VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford Ranger brakes problems

The 1997 Ford Ranger has 53 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 10% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

53

Brakes complaints

10%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Brakes complaints by year

Ranger brakes complaints by model year130 complaints1983: 1 complaints1984: 2 complaints1986: 3 complaints1987: 1 complaints1988: 11 complaints1989: 10 complaints1990: 9 complaints1991: 13 complaints1992: 18 complaints1993: 67 complaints1994: 130 complaints1995: 71 complaints1996: 83 complaints1997: 53 complaints1998: 71 complaints1999: 105 complaints2000: 88 complaints2001: 63 complaints2002: 24 complaints2003: 38 complaints2004: 24 complaints2005: 11 complaints2006: 5 complaints2007: 2 complaints2008: 2 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 5 complaints2011: 8 complaints2019: 21 complaints2020: 9 complaints2021: 15 complaints2022: 3 complaints2023: 3 complaints2024: 7 complaints2025: 6 complaints
Ranger brakes complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“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…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · September 19, 2009 · fire

Common questions

How many brakes complaints does the 1997 Ford Ranger have?

NHTSA has 53 complaints about the 1997 Ford Ranger brakes — 10% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.