc. Odor a problem and potentially a fire hazard. Gas stations do not want to put gas in leaking vehicle either. *tr

1997 ford ranger xlt ,date is approximate since filler hose slowly cracked and got worse, smelled fuel constantly since 80,000 miles and had to eventually spend 600.00 to get it fixed at ford dealership for what looked like a small rubber hose, i would have replaced myself but could not locate oem replacement anywhere else including all auto stores (dealer only part), this was a very dangerous situation, i considered it a timebomb. Thankfully nothing dangerous happened before i took it to dealer, though doing a internet search revealed a common problem for the certain years of ford rangers which some people due to cost are replacing with a common rubber hose which is very dangerous and has static that could make it go up in flames. *tr

Sudden brake failure --two instances first in sept 2009 and today --severe corrosion on rear brake lines and lose of brake fluid and no brakes ---need to check all 1997 ford rangers xlt for similar problems as can result in a crash. I have had repairs made as afraid of repeat also notice corrosion at front brake lines. *tr

I am writing to complain about not having my vehicle service, and i received a recall letter. I went to the leonardtown dealership on wednesday, november 23, 2009, with my letter for recall, and was given instructions on how to disconnect the speed deactivation switch. I explained to the service advisor mr. John jarboe that my vehicle has been leaking brake fluid, brake lights have been coming on and i wanted to know if this defective switch had anything to do with it. He showed me a diagram of the switch, where it is located near the master cylinder and told me that i can disconnect it myself, and if i wanted to have the vehicle towed in they would look at the other problem. I thought ford is responsible for doing this repair not me. I can't drive the vehicle because it is leaking brake fluid. I was told that i can have it towed in and they would look at the problem. I am no sure if this switch is the problem, but even if it isn't are they supposed to deactivate the switch not me. I am not a mechanic. *tr

Fuel filler hose cracks prematurely at the connection to the top of the fuel tank resulting in significant fuel spillage during refueling as well as probably splashing out during driving. Fuel vapors surely escape all the time as well. Both situations lead to a serious fire hazard. Seems to be a widespread safety issue based on the amount of ford rangers with safety complaints listed on this site as well as discussions on various ford ranger forums. The oem ford part lists for ~$400. *tr

Drove my 1997 ford ranger truck to lunch at work upon returning sitting down for 10 minutes a coworker ran into the plant saying my truck was on fire my master cylinder for my brakes was on fire and was put out there is alot of damage. I believe was caused by defective abs break sensor don't know if there is a recall on them or not hope you can help. *tr

Found drivers side rear spring support (front) that attaches to the frame rail was broken from rusting apart. While replacing it, also found the rear spring supports (rear) on both sides broken from rusting apart. This appears to be a poor design or under engineered part. The truck is 1997 ford ranger pickup with only 73k miles on it and has never been used to carry anything heavy. This seems to be highly unusual that three brackets are broken on one truck from rusting apart. *tr

Crack in gasoline filler top causing fumes and gasoline odor in car, especially when turning right. * when filling tank with gasoline, the fuel would leak out of the filler neck onto the ground while filling at the gas station, as if you were slowly pouring a glass of water, much more than a drip. Could not fill tank full until repair was done. Mechanic replaced filler and filler neck. Had to remove gas tank and truck bed to investigate and repair. Big job, big hazard!! *tr

Each time i fill up, the gas tank overflows, creating a huge safety risk of either a fire or explosion. *tr

When filling fuel tank on 1997 ford ranger 4x4 long bed, fuel leaks back out and puddles on pavement below vehicle due to a split that has recently developed in the fuel tank filler neck (hose). Even when i do not fill tank all the way (to prevent above leaking) gas fumes are still strong and have accumulated inside the canopy (topper) on pickup bed. Fuel appears to leak (based on odor) after executing a sharp turn, a quick stop, and when traveling over bumpy roads. Ford's price for a replacement filler neck is prohibitive (around $450) plus labor and thus, i have been unable to have the problem repaired. *tr

1997 ford ranger xlt short bed truck leaking gasoline from the fuel filler hose where it connects to the fuel tank. The hose was cracked but not rotten and fuel would leak while filling the tank and also when the tank was near full, but always had fuel vapors escaping. A fire hazard and excessive hydro carbon emissions. *tr

1997 ford splash ranger short bed truck leaking gasoline from the fuel filler hose where it connects to the fuel tank. The hose is cracked but not rotten and fuel leaks on the ground when filling the tank and also when the tank is near full. Definite fire hazard. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact smelled a strong odor of gasoline emanating from his vehicle and noticed gasoline leaking from the fuel tank. A fire could erupt in the presence of an ignition source. He took the vehicle to his local mechanic and had the filler hose replaced. The manufacturer would not assume responsibility for the failure because the vehicle exceeded its warranty. The failure mileage was 141,000 and current mileage was 142,000.

Underside of 1997 ford ranger is completely rusted out. Bumper won't stay in place and the spare tire bolt would not allow spare tire to come off. We have just parked vehicle after were warned about it. We just use it for short trips. *kb

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that both the inner and outer hoses cracked and caused a significant amount of fuel to spill out from the top of the fuel tank when it is filled. The dealer was notified and they stated that it would cost $600 to repair. The manufacturer stated that they could not assist with the repairs because the vehicle was not under warranty. The failure mileage was 139,609 and current mileage was 139,839. Updated 2/9/09 *cn the dealer replaced the fule filter. Updated 02/13/09. *jb updated 07/20/09 *bf updated address. 07/21/09. *jb

Re: 1997 ford ranger. The pedal mount bracket (moulded aluminum) fractured, causing the complete failure of the clutch and partial failure of the brake. This is a part that should never, ever, ever fail in normal operation. *tr

While attempting to buckle seat belt, buckle latch did not lock firmly. Further investigation revealed that the latch would disengage with a light tug. There appear to be broken parts or foreign objects in the mechanism preventing proper function. Due to the manner of construction, the actual cause of the defect is not readily visible. *tr

With all controls in off position, very hot air starts coming from floor vent (97 ford ranger) also when a/c is turned on,,hot air comes out. Replaced switch for heat/air control. *tr

The fuel filler hose has a hole in it, therefore when you fill up your vehicle; gas leaks out onto the ground. I was not aware of a problem until i was fueling one day and i ended up with a puddle on the ground. This is not only a fire hazard, but also an environmental one too. *tr

The fuel filler hose on my mother-in-laws 1997 ford ranger developed numerous cracks where it attaches to the tank. This problem results in gasoline spills whenever she completely fills the tank. The tank is in close proximity to the exhaust system which creates a fire hazard. This problem seems to be common with 1990-1997 rangers, according to numerous online posts. *tr

Fuel filler tube cracks at the fuel pump, resulting in fuel pouring out and fuel vapors escaping while driving or while parked. This could result in the vehicle catching on fire. *tr ford is aware of the problem and sells replacement filler tubes for upwards of $500, not including labor.

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact experienced a major fuel leak and smelled a strange odor in the passenger compartment. Two independent mechanics confirmed that there was a failed fuel filler tube. The mechanics also stated that he would have to pay $800 to have the fuel filler tube replaced. The contact stated that fuel leaks from the fuel tank every time he adds fuel to the vehicle. The failure has occurred ever since the vehicle was purchased and has since become progressively worse. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls on his vehicle and the failure was his responsibility. The contact is concerned that a fire may occur at any time. He has photos if needed. The vehicle does not have cruise control. The failure mileage was 96,000 and current mileage was 97,479.

