1997 Ford F-150 vs 1997 Ford Ranger
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Ford F-150 | 1997 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 2,758 | 411 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 325 | 202 |
| Investigations | 8 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 165 | 40 |
| Fire reports | 262 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–17 | 16–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 108,898 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford F-150 | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 529 | 14 |
| Tires | 305 | 57 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 215 | 55 |
| Structure | 226 | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 213 | 36 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 223 | 23 |
| Suspension | 204 | 25 |
| Electrical System | 198 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 185 | 28 |
| Stalling | 86 | 11 |
| Vibration / shaking | 76 | 8 |
| Overheating | 64 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 47 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 37 | 5 |
| Electrical failures | 28 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 24 | 5 |
1997 Ford F-150
1997 Ford Ranger
Compare all Ford F-150 vs Ford Ranger years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.