1997 Ford F-250 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-250 | 1997 Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 304 | 411 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 316 | 202 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 40 |
| Fire reports | 19 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 13–15 | 16–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 115,604 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford F-250 | Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 42 | 57 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 | 55 |
| Power Train | 34 | 42 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 | 36 |
| Suspension | 30 | 25 |
| Visibility | 12 | 36 |
| Electrical System | 19 | 28 |
| Steering | 23 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 13 | 11 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 28 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 8 |
| Steering problems | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 5 |
1997 Ford F-250
1997 Ford Ranger
Compare all Ford F-250 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.