Under hard braking to avoid an accident the seat belt disengaged from the buckle. I have been dealing with the seat belt buckle not "buckling" with the seat belt for years. Looking online i see numerous people complaining of the same problem. Complaints of a spring is missing or broken, coins are stuck down inside the mechanism, etc. This is a defective design! I can only wonder how many injuries or deaths have occurred from seat belt buckle failure. Every day i get in my truck i have to wiggle the belt back and forth to get it to engage. Sometimes i just check after it has already engaged and it comes loose. The dealer solution is to pay them for a "replacement" item, the cost of which is around $250-300... I'll be purchasing a replacement. The only problem is that the replacement is of the same design. I'm asking for help to remedy a life threatening situation. *tr

Guy next door knocked on my door late one night to tell me that my dome light was on. I looked & it wasn't. He said that was odd because he even walked by it & could see inside. A few days later it happened again. Then while driving at night the light came on by itself. From that point on it would randomly turn itself on. Naturally ford told me that was impossible. The only way i could stop it without paying a ton of money to a garage was to pull the fuse & i've had to use a flashlight if i need a light at night ever since. My truck also has a theft light because a factory alarm was an option for my truck. I do not have an alarm but the word alarm is still on the panel. That light will randomly turn on & say theft. I do not have an alarm! I told ford & that told me that was impossible since i don't have an alarm. I said that maybe a wire was crossed somewhere but ford told me," no! ". Talking to other ranger owners here & there i've found out that not only are there others doing the exact same things but it is also other years besides 1997. I like the truck just tired of ford & tired of the bs!!

The engine occasionally races (runaway acceleration) on my 1997 ford ranger 4x4 with standard transmission and overdrive and 3.0l engine. The acceleration tends to occur after i have driven the vehicle at highway speeds (70 mph) and then drive at slower speeds such as in an urban setting. At such times, the idle remains rather high and engine racing occurs when i engage the clutch to shift into second or third gear. The engine racing causes the gears to clash (grind) and resist shifting; i have almost been rear ended several times due to this slowing of forward motion since the brake lights do not come on to indicate it. Sometimes the acceleration runs away, and i have had to quickly pull over and turn off the ignition to prevent blowing the engine. I have taken the problem to several mechanics including ford, but none have been able to identify the cause. There evidently was a recall for automatic transmissions with a similar problem but not for standard transmissions. *tr

Tl*the contact's sister owns a 1997 ford ranger. The contact stated that whenever fuel is placed into the vehicle, the fuel leaks out on two sides. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and they stated that the fuel overflow was cracked and needed to be replaced. The current mileage was 144,819 and failure mileage was 100,000.

Fuel filler hose. The hoses (both inner & outer crack and cause a significant amount of fuel to spill out from the top of the fuel tank if fuel tank is filled. The hose is an expensive part to replace. I was told by the local ford dealership that this part is one of the most popular parts they sell." (the part costs between $225.00 and $500.00) plus labor. *tr

The gasoline hose from the filler cap to the tank is cracking. This is a common problem, as seen on ranger web forums. This causes gasoline to leak from the hose as the tank fills. The fuel spills on the ground or very near the catalytic converter. The entire scenario could cause a major fire incident. Additionally, this hose cracking occurred years ago when the vehicle was newer, but not reported until now. This cracking should not occur and could cause serious damage if gas fumes were to ignite. The cracking occurs mostly at the corner where the hose enters the gasoline tank. It is virtually impossible to repair without major costs due to its location. *tr

Electrical problems: 1. Intermittent wipers will wipe 2, 3, 4, 5 times at random in a row always and not in that order. 2. Backup lights continue to blow fuse after replacing all lighting parts 3. Horn works 1% of the time, unable to find cause. 4. Ac blows hot air intermittently even after replacement of blower blend door. 5. Gas: when below 1/4 tank and making right turn truck will stall, even after work on tank. *tr

I have severe rusting of the frame and parts connected to frame of my 1997 ford ranger, and i am worried about its safety on the road/highway. And i only have 64,000 miles on it! I have heard of spare tires coming loose and falling off, rear bumpers falling off, gas tanks falling off, rear shackles coming loose etc...On the ford ranger because of the severe rust. If i was towing a trailer and the rear bumper fell off there goes the trailer too, a trailer and/or bumper that could cause an accident and kill somebody! Same with the other parts coming loose. And if the rear axle broke loose from the frame it would cause a loss of control and an accident and fatality. And if i was carrying a heavy load the frame could buckle or break in half and cause an accident and fatality, because the frame is half gone because of the rust. Its just like the frame rust problems on the toyota tacoma and tundra trucks. I also heard that the supplier of the frames for the toyota tacoma and tundra, was also the supplier for the ford ranger frames. I think this is a manufacturing defect by ford, and that the government should force ford to recall my 97 ford ranger, and all other ford rangers affected by the rusty frames asap. Force ford to buyback the trucks at kbb value, or replace the rusty frames with new ones free of charge. The frame is the backbone of a truck, its a critical part and if it fails because of severe rusting, you have a serious safety problem here. Its a disaster just waiting to happen, and i hope the government will take action and be proactive, and not wait for people to be killed on the nations highways. Only 64,000 miles on my 97 ranger and big chunks of steel are flaking off the frame and have for years! Half the frame is gone already! The frame should far outlast the body of the truck, and its just the opposite! A disaster waiting to happen. Action is needed now. *tr

Tl*- the fuel leaks when the vehicle is completely refueled. The problem stems from the fuel filler assembly. The dealer said that the parts for the vehicle were not available. The contact was told he needed to bring the vehicle in to be looked at, and would be charged an $80 fee. The contact feels that this a safety issue and that the $80 fee is appropriate.

1997 ford ranger. Whenever i fill up with gas, it leaks out the vent or the filler tube. Not exactly sure yet. If i push the fuel nozzle all the way in the filler i can get almost a full tank before it leaks out the bottom. If i just install the filler hose and let it fill automatically it will start leaking almost immediately. *nm

Fuel filler tube cracked where it enters the fuel tank, allowing fuel to leak when filling up. *jb

Dt*: the contact stated while parked in the driveway a puddle of gas was noticed under the vehicle and an odor of gas was present inside the vehicle. It was driven to an independent repair shop who determined the filler pipe was cracked and needed to be replaced. The dealer was alerted.

Dt*: the contact stated the driver's seat belt buckle became disengaged on a frequent basis. The contact checked for debris and dirt in the buckle and stated there was none. The service dealer determined the contact would need to buy a new seat belt, which were not available for purchase. The consumer stated the pressure spring assemblt becomes weak over a period of time. Updated 12/28/06. *jb

When refilling gas tank, gas spills and runs down along gas tank during last 1 gallon of fuel. To remedy the problem, i stopped completely filling up the gas tank. This problem began after 8 years of use and about 100,000 miles. *nm

So many fuel spills under the vehicle when filling the tank. *jb

On jan 5, 2006 while re-fueling my 1997 ford range at macdill air force base a lady on the next fuel pump told me that i was leaking something from under my vehicle. I stopped pumping fuel to see what is was but the leek stop. I then continue to refuel my vehicle and the leek started once again in large quanities. After refueling i went to the service center at macdill air force and got the vehicle inspected. The service person told me that fuel filler line to the gas tank had multiple cracks and needed to be replaced. *jb

This complaint is in reference to a 1997 ford ranger and fuel filler hose being faulty. The hose itself has cracks in it and leaks fuel upon refill presenting a fire hazard as well as an environmental hazard due to the fuel vapors that are allowed to escape to the environment due to the cracks in faulty fuel filler hose. This is a potential fire hazard and an environmental protection agency issue. Please put forth an effort to correct problem before fire, injuries, and , potential deaths are sustained, issue a recall. *tr

Dt: the contact stated the accelerator pedal frame fell off from the wall. One could see where the rivet holes were, they have separated from the wall. It was a clean break, but the rivets were defective. There was no rust on the frame. There was no prior warning. He contacted the dealer;they offered no free remedy.*ak updated 11/29/2005 - *nm

1997 ford ranger reeks fuel during filling at pump. Stops when filling stops. Checked fuel fill line and tank, found large crack in fill line above hose clamp. Tank and line have never been removed before. This type of hose shouldn't be splitting. Contacted several auto stores only available at dealer. Cost $200+ in my area. *jb

