10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,482 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1997 Ford Ranger:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Aug 152000

Ranger 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Lt front tire tread sepearted-not a blow out. Firestone 235/60R15 ftx 98T. (claim# 25-5426-005)

- St. Peters, MO, USA

problem #13

Sep 042000

Ranger

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
#1 indicates R/F tire blew (Firestone)causing him to leave rdwy. (claim 49-3229-942)

- Woodbury, MN, USA

problem #12

May 011997

Ranger 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
This Ford 1997, Ranger is equipped with Firestone wilderness/at P235/75R15 dot:W2. One of the front tires has separated, and a big chunck of tread has come out. One of the back tires had a blowout, and had to be replaced.

- Marine City, MI, USA

problem #11

Sep 202000

(reported on)

Ranger

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Right rear side tire's tread separated while driving 60 to 65mph. Tire has been replaced with the type. The failed tire was Firestone wilderness ht P205/75R14. The tire was new but the entire tread separated from the side walls and the loop of tread wrapped around the axle.

- Bisbee, AZ, USA

problem #10

May 232000

Ranger

  • miles
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.( dot number: ? tire size: P225/70R14 )

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #9

May 232000

Ranger

  • miles
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.( dot number: ? tire size: P225/70R14 )

- Fairborn, OH, USA

problem #8

Sep 082000

(reported on)

Ranger 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving about 55mph left front tire blewout due to tread separation. Tire shredded completely. All four tires were replaced with different brand. Firestone Wilderness AT 235/75/R15

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #7

Nov 111998

Ranger

  • miles
PE00 020; consumer was traveling about 65mph on the highway and didn't hear a sound. But vehicle was hard to control. Left rear tire tread separated from the rim. Firestone tire FR480 22570R14. Consumer notified Firestone retailer.

- Hollister, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 102000

Ranger 4WD

  • miles
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 )

- Waterbury, CT, USA

problem #5

Jan 011999

Ranger

  • miles
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.

- Murray, KY, USA

problem #4

Jul 302000

Ranger

  • miles
No summary listed for abov evehicle.( dot number: Tire size: 275 R14 )

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #3

Aug 072000

(reported on)

Ranger

  • miles
Firestone or Ford should recall these tires. My tire blowout occured on a interstate junction (I-85N to I-77N, in charlotte, nc) at high speed (60mph) and sent my truck into ditch. I didn't think much at the time (since tires do blow out sometimes) but after the news reports that Ford and Firestone have known about the faulty tires for over 6-8 years, and only seem to care if fatatilities occur, I was very displeased and now want to file a comlaint to replace all 5 Firestone wilderness tires on my truck. I plan to buy new tires and will wait for a recall of some sort to refund my money. Not to mention the fact that I walked away from the violent blowout and subsequent crash, others were not as lucky. Thank you, scott pagan.( dot number: )

- Dallas, NC, USA

problem #2

Aug 032000

Ranger 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving 75 mph when left rear tire experienced a blowout without prior warning. Firestone wilderness P265/75R15. Dot# W29V 1pk496. Vehicle sustained damage from the faulty tire.

- Tigard, OR, USA

problem #1

Aug 072000

Ranger 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving about 45 mph right rear tire blewout without a prior warning of the situation. Firestone ATX tire, P235/75R15, dot number W2hl1pm336.

- Woodbridge, VA, USA