Problems · by component
1997 Ford Ranger fuel system, gasoline problems
55 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Ranger cite fuel system, gasoline, 13% of all 427 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
55
13% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FUEL STRAP WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT FUEL STRAP WAS ALSO RUSTED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FUEL STRAPS ON THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 225,000.”
“THE GAS TANK STRAPS ON MY 1997 RANGER HAVE RUSTED THROUGH DROPPING THE FUEL TANK WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR STRAP HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. THE TANK IS BEING HELD UP WITH COMMERCIAL GRADES STRAPS. IS THIS MODEL BEING INCLUDED IN THE RECENT FORD RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT? I DID NOT SEE THE EXTENDED CAB RANGER MODEL MENTIONED.”
“WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS I HAD A SPLIT IN THE FLEXIBLE FUEL FILLER PIPE ON MY 1997 FORD RANGER XLT. IN THE COURSE OF HAVING IT REPLACED, THE REPAIR SHOP REMOVED THE GAS TANK AND FOUND THE SAME CONDITION WITH THE METAL STRAPS THAT HOLD THE GAS TANK IN PLACE, EXTENSIVE CORROSION AS REPORTED ON THE FORD F150. IT APPEARS THE POSSIBILITY OF GAS TANKS DROPPING OUT OF THE VEHICLE MAY BE MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THE INITIAL REPORTS AND MAY APPLY TO OTHER FORD PICK-UP TRUCKS. *TR”
“FUEL LINE CRACKED ABOVE GAS TANK . STRONG GAS ODOR AFTER DRIVING OR DURING REFILL -GAS WILL SPILL OUT WHEN FILLING TANK UP TO FULL AND GAS SMELL CAN ALSO BE SMELLED DURING COMMUTE. WILL BE TAKING IT IN TO GREENWAY FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN ORLANDO THIS WEEK. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FILLED WITH GASOLINE, THE GAS WILL SPILL BACK OUT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BOTTLE NECK ON THE FILLER CAP IS CORRODED. THIS CAUSES A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY ALL AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75000.”
“CRACK IN GASOLINE FILLER TOP CAUSING FUMES AND GASOLINE ODOR IN CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING RIGHT. * WHEN FILLING TANK WITH GASOLINE, THE FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND WHILE FILLING AT THE GAS STATION, AS IF YOU WERE SLOWLY POURING A GLASS OF WATER, MUCH MORE THAN A DRIP. COULD NOT FILL TANK FULL UNTIL REPAIR WAS DONE. MECHANIC REPLACED FILLER AND FILLER NECK. HAD TO REMOVE GAS TANK AND TRUCK BED TO INVESTIGATE AND REPAIR. BIG JOB, BIG HAZARD!! *TR”
Showing 6 of 55 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.