Due to the recent recall of ford f-150 pickups, i thought i would pass this along. I own a 1997 ford ranger pickup. It too had a failure of the cruise control deactivation switch. Although it leaked brake fluid onto my driveway and sprayed fluid throughout the left side of the engine compartment no serious damage occurred. It cost me the price of a new switch, brake fluid and the cleaner for the drive and engine compartment. I can see a potential for brake failure and fire if left undetected. *jb

I have been smelling gas from between the cab and bed of the truck, a 1997 ford ranger 2.3l. I pulled the bed off the frame and found the gas filler neck split at both the top and bottom at the hose clamps. The splits are severe enough to cause gas to leak from the fuel tank as well as fumes. This is a dangerous situation and should be addressed by the manufacturer. *jb

Safety defect: the gasoline refill hose to the gas tank is cracked at both ends. Recently, i totally filled the gas tank, and gasoline spilled under the hot vehicle and catalytic converter. I discovered that 3 cracks in the refuel hose caused the spill. My truck is a 1997 ford ranger; however, even after 8 years this hose should not have such large cracks. My ford ranger is typical, and i would suspect that others have this same defect but perhaps in a more moderate way. I visually inspected the cracks at both ends and they are located at the connection point to the gas tank and the external gas input port. Note: the gasoline spill stopped after refueling and after the gasoline inside the hose had spilled to the ground. I have not yet replaced the hose. *nm

Dt: caller had an engine fire. Caller's son was driving and smelled smoke, pulled over and called the fire department. The son said vehicle made a popping sound and he could not get away from it fast enough before it exploded. This happened without warning. Fire department came and there was a report filed. Dealer said she did not maintain the vehicle but the caller stated she maintained the vehicle. Dealer said this because she did not take it to a ford dealer to have it maintained. The manufacturer offered no help. The fire department did not know how the fire started.*ak

Dt: consumer states while driving his vehicle, the driver's seat collapsed backward. *tt

Noted fuel running onto the ground while refueling vehicle. Investigation revealed that a rubber portion of the fuel filler assembly near the entrance to the fuel tank had split. Contacted local ford dealership. They offered to order a replacement fuel filler assembly but did not offer any other assistance despite the obvious safety issue involved. Part cost exceeds $400. Estimated labor is ~$200. Note: this same problem is documented by others. See complaint numbers 10151411, 870010 & 10110378. I did not search the database for other model years but there is sufficient anecdotal evidence to indicate that this has been an extremely widespread problem with both ford ranger and mazda b-series vehicles for several model years. *jb

I thought i could smell gas for about 6 weeks. Last week while putting gas in my 1997 ford ranger pick up some one told me i was spilling gas on the ground. The gas tank filler hose was cracked at the tank and gas was spilling out. It was a rotten hose. I still have it. *jb

There was a three vehicle accident at 50 mph. The consumer's air bag did not deploy. *sc *tc *jb

The consumer vehicle lost control of the vehicle and rolled over. Please provide any further information. *jb

This truck accerlerates by itself, it used to only be between 2nd and 3rd gears but now i can be on the freeway and in 4th gear when i can feel the pedal go down to the floor, i'm forced to put it in nuetral until the rpms go down, trying to get it into another gear only grinds because its running too high. This is a safety issue, if it happens at the wrong time someone could get hurt or the engine will just blow up! *ak

While fueling vehicle at the gas station the driver noticed at a full tank the gasoline leaked from the filler neck onto the ground. Took vehicle to dealer for inspection, and mechanic deetermined that the tank needed to be replaced. *ak

Fuel line severely cracked above gas tank. Openings were directly above tank, only visible with the bed removed. Strong gas odor after driving or during refill were the only indications of problem. *nm

I had just put my truck into drive when the airbag deploid by itself which caused injury to my hand

Vehicle stalled while driving 20 mph. Vehicle was towed to a repair shop and diagnosed as an electrical failure. *ak

Bracket holding gas pedal detached from car sheet metal that is between engine and passenger compartment. Unit hanging by accelerator cable. There look to be 3 spot welds btn backet and sheet metal that broke. Driver was driving on freeway at the time and decelerated in traffic.*ak

1) the vehicle is a 1997 ford ranger xlt extended cab pickup. A couple of years ago my wife complained about smelling gasoline when she filled the vehicle with gasoline. On more than one occasion gasoline was observed dripping from the area under the fuel tank after the vehicle was filled with gasoline. This would have been in the 2001-2002 time frame. *ak 2) in late april of this year 2004, the check engine warning dashboard warning light came on, and i had the computer code checked to determine if i could make the repairs myself. The problem was the fuel filter, and when i replaced it i noticed a great deal of dirt and debris coming from the inlet side of the filter. This indicated to me that the fuel tank was probably contaminated, and i removed the tank saturday, may 15, to clean the tank. Prior to reinstalling the tank, i examined the gasoline filler tube, and found three cracks in the vapor recovery tube that vents gasoline vapors to the filling station vapor recovery system. One of these cracks was quite large, and showed indications of gasoline leaking from this crack. Not only was the crack the source of the gasoline that leaked from the system, it was also the entry point for the debris and moisture i found in the tank. In addition, the gasoline that ran from the crack in the recovery tube accumulated in a plastic skid plate that is located under the tank. 3) i of course replace the tube assembly, at a cost of $262.29. I contacted ford motor company about the problem and for reimbursement for the replacement parts. They didn't seem to be the least bit interest in the problem and refused to compensate the expenses. I have retained the old part, and have several photos of the defect.

Normal driving, failure of the electronic four wheel drive system, system not yet replaced becuase of low funds. *ak

Consumer stated when starting vehicle it idled and would not slow down. Also, while driving vehicle suddenly took off while still idling very high. Consumer took vehicle to dealer 3 times, and each time , the vehicle was put on the diagnostic machine and nothing was found. Consumer was afraid of an accident if this continued. *ak

Fuel filler hose cracked leading to large amount of fuel spillage. Part is not available separately from dealer and no aftermarket parts are available. Assembly to replace part consisted of parts that were unnecessary to the proper repair. *nm

Dome lights stays on for extended periods of time. I had to remove the bulbs, now i have no dome light.*ak

While driving from home to work at 40 mph vehicle immediately died. Vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who stated that all four valves cracked and engine block broke. *ak

1997 ford ranger truck-shortly after leaving my home, within 10 minutes, i noticed a clicking noise. I thought it was the car next to me, i looked at my gauges and noticed nothing unusual. Within approximately 1 minute the car lost power. I immediately pulled to the shoulder and turned the car off. Just before turning off the ignition the temperature gauge spiked to hot. Upon examination it was determined that without any warning the engine got hot enough to crack all four valves in the engine head. Basically a new engine in a car with 84,000 miles on it. It is my understanding that this engine is rated to last 200,000 miles. *la

Hood latch and safety latch failed, causing hood to open while driving. Hood is now dented from how far it went back.

