24 of the 536 complaints about the 1997 Ford Ranger are about the throttle and cruise control — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 128,000 miles.
24
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IDLE SPEED RISES TO 3,000 RPM IN BETWEEN SHIFTS AND WHILE COASTING WITH CLUTCH PEDAL DEPRESSED. DOES NOT DROP TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED UNTIL VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS CAUSES BRAKING TO BE LESS EFFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10883846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH MELTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE BEING REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10806187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER SPORADICALLY BEFORE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE STOPPED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SPIKE IN ENGINE RPMS WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WOULD CORRECT ITSELF SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,252.
NHTSA complaint #10444094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TODAY MY ACCELERATOR FAILED. I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I WENT TO ACCELERATE BY PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT. THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD FAILED. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THREE SPOT WELDS THAT HELD A PLATE TO THE FIREWALL HAD FAILED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL PIVOTS ON THIS PLATE AND ATTACHED BOLT. I WAS ABLE TO DO A TEMPORARY REPAIR TODAY. BUT, THE FAILURE IN TRAFFIC WAS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10436644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 55 MPH, BUT TO NO AVAIL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE SURFACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #10339839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT NOT HAVING MY VEHICLE SERVICE, AND I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. I WENT TO THE LEONARDTOWN DEALERSHIP ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009, WITH MY LETTER FOR RECALL, AND WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISCONNECT THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR MR. JOHN JARBOE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN COMING ON AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS DEFECTIVE SWITCH HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. HE SHOWED ME A DIAGRAM OF THE SWITCH, WHERE IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TOLD ME THAT I CAN DISCONNECT IT MYSELF, AND IF I WANTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE OTHER PROBLEM. I THOUGHT FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THIS REPAIR NOT ME. I CAN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN HAVE IT TOWED IN AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I AM NO SURE IF THIS SWITCH IS THE PROBLEM, BUT EVEN IF IT ISN'T ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO DEACTIVATE THE SWITCH NOT ME. I AM NOT A MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10293641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FRAME FELL OFF FROM THE WALL. ONE COULD SEE WHERE THE RIVET HOLES WERE, THEY HAVE SEPARATED FROM THE WALL. IT WAS A CLEAN BREAK, BUT THE RIVETS WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS NO RUST ON THE FRAME. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER;THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY.*AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 -
NHTSA complaint #10142292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF FORD F-150 PICKUPS, I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS THIS ALONG. I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER PICKUP. IT TOO HAD A FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. ALTHOUGH IT LEAKED BRAKE FLUID ONTO MY DRIVEWAY AND SPRAYED FLUID THROUGHOUT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NO SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT COST ME THE PRICE OF A NEW SWITCH, BRAKE FLUID AND THE CLEANER FOR THE DRIVE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CAN SEE A POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE AND FIRE IF LEFT UNDETECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10136044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
BRACKET HOLDING GAS PEDAL DETACHED FROM CAR SHEET METAL THAT IS BETWEEN ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UNIT HANGING BY ACCELERATOR CABLE. THERE LOOK TO BE 3 SPOT WELDS BTN BACKET AND SHEET METAL THAT BROKE. DRIVER WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT THE TIME AND DECELERATED IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10075202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL COMPLETELY FELL OFF WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. NLMCONSUMERS PASSENGER WAS INJURED RESULTING IN SURGERY TO THE KNEE.
NHTSA complaint #8004008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE BODY AIR INTAKE FAILURE CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR TO STICK.
NHTSA complaint #561719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP IN DRIVEWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED GOING FASTER AND PICKING UP SPEED IN REVERSE. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND NOTICED THAT GAS PEDAL FELL APART. VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #873191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. YH
NHTSA complaint #784562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER OR DEFROSTER IS ON, AND WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, IF DRIVER LETS UP THE ACCELERATOR, VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN. IT TAKES ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY SLOWS DOWN. DLR/ MANUFACTURER CANNOT FIX DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #852932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DURING DRIVING, WHEN I SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD (MOST OF THE TIME), THE THROTTLE STICKS AT AROUND 2500-3000 RPM'S. IT DOES RELEASE ITSELF BUT AFTER I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO THE NEXT GEAR, I CAN TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR AND LEAVE IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL STILL BE AROUND 2500 RPM FOR ABOUT 3-8 SECONDS. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY THOUGHT I WAS NUTS. I TOOK IT TO BURTS FORD IN COLORADO AND THEY FIRST REPLACE A FUEL ASSEMBLY PART, THE 2ND TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY 3RD WITH BURTS, I TOOK A MECHANIC OUT FOR A DRIVE AND SHOED HIM THE PROBLEM. THEY LOOKED THE CAR OVER WHILE IT WAS IN SHOP FOR A WEEK AND SAID THAT THEY CAN WILLINGLY REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS BEING SHIFTED. NO FIX. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK CARS FOR OVER 26 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, WHEN SHIFTING, THE RPM'S WOULD ACCERLATE. THIS IS A PROBLEM, IF I GET TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN AND THE CAR WILL NOT RELEASE THE RPM'S, THEN ENGINE COULD CONTINUE TO RACE AND POTENTIALLY BLOW UP OR EVEN RUIN THE ENGINE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #714203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED,CLIMBING A SMALL RISE. ALSO, NEEDS TO SHIFT MANUALLY FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR. WHEN CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ENGINE WILL RACE TO A WIDE OPEN THROTTLE FOR SECOND ,AND THEN IT WILL COME BACK TO IