1997 Dodge Ram 1500 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 Dodge Ram 1500 | 1997 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 361 | 411 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 13 | 202 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 31 | 40 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 12–16 | 16–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Ram 1500 | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 56 | 42 |
| Structure | 70 | 25 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 | 55 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 43 | 36 |
| Tires | 16 | 57 |
| Electrical System | 23 | 28 |
| Visibility | 14 | 36 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 16 | 28 |
| Stalling | 14 | 11 |
| Brake problems | 13 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 8 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 5 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 6 | 0 |
1997 Dodge Ram 1500
1997 Ford Ranger
Compare all Dodge Ram 1500 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.