The gas filler hose cracked which caused gasoline to leak onto the exhaust pipe and the ground. *ak *ts *nlm

I have a 1997 ford ranger xlt supercab, 2.3l 4x2. I was pulling out of my parking lot at work, and 2 of the 3 bolts that hold the steering column to the steering gear box broke, causing loss of steering to the right. The steering was very loose, and i could eventually turn to the right, when the gear box lodged against the frame. I've noticed 3 other incidents in searching this website. I think this is an age issue with ranger. Bolts shouldn't just break in two. I didn't take this to a dealership, but my friend is a mechanic and did the work for me. However, i'm concerned about safety, because if this happens on a highway, serious fatalities can occur.*ak

Faulty fuel tank vent hose. When filling up the gas tank and the pump kicks off when full, gas pours onto pavement below. I pulled the part off the vehicle and found the hose was cracked all the way around. This part is all one unit with the fill line and it costs a whopping $247 to buy the part. I asked autoway ford in st, petersburg florida if they would pay for it but since it's not under recall they said they could not. We purchased one from gator ford that same day. I noticed your site shows eight other complaints concerning this faulty hose. I would venture to guess there are plenty more potential fires lurking under other ford rangers. We have the old part on hand if any body wants to inspect it. *ak

I had air conditioning installed at the time of purchase in late 1997, the air conditioning went out last year. Shouldn't it last longer that 6 years?*ak

97 ford ranger 4wd ~79k miles, my wife was driving home freom work on back road doing 30 mph. She thought she ran over something and the truck immediately died. No engine, power steering or anything. *ak what happened was the crak shaft broke off at the engine block. A whole engine replacement was needed. Inspecting where the shaft broke off it is obvious to me, the mechanic and others that part was defective in the manufacture proces. About 40% of the ring of the shaft looks fine (solid steel). The remainder of the ring is all pourous. It looks like a bad forge process. Although there was no damage or injury or worse, i do believe this defect presented a dangerous saftey issue. If this had happened on the hyway the concequences could have been catastrophic. The defect should have been caught in some quality control porcess. I have contacted ford about reimbursment for the engine replacement but they will not consider it. I have the part that broke off and can supply you with digital photos if that would help. Thank you for this opportunity to register this complaint.

Full instrument panel and interior light will not function. No lightsaccording to auto mechanic, potential severe internal wiring electrical problem. *ak

The windshield wipers came on by themselves and the washers did not work. Also the dome light stayed on after the door was closed for at least 30 minutes or more. *jb the wipers would come on when the turn signals were used. The dome light was distracting at night. Scc

97 ford ranger ,both head gaskets letting coolant seep out.74,000 miles on it.

A fire started under the dashboard.*jb

1997 ford ranger xlt extended cab. When i applied my brakes, instead of stopping at this "t" hwy intersection, i ran past it, and hit a 12" diameter tree head on. Ice on the road. I was wearing my seat belt. Neither the driver's side nor the passenger side air bags deployed. The indentation on the front bumper was over two feet deep. My head and right side of my body smashed against the steering wheel, and my i broke my left collar bone, fractured and bruised several ribs on my right side, broke my right foot heel bone, cut my nose, plus numerous other minor cuts, bruises and abrasions. After about 45 seconds, a huge ball of fire erupted from under the crumpled hood. I felt the sudden heat on my face, since the windshield was gone and there was a huge gap between the hood and the trucks body. A lady, an angel of god really, helped me out of the truck and into the back seat of her car. She drove about 100 yards to wait for the ambulance to arrive. Before we came to a stop, i heard the two front tires of my truck blow up. All i could see was a ball of fire burning about 20 feet high. Two things seem technically wrong: the air bags didn't deploy, and the fuel pump must have kept pumping fuel, for the fire to spread so rapidly and burn the front of the truck so very completely. This would seem to indicate the possible failure of the air bag crash sensors and the fuel pump safety cutoff switch. My tires were one month old michelins, so they weren't a factor. The truck was in excellent shape and it was carefully maintained and garaged. Everything worked on it and no malfunction indicator lights of any kind were on prior to the accident. I have very good maintenance records on it. I contacted ford by telephone and via e-mail, to let them know of what i thought could be a potential component defect affecting others also. I also contacted their legal office via phone, and they never returned my call. *nlm

Bolts which hold the steering sector to the frame all broke or snapped. I was lucky that i was sitting in a parking lot and started to turned the steering wheel, there was a snap and i was unable to turn the wheels of the truck a 97 ford ranger. I sent an email to for on january 28, 2003 about this item and they have not responded, the tracking id is kmm2029449c0km case id 688902. I am normally out on the highway traveling at over 65 mph on weekend and had the bolts snapped while moving at this speed i would probably be dead. Is there any records of this problem reported by anyone that is still alive? Thanks for you help. Just wanted t o inform you of this happening. I have never heard of this happening on a vehicle. As far as i can determine this vehicle has not been in an accident. Most of the 76,000 miles has been driven on the highways. Thanks again.

Heater plenum (door to regulate heat to cabin) has broken and burned out control motor causing interior heat to be always on full heat

Filed complaint before, you all said it wasn't safty related.It sure is when ford makes parts out of thin plastic/or put in wrong pleum chamber.The blend door won't operate and breaks on so many explorer/ranger.You can't even defrost your windows in the rain or in the morning.Do they have to wait for someone to get hurt/killed for someone to care.

No summary. Dt

Consumer stated that when applying the brake the bracket snap causing a vehicle accident. Dealer notified. Ts

Consumer stated that while driving at any speed and without warning the fuel pump failed causing a distraction to the consumer. Dealer notified. Ts

During fueling of vehicle a strong smell of gas was occurring at each fueling. I first noticed what appeared to be moisture under the truck and being in a high temp/humidity environment thought it was ac condensation. Recently while not running the ac noticed the leakage and crawled under the truck and smell the liquid. It was gas. I am very concerned since the leak is very close to the exhaust system and as well as being an environmental (epa) hazard. It is amazing the ecm module fuel evaporative emission sensor does not detect the defect in the closed loop emission system and set an emission error fault code. I would like to know how many gallons of fuel leaked due to this conditions. It is important we have 'no ozone action days' where refueling is restricted but allow known defects. An investigation should be conducted to determine which ford models /years used this less than robust fuel supply connection systems. If a proper design fmea and sha (safety hazard analysis) were conducted for the fuel supply tube and its mating connections. This condition should reported for a recall for the potential safety, emissions issues (health,ozone) and determine why the ecm does not detect a evaporative emissions leak condition. *nm

Roof support/ vehicle has a tendency to bounce all over the road bad suspension! Higher center gravity! More accessible to roll, not only to roll and lose control the roof support is nothing but thin cheap metal that can be easily smushed. I know i broke my neck and now i am disable....Ford rangers shouldn't be on the road with a higher center of gravity...Make them safer....Wider or lower but not the way they are now truck is a hazard a life threatening hazard..More ways than one! *nm

Consumer states that while driving at any speed and no warning the odometer will move back and forth causing the consumer to have the wrong odometer readings. Dealer notified. Mr

Consumer states while driving approx 70mph another vehicle pulled in front of consumers.*jb

While driving 55 mph vehicle lost control and rolled over. As a result, the roof crushed in and broke the driver's neck. Vehicle was considered a total loss. *ak

The interior light in my truck does not go out when the door is shut and the engine is running. *la

Engine check light will continuously come on and stay on. Also, alarm will come on from time to time, causing vehicle to shut off. Contacted dealer who could not find cause of problem. *ak the door switches will not allow the interior light to go off until the vehicle is in full motion with the clutch let all the way out. When backing up in the dark it is hard to see out of the back window because of the interior light being illuminated. *jg

When filling up gas tank consumer noticed gas leaking onto the ground. Cause unknown. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide any further information.*ak

When filling gas tank gas will spill out.*ak

After filling up gas tank, fuel will leak out while driving. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.*ak the fuel leak was due to fuel filler pipe failure. *yh

No summary. Dt

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford ranger. While driving approximately 65 mph on normal road conditions, the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The indicator remained lit until the engine was turned off. When the speed was reduced, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnostic testing, but they were unable to duplicate the failure. On a separate occasion, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a transmission shop for inspection and the transmission was re-built replaced. The failure mileage was 59,099 and the current mileage is 126,431. Updated 05/08/09 *bf the engine light illuminated and the seat broke loose. Updated 05/12/09.*jb updated 06/09/09.*jb

Blowout-feel fortunate / firestone said it wasn't their tire, but i looked it up on the web and there is a story about this tire being subject to investigation. They only authorized an inspection. I will not let them have the tire. *ak (dot number: hyhyt71187 tiresize: p215/75r15)

