1997 Ford Ranger vs 1999 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 Ranger | 1999 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 411 | 755 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 202 | 301 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 40 | 96 |
| Fire reports | 8 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 16–22 | 15–58 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 89,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Ranger | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 57 | 178 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 36 | 80 |
| Structure | 25 | 89 |
| Power Train | 42 | 67 |
| Visibility | 36 | 73 |
| Air Bags | 22 | 79 |
| Suspension | 25 | 67 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 | 54 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 28 | 92 |
| Stalling | 11 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 20 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 6 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 11 |
| Overheating | 0 | 7 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 5 |
1997 Ford Ranger
1999 Ford Ranger
Compare all Ford Ranger 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.