Problems · by component

1997 Ford Ranger tires problems

58 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Ranger cite tires, 14% of all 427 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
58
14% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the tires

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAD FIVE (5) BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA TIRES FAIL WHILE DRIVING THE SAME VEHICLE OVER ABOUT A TEN YEAR PERIOD. EACH FAILURE IS THE SAME. THE STEEL BELT OF THE TIRE PARTIALLY SEPARATES WHILE ROLLING. THE FIRST OCCURRED ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE PULLING A SMALL FLATBED TRAILER. STEEL BELT THEN WHIPS AROUND INSIDE WHEEL WELL DAMAGING WHATEVER IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH. BF GOODRICH RADIAL ALL TERRAIN TA TIRES WERE ON THIS TRUCK WHEN PURCHASED USED. SECOND TIRE FAILED APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO THE SAME WAY AT LESS THAN 30 MPH. REPLACED ALL WITH USED SET OF FOUR TIRES WITH 50 % TREAD LEFT. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER, THIRD TIRE FAILED ON INTERSTATE ONCE AGAIN IN THE SAME WAY. STEEL BELT CUT THE FIBERGLASS REAR OUTER FENDER IN HALF, RIPPED OUT THE REAR WIRING HARNESS, DESTROYED THE LEFT TAIL LIGHT, AND EVEN DAMAGED THE GASOLINE FILL TUBE AND DESTROYED ITS LOCKING GAS CAP FROM THE FORCE OF THE BELT WHIPPING ROUND AND ROUND THE WHEEL, PARTIALLY ATTACHED AND PARTIALLY OFF. NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. ALL TIRES FAILED WHILE IN DRIVER'S REAR WHEEL POSITION. THEN LAST MONTH AGAIN, THE LEFT REAR BF GOODRICH…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2017TiresODI 11000343
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER AT TIRES, LINE SIZE 225/70/R14 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, HE BEGAN TO HEAR A THUMPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS PEELING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2011TiresODI 10421283
“I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT 4X4 4.0LTR.MANY SHOPS HAVE WORK ON THE FRONT AXEL WHEEL BEARINGS AND SEALS AND RETAINER NUT THIS NUT TAKES A SOCKET 2.3/8 R-6 MOST SHOPS DON'T HAVE IT SO THEY USE WHAT EVER THEY HAVE,CHISELL,LOCKING PLYERS ECT...CREATING FRONT END DAMAGE TO WHEEL BEARINGS,SEALS, BRAKES,CALIPERS,BRAKE DRUMS, MOST OF AL THE TIRES..I HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE THEY DID NOT USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB ALSO DID NOT REMOVE LCKING PIN FROM SPINDEL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2010Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, other, Tires, Equipment, Traction control systemODI 10326662
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED NEW GOODYEAR MOHAVE R/S (NA), SIZE P215/70R/14 TIRES IN OCTOBER OF 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR MAINTENANCE IN MAY OF 2007, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING AND THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT OFFERED HER REPLACEMENT TIRES, IF THEY QUALIFIED. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS RARELY DRIVEN AND THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE TIRES SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,697.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2007TiresODI 10211581
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER APT III P225/70R14 DOT# Y7FCPT40207. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. HE REPLACED THE TIRE AND FOUND THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 109,170 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,130. THE CONSUMER STATED A BRAND NEW TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. UPDATED 08/24/07 *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2007TiresODI 10195220
“LTR FM EDWARD KURRELL (PA) RE FAULTY PARTS & POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF FORD VEHICLES, THE MOTOR IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER BLEW UP DUE TO A FAULTY THERMOSTAT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEEDED NEW TIRES AND THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT WORK. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2006Engine and engine cooling, Power train, TiresODI 10148690

Showing 6 of 58 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Tires: tread

Free remedy

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.

TiresReported May 22, 2001NHTSA 01X001000

Tires: tread

Free remedy

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.

TiresReported Aug 21, 2000NHTSA 00T005000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 5, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.