Hood latch and saftey latch failed, which resulted in hood flying up while driving.*ak

While driving, the tire casing separated from the inside of the tread backing and there was dry rot noticed between the tread lines, the other 3 tire showed signs of dry rot between the tread lines as well (marshal 791 touring a/s, p205/75r14, 95s m&s). Nlm

While driving 45 mph and applying the accelerator pedal, the pedal completely fell off which resulted in loss of vehicle control. Nlmconsumers passenger was injured resulting in surgery to the knee. *jg

While driving 55 to 60mph hood blew open, bending the hood on vehicle. Contacted dealer. *ak *yh

While traveling at 35 mph driver heard a loud pop. Then, lost control and hit a cliff. Fire department stated axle had broken. Please provide any further information.*ak

While driving, the vehicle was t-boned by another vehicle on the drivers side, the air bag did not deploy, the driver was injured and the vehicle was a total loss. Nlm *yh

While driving 55-60 mph steering suddenly jerked vehicle to the right. Consumer was unable to steer vehicle. Vehicle was towed to dealer, it was determined that right spindle had broken. Part was replaced.*ak

Seatbelt latch will not hold securely on drivers side. Called elyria ford and ford customer service, but was advised they would do nothing unless their was a recall. Upon checksing i see that other ford vehicles have been recalled for seatbelt defects.*ak

My father was rear-ended at 55-65mph. As a result of the accident, my father's seat broke causing his seat to fly backwards and thus, his head to crashed through the back window of his pickup truck. My concern is that this seat should have withstood this kind of impact. Because of the seat breaking, my father has sustained numerous lacerations to his face and neck, and massive neck injuries. My father's injuries would not have been so severe if the seat withstood the impact. My father was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident. Can you please provide me with a list of instances which a ford ranger's seat has broken in the past? Also, who is the manufacturer of the seat in the ford ranger pickup truck? If you could investigate this matter, i would greatly appreciate it. My father weighs approximately 180-190pds and is 5'11" thank you, [xxx]. *ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(b)(6). *js *tr

A metal plate/bar which helped to support head restraint on driver's seat would hit back of driver's head, and could lead to head injury if involved in a crash. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that it was a design flaw. Manufacturer informed that vehicle was out of is warranty, and unwilling to assist in this matter. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

At the speed of 25mph suddenly heard a noise and lost total control of steering wheel. Managed to merge suddenly to right side of road. Battery, engine, and power steering light went on. While looking at vehicle noticed that belt broke and dolley fell off. *ak

Fuel is leaking from top of gas tank, replaced the fuel pump, fuel pump electric (in tank) and asy fuel tank.

Manufacturer failed to notify consumer about transmission, transmission was made of synthetic, and it started to weave, when it reached bad proportion of oil and air, and will lose transmission, contacted dealer and dealer admitted that something was wrong with transmission.*ak *slc

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)

Driver 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

When applying brakes vehicle will start to shake and make noise, has had rotors replaced once already. Contacted dealer. *ak

Firestone, radial, p225/70r14, dot unknown, replacement equipment on a 1997, ford ranger with 40000 miles. Mileage of tire unknown. While driving 50 mph right rear tire had tread separation. No accident, no injuries. Please verify model of tire and add dot code.*ak the dot # vnfc80a.*jb

While driving 45 mph consumer's vehicle hit another vehicle. Upon impact, neither airbag deployed. Both, driver and passenger sustained injuries, including broken ribs/ neck injuries/ cuts and bruises. Driver hit steering wheel while passenger hit windshield. Vehicle was totalled.*ak

Traveling along i95 at 65 miles per hour in traffic, heard a bumping noise, pull to side of road saw that the right front tire went flat. Just purchase four set of tires from cella ford in oct of 2000. Upon returning home went to cella ford spoke with service technician who informed me they were not a tire dealer take it to buffalo tires who would check the tire and tell what was wrong. Went there told me nothing was wrong had no idea why it went out. Had to purchase new tire because rim rubbed against the tire inside causing outside to separate. Contacted cella ford service depatment told him what was said and he insisted that something had to be wrong with the tire, that it just didnt go out by itself. I explaine the gentlemen insist they could not find anything. With lack of concern for my safety i find it necessary to replace the remaining tires. Will never purchase firestone again.*ak (dot number: 8xfc80m389 tiresize: p225/70r14)

Bf goodrich replacement tire on a 1997, ford, ranger with 47000 miles.While driving 55 mph left rear tire went flat due to a split around sidewall near tread. No accident, no injuries. *ak p225/70r14 dot: befcnx71479 *slc

Consumer was traveling about 50mph on highway, and engine check light came on. Vehicle shut off without prior warning. Consumer had vehicle repaired for a fuel injector. *ak

Was driving vehicle at 35mph and side swiped a fence near an embankment. Driver's side seat belt broke , and failed to restrain driver. This caused driver to lurch sideways. *ak the driver side seat belt was replaced. *yh

Multiple failures of front rotors- stepped on brakes- and pulses and shakes, removed tire to check rotors- rotor cracked- same scenario each time- pass side 1st time 30k (august 1999), 2nd time 48k(april 2001) , 3rd time 58k, pads failed- replaced nov 2001, and jan 2002- replaced caliper and pads.- now has 84k and so far ok. 1st time changed by ford under warranty- 2nd time 18 months later- ford dealer charged $600 + for new rotors- 3rd and 4th time i changed - along with caliper -each time dealer asked to check to make sure that whatever is causing the rotor to fail- please correct- each time they say - just a bad rotor----and when the 48k failure occured- ford claimed to not have a record of the repair- though it was done under warranty-finally after the 3rd failure- figured it made more sense to fix it myself- rather than pay a dealer $650, and have it fail again in 18000 miles. *ak

A rock was caught between tire and rim , causing alloy rim to crack. Dealer / msnufacturer were not notified. Rim available for analysis. Please feel free to provide any further details on this matter. *ak

Had a right front tire go flat. With the tire flat, the vehicle jack would not fit under the shock absorber as the owners manual describes proper jacking of the vehicle. I contacted the local ford dealer who said to just move the jack to a nearby location. I did this but was very uneasy doing so as it didn't seem especially secure and i was worried the car could slip off the jack. Odd that with a flat tire, the jack is too tall to place it where the manufacturer recommends.*ak

Pe00 020, consumer was pulling inside of a gas station and noticed that vehicle was pulling to left. He looked down and noticed that left tire was flat. Consumer took it to another place. Tread was beginning to separate. Firestone, wilderness#at, P26575r15. There were no injuries.*ak dot w29v1pk207. *slc

Front end was misaligned. Dealer could not align vehicle correctly.*ak

No summary listed. *ak

Interior dome light will remain on for long periods of time. Nearly impossible to drive at night. Replaced the interior light relay. This did not work. There is no way to turn the light off. This causes servere dangers at night. *ak

Blend door failed and caused hot air to come out of air conditioner when turned on. Dealer notified, and informed that was not cover under a recall. Please feel free to provide any futher details on this matter. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Headrests to short to prevent head and neck injury for a large majority of the population. *ak

While consumer was driving in a 20 mph zone abs light came on. There has been other times that light came on. This problem happened at any speed . Contacted dealer, and dealer said there was nothing they could do. This is was second time that vehicle was taken in for same problem. *ak

Transmission failed. *ak

While driving and without prior warning windshield wipers come on without operator turning on wiper switch. Noticed that windshield wipers stay on for 15 seconds, and then turn off, causing driver distraction. Consumer has contacted dealer, dealer replaced parts within switch.*ak

Interior light fails to shut off occasionally after door is closed;presents problem for night driving when this occurs. *ak

Fog lenses are made of glass and the interior light will not turn off making it next to impossible to see at night. A friend is having the same problem with the interior light staying on in his 1998 nascar series f150.*ak

Won't go in any gear this morning seemed fine yesterday.The dome light stays on all the time even with the door closed, it has been like this for quite a while and is very inconvenient. *ak

Carrier that holds spare tire rubs aganist tire whenever vehicle moves up and down which leads to tire wearing out. Tire has never been used before. Contacted dealer and the dealer is not willing to do anything. *ak

During highway driving, at the speed limit of 75mph, left rear tire lost tread. Incident occurred approximately 9pm on west-bound interstate 76 in colorado, near the brighton exit.*ak (dot number: w29v 1pk tiresize: 265/75x15)

Dome light stays on, and is very distracting at night. Consumer owned a 1993, ranger and had same problem. Consumer will contact the manufacturr to see if they will pay for it. *ak

While driving windshield wipers turn off and on whenever they want to. They sometimes will not run at all or they will stop running during use. The dome light also stays on and will not turn off causing a glare on the window. It started doing it with the passenger door then the driver's door started the same problem. I checked with a dealer and it seems to have been a problem with rangers for many years now and still troubles many owners right up to the 2001 models. *mr *nlm *dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis**739942

The relay to the dome light shorted out. It's happened twice. I know 3 other people who also drive rangers , and have all had the same problem. One of them has had the same failure twice. *ak

Tread separation while driving at slow speed, firestone would not cover this tire under recall. I'ver retained possesion of tire and have photos to document the condition.*ak (dot number: w2hlipy386 tiresize: P23575r15)

Dome light stays on after started and door closed and does not go off. Problem seeing at night... No way to turn off without removing the bulbs. Windshield wipers do not start when turned on the do not go off when switched off. Have to turn the wipers on then off again. Shift knob comes off when pulling shift lever from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th. Makes shifting difficult while starting up a hill and merging on the freeway because the knob slips off completely and the shifter ends up in the neutral position. *ak

When getting inside of vehicle dome light stays on all day, and there is a binging noise. Dealership is aware of problem. *ak

Tire tread separated from the core of the tire. Replaced 4 of 5 tires.I was able to stop and replace defective tire. No firestone store in winnwmucca. Went to ford & they sent me to les schwab. Tire not on recall list. (dot number: w2hfipj077 tiresize: p215/75r15)

The blend air door inside of the heater/def plenum broke - casuing extreme heat in cab. Door is not serviceable - requires total heater replacement. See ford tsb 99-8-8. 7-10 hours labor to fix a 2.00 part. Ford replaced this abs plactic blend air door with stonger nylon - plenum #f87z-18471-da. This is a known defect yet no announcement is made to owners. This could cost me up to $1000.00 or more to fix on a 3 year old car. Also this inhibits the ac system to work.*ak

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

Rear brakes grabbed causing a loss of control on damp road. Vehical was inspected may 2000. Good brake linning front and rear. *ak

Consumer was backing up in driveway and vehicle started going faster and picking up speed in reverse. He turned the vehicle off, and noticed that gas pedal fell apart. Vehicle was at the dealership. There were no injuries.*ak

These were original equipment tires and, after about 30000 miles, i noticed the truck lurched upon take-off from either a stop or slow speed, as well as a worming motion going around corners. The dealership assured me this all was normal. I got a flat (the front left) while hunting and, upon taking it to les schwab for proper repair, was told the tread had separated. The plug was stated to have been the cause of the separation. I then purchased four new tires. Since these tires have been on my truck, the "normal" lurch is gone. I have been told by others that tread separation can cause a lurch the same as what i was experiencing. These wilderness at tires were not part of the recall. I do not have the dot numbers of the tires, though i am sure the dealership or ford would have them on record. I do not know if les schwab would still have the tires that i had replaced. (tiresize: p265/75r15)( dot number: tire size: p265/75r15 )

The consumer replaced all four firestone p225/70 r14 98r tires on the vehicle due to tread separation, the tires are not included in the recall (00t-005), however consumer is requesting reimbursement. *mjs

The dome light wouldn't shut off and caused the pinging sound as if the door was ajar. I called carriage ford (where i bought the vehicle). They said the problem was not necessarily in the dome light but in the door switches--they've had to replace a number of these already. My daughter, who lives in tn, also has a ranger and she's having the same problem. I've noticed people in other rangers driving with their dome lights stuck on, too. I reasoned this must be a common problem and checked to see how much the parts were to replace it. I was told it was minimal for the parts--but the labor was $160+. I called customer service at ford to see if there were any recalls with these parts. Because this is part of the safety and security features, (dome light as well as rear high mount brake light) i hoped they'd take care of it. I was told they were not able to help me. Can you? Where do i go from here? Thanks, [email protected]. *ak

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak( dot number: tire size: 265/75-15 )

When pawl is moved from park to drive engine will stall. Sometimes will not start unless rolled vehicle out of garage and clutch was pressed. *ak

Engine died while aproaching the intersection, due to the intake manifold malfunctioning and letting air get into the engine. Vehicle was hit in the intersection by another vehicle. Dealer replaced intake manifold gasket.*ak

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)

Consumer replaced the original firestone wilderness at tires, p235/75r15, dot number vnhl1py087, consumer noticed that the tread on the rear passenger tire was beginning to crack and separate, consumer verified that all tires were covered under recall 00t005, however was charged 30 dollars for a labor fee and does not feel she should have to pay anything. *slc

#1 indicates r/f tire blew (firestone)causing him to leave rdwy. (claim 49-3229-942) *mw

After wheels were taken off for tire recall with firestone, a crack was discovered in the right front brake rotor. About six weeks ago driver did hear a thumping sounds coming from under the truck due to the brake rotor. Brake rotor was replaced at owner experienced. *ak

I have a leak in the tire and no one will repair it due to the recall. Firestone will not replace tire either due to lack of available replacements. Any other alternatives? I at least need my tire repaired.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )

Lt front tire tread sepearted-not a blow out. Firestone 235/60r15 ftx 98t. (claim# 25-5426-005) *mw

Belt was shifted and replaced with 4 goodrich tires i don't believe recall is isolated to p235 tire, i have a report from a firestone dealer confirming my story.( dot number: w29v19k426 tire size: p265/r15 )

While driving about 45 mph right rear tire blewout without a prior warning of the situation. *ak firestone atx tire, p235/75r15, dot number w2hl1pm336. *slc

I have had 9 flat tires and one blowout with the firestone wilderness at tires.( dot number: )

While driving 75 mph when left rear tire experienced a blowout without prior warning. Firestone wilderness p265/75r15. *ak dot# w29v 1pk496. Vehicle sustained damage from the faulty tire. *slc

My windshield wipers turn-on on their own and operate at varied speeds regardless of my control. I cannot shut them off and sometimes cannot turn them on. I've had the gem module replaced at my own expense yet the situations continues. Also my interior light will turn-on on its own and i too cannot get it to shut off at times*ak.

No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak( dot number: tire size: 275 r14 )

No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak

Fuel tank filler assembly failed, large quantities of gas leaked when tank filled, $227 for repair, $194 for car rental waiting for parts

Tramission keeps wanting not togo into reverse and into 3rd grear at various times. *ak

While driving abs brake light would come on unexpectedly, and when brakes were applied, they malfunctioned. *ak

Consumer's 2-year old son is able to open passenger's door while vehicle is in motion. Vehicle was not made with the child proof lock. Consumer has no where else to place his child because extended cab is not fitted for child safety seats. Doors that can be opened with only a pull to the handle can cause serious injuries to passenger. *ak

A strong mildew smell developed over an approximately two week period. Flushing nor ozone treatment had any positive affect. The a/c was torn down. A deposit of leaf and other debris was found at or near the a/c condensation drain at the bottom right of the frame, blocking proper drainage. There was no liquid leakage into the cab. The evaporator was badly contaminated and was replaced. The interior was detailed to include shampoo and deodorize (a faint but detectable mildew like odor remains aftter using the a/c. The dealership service advisor was very helpful.*ak

Going approximately 40mph on a curve on an on ramp, i was told that my tire separated from the rim due to low air pressure. I had not been having any problems with the tires up to this point. When the accident happened, it caused me to lose control of the vehicle and swerve right and left several times. On at least two occassions, i felt the vehicle starting to tip over. I was able to keep the vehicle under partial control and finally was able to stop the vehicle. When the vehicle came to a stop i was facing the opposite direction. I had done a 180 degree turn. I was able to get the vehicle over to the side of the ramp. As i was pulling the vehicle over i noticed something wrong with the tire. Upon inspection, i noticed the left front tire was off the rim and messed up. I feel lucky to be alive! I noticed upon checking the confirmation information, i put that i have a 4 cyl vehicle, mine is actually a 6 cyl. *ak( dot number: ? Tire size: p225/70r14 )

On may 18, 2000 i had a blowout of a front tire on a clear stretch of suburban road. When i went to change the tire, i found the metal threads had come through the tire. There were no objects in the tire and there was nothing visible on the road that i would have run over. I took the tire to a tire company in the atlanta area and it could not be repaired because of the amount of damage. The weather conditions in atlanta, ga were hotter than normal for may on the day of the blowout. I was driving approximately 50 mph. I have very low mileage on the ford ranger truck, less then 21,000 miles. The tires were the original ones. The truck has not been used for any type of heavy hauling. *ak (dot number: w2fc tiresize: p225/70r14)

I was driving on the highway when my rear tire blew. It was a clear day , nothing in the road. After having my tire inspected by at least 3 different indivisuals no one could come up with any reason why it blew other than it being a defective tire. I have since replaced all 4 of my tires with dunlops. But thought it important enough to report incase there are more of this size tires failing also.( dot number: w29v1pk245 tire size: P26575r15 )

Firestone wilderness at tire (p235 75 r15) experienced tread separation. *slc

My '97 ford ranger standard transmission exhibits high idle conditions while shifting between gears. My dealer was never able to fix the problem since i bought the vehicle new. My vehicle is no longer under bumper to bumper and emissions warranty but i have saved receipts of their attempts to fix the problem during time vehicle was warranted back in 1997. I recently discovered that the ford motor company has found the exact same high idle problem with their 1998 to 2000 model rangers and they issued a technical service bulletin tsb00-3-5. When i called my dealer to inquire and ask them to include my '97 ranger in the bulletin, they were evasive and wouldn't help. I would like to know what my options are. Any help greatly appreciated. Thank you. P.S. For your info, the technical service bulletin can be found at ( case sensitive, please type exactly) v8sho.Com/sho/tsb00-3-5.Html . *nlm

Rear brakes pulled, serviced, reported unverifiable, began locking up in short bursts when stopping, reported, found faulty , replaced complete rear assembly. Windshield cracked across center while driving freeway at 65 mph, started at top strip passenger side spreading across to drivers side in just minutes. Door ajar switches failed causing dome light to remain on making night time visibility imposible. Transmission began shifting rough in second gear hard to downshift, verified, repaired bearings in shifter. Reoccured a few months later, service claimed unverifiable, worsened stuck in fourth gear in traffic, had to be pushed to shoulder , and disengaged. Found to be faulty, and transmission was rebuilt ,no noticable correction , returned to service, claimed unverifiable, contacted ford motor company corporat office, advised to go to diferent dealership , while investigated internally. Did so, dealer reports unverifiable, drove with supervisor of service dept, was then verified, and ordered rebuilt for 2nd time.Epair, same time as extended warranty took effect, repairs done, no noticable difference, in fact now worse, all gears now effected.And at times, difficult to shift. Contacted ford motor corporation once more, in effort to get help with extensive rental car costs while vehicle being serviced, was told now that two incidences were in no way related now that extended warranty was in effect too much time passed, though even only less vthan 1000 miles, is still unrepaired today. *ak

Both rear center leaf springs broke in half! *ak

Left front wilderness at P23575r15 tire replaced because of tread separation, owner seeking reimbursement under recall (oot-005). Cj

Intermittently windshield wipers will come on automatically, disbursing washer fluid on a startling the driver. A technical service bulletin has been issued on the vehicle's make. Dealer has been notified. *ak

Windshield wipers came on without manual operation, and windsheild wiper fluid released. Cause unknown. *ak door ajar light / dome light remained on. *yh

The control switch for heat/air has to be turned to the off position. If not, the heat is uncontrollable and stifling

Dry spindles and ball joint bearings, mechanic put pickup on jack said " we wre lucky we didnt wreck" tire leaned outward , eventulay would have fallen off. *ak--

Brakes and tires were defective.. The consumer applied brakes the pedal went all th e way to the floor. Also, two front tires blew out while driving on the highway. *ak

I entered the vehicle and sat in the drivers seat. As i was about to drive, the seatback collapsed into the rear, and would not relatched i have an extended cap so the seat fell all the way back to the rear floor and would not stay upright. I took it to the dealer and they stated the frame of the seat broke and that i need a new seat. I am waiting for an estimated cost from them. They also state this is not covered by the extnded warranty. I am unable to drive the vehicle until this is fixed. I only weight 170 lbs so i dont give the seat any unusual amount of stress. *ak

The interior dome light and ignition alarm will not stop/turn off when vehicle is turned off. The ignition alarm stops only when the key is removed, the dome light stays on for extreme extended periods of time. I have had this repaired once in 1998 or 99. Vehicle was under warranty. The ford motor company refuses to correct their defect (12,000 mile/12mo period is up) even though it is recurring. This is a safety hazard. I can't drive at night, because i cannot see out of my windows.

Dome light comes on by itself and fails to turn off. *et

Dome light stays on after ignition turned on. Chimes when key is inserted in ignition switch.*ak

Daughter was driving north on a clear day and fairly straight two lane road front tire blew and caused her to run off the road, as she overcorrected she flipped the vehicle two or three times. The vehicle was totaled and she broke her pevlic bone.*ak( dot number: )

Insd has blow out on 10/29/99. He called on 8/23/00 concerned that his tires were the defective firestone tires. (claim# 18-0291-900) *mw

The transmission started in october '99 with a hard downshift in low gear, somewhere between 15 to 10 miles per hour. At that speed you have a hard bump underneath at your transmission and a hum as you come to a stop. Brandon ford co. Completely rebuilt the transmission on april 25-27. A few days after, the same problem continued. I took it back and they called the ford motor co. In michigan to get a computer reprogramming of the shift, and proceeded to do this work on may 19. This automobile is still hard downshifting in low gear. If you're coming to a stop light behind traffic, it seems kind of dangerous because the downshift could kick out of gear and cause an accident. The only thing i have received from the ford company is a questionnaire about the service received at brandon ford, not about my automobile's safety. *ak( dot number: tire size: p225/70r14 )

While driving in heavy rain battery light comes on followed by squeeling sound (belt). Engine power effected, loss of steering and brake issues. The vehicle cannot be controlled safely and driver must pull over. This problem happens in even in small puddles! I have a trcuk that cannot operate safely in rain! I have brought this to the dealer 4 times now with the same results. If the belt gets wet there's nothing we can do. What good is a truck that can't be operated in bad weather or drive through a puddle that a mazda miata can easily handle?

Failure for brake lights to function after hard braking situation. The harness routing for the brake switch connector is tied too close to the connector . Applying the brake caused the wire to stretch and pull out of the connector pin. With the wire broken the brake lights fail to come on

I have a 1997 ford ranger xlt supercab. I purchased the car brand new in 1997. That year i noticed that the dome light in the car began to stay on. I would be driving at night and the light would stay on. Sometimes the only way to turn the light out is to pull the fuse out. I think this is very hazardous to myself and others driving. I have tried to fix the problem but nothing seems to fix this. This has happened the last two years around the colder months, but not in the warmer months. I think this is a defective part from ford. The reason why is that i have two friends of mine who have 1997 ford ranger, they have and are experiencing the same problem. I have contacted ford customer assistance on the internet and they have no idea what the problem is. I also called my dealership and they were no help. I am very frustrated about this. This should really be considered a safty recall. The fact that driving at night with your dome light on is illegal, and this can cause a serious hazzard to drivers at night. *ak( dot number: ? )

Engine overheated, causing the gaskets to blow . The dealer has been notified. *ak

Vehicle has 18000 miles on it and has worn out 2 sets of tires on edges. Second set still on but need replaced soon. Alignment checked 2 times and was within ford specs for this 4x4 truck. 4 wheel drive only used for bad weather. Firestone discounted second set of tires because of premature wear $84.00 each. Second set wearing just like 1st set. Only get about 9000 miles per set.( dot number: tire size: 265\75r\15 )

During driving, when i shift from 2nd to 3rd (most of the time), the throttle sticks at around 2500-3000 rpm's. It does release itself but after i engage the clutch to the next gear, i can take it out of gear and leave in neutral and it will still be around 2500 rpm for about 3-8 seconds. I took the car in to the original dealer and they thought i was nuts. I took it to burts ford in colorado and they first replace a fuel assembly part, the 2nd time they could not find the problem. They 3rd with burts, i took a mechanic out for a drive and shoed him the problem. They looked the car over while it was in shop for a week and said that they can willingly reproduce the problem but said it was the way the car was being shifted. No fix. I have been driving stick cars for over 26 years and have never had this problem. At one point, when shifting, the rpm's would accerlate. This is a problem, if i get to a stop light or sign and the car will not release the rpm's, then engine could continue to race and potentially blow up or even ruin the engine. This is obviously a safety issue but nobody seems to know how to fix it.

Lost control of vehicle (most recent incident) when i hit a washboarded section on a dirt road (koehn rd. Between capac rd. At knoll rd., mussey twp., st. Clair county). Ranger repeatedly loses control when it hits bumps or washboards, often causing lane changes or severe skids. Dealer dismissed complaints, said it was "normal" for truck suspension. Our other trucks ('74 chevy c-10, '85 astro, '85 s-10 blazer, '88 s-10 blazer, '94 caravan, '95 sonoma) have never done this. We were able to alleviate a little of the problem by reducing the air pressure in the tires to 30 psi, but we still lose control frequently, on bumpy paved roads as well as dirt roads.

Windshield wipers sometimes come on by themselves. While taking vehicle to inspection, wipers would not shut off when switch was turned off. This has happened several times within the last 6 months. Became more aware of the problem after seeing a report on local news station.

Loud noise in rear right axle causing loss of control and went off i 35 into center medium rolling the pickup across the uncoming line of traffic on to the outside sholder of hyw, total loss of pickup, wheel with tire on it was recovered in medium of hyw , axel was broken at brake drum, wheel and tire still good. All three other wheels and tires are broken and flat. *ak

Left front rotor. Cracked all the way through. With numerous other partial thickness cracks. Rotor in good shape

While driving and applying the brakes, pedal went all the way to the floor, resulting in extended stopping distance. Also, front left brake rotor cracked, causing brakes to pulsate. *ak

Windshield wipers seem to have a mind of their own. The dome light also seems to have a mind of it's own. They both come on and go off when they want to. *ak

Windshield wipers & washer come on without touching switch. Have to turn on then off. Sometimes it washes other times it does not.Vehicle can be stopped at light or going down freeway when wipers come on.Always have worked when turned on.

When going over a bump/railroad tracks or a right hand turn, vehicle pulled over to the left. Also had a head-on collision. *ak

While sitting at a red light another vehicle hit consumer's vehicle from rear, causing driver's side and passenger's side seats to break and fall back on the children who were sitting in the rear. *ak

The left front tire blew out, causing the rim to knock the brake line off of the caliper, spilling brake fluid. *ak

Transmission failed, engine surged while traveling on highway, sounded like the transmission shifted out of overdrive and fourth gear, followed by loss of power in gear. Nlm

Brakes lock up and truck will skid no matter what speed, truck becomes uncontrollable. Windshield wipers will come on and spray during some left turns, for no apparant reason. This causes the inability to see. When brakes are applied(and truck goes nuts)the passenger front seat launches forward even though it is locked into position. One incident was i was making a left turn onto a busy street when my wipers came on and sprayed fluid all over, i tried to apply my brakes and the tires locked up and truck started to skid, and the seat holding my infant son's car seat was thrown forward into the dash. I was traveling maybe 4-6 mph. Some one is going to get killed in this vehicle. I contacted ford and they say i have no recourse and have never heard of such things happening with thier vehicles. I have had the brakes inspected and i am told that they look fine, and there is no problem with the abs dummy light coming on in the vehicle. Please, please can you make ford do something about this? I noticed that there are a lot of similar complaints with this truck posted here on nhtsa's site. Thank you. *ak

No summary

Brakes locked up while driving in rain vehicle "froze" and ran over centerline nearly missing oncoming vehicle

Within 36,000 miles the left front brake rotor cracked, less than 3,000 miles later the right front brake rotor cracked. The first rotor was replaced by the dealership under warranty. The second one was replaced at owner's expense. Please provide any further information. *ak

The abs sensor is coming on constantly. Contacted dealer and they explained that there was dirt getting on the sensor, causing the light to come on which is a design flaw. *ak

When it rains braking system locks up which may cause a loss of control and may result in a crash. Also, dealer cleaned the drums, but problem is still occurring. *ak

No summary

Windshield wipers are stopping while in operating mode, causing poor visibility and can lead to a vehicle collision.; mfr. Notified. Can nhtsa help in this matter. *ak

While driving 40 mph front wheel on the passenger's side split in half, causing complete failure of front brakes.. Owner was able to drive truck home safely. Dealer will be contacted. Please provide further details. *ak

Front, left rotors cracked all the way through. Never been turned before. Still in really good shape per firestone repair. Sent letter to ford. No response. Also had to payed for anti-lock brake rotors ever though no anti-lock brakes because that is how it was built. Out of warranty but this is clearly a defect that could has caused accident. Firestone quoted that they never saw this happen. *ak

Intermittently the electrical system would become inoperable, resulting in loss of running lights. Dealer has replaced various parts of the electrical system. *ak

Interior light stays on all the time, causing problems with night driving. *ak

While driving vehicle about 55 mph consumer was involved in a front end collision and the air bag did not deploy. *ak

Windshield wipers stay on in the off possition, you have to move the switch to high and back to off to get the wippers to stop. *ak

While driving,the windshield wipers & washer come on by themselves and fail to turn off.*et

The dome light stays on at all times which makes it difficult to drive at night. Also, sometimes the third brake light works and sometimes it will not. Truck was taken to the dealership. Dealer could not find a problem with the truck. Owner was shown how to remove the fuse if the problem happened again. Please provide any further information. *ak

Interior dome light does not go off sometimes. Dealer fixed dome light ywice, and same problem is still occurring. *ak

Pe000 020; consumer was traveling about 45mph on highway and noticed that vehicle started vibrating up and down. Firestone wilderness #ht tires, P232575r15. Tires were fine.*ak

While driving at 55 mph and going over a bump vehicle veered to the left, and almost hit another vehicle. Vehicle has been at dealer's shop for repairs, and dealer can't determine the cause of the problem. *ak

No summary included for this vehicle. *ak

Windshield wipers and washers willstart up at any time. At one point i almost hit the car in front. *ak

Vehicle experienced electrical problems which will short circuit. While the vehicle was at the dealer, the transmission fell out. Please provide further information. *ak

While driving at nightthe headlights would go out. There would be no warning. Took vehicle to dealer at least 4 different times for headlights. Problem could not be located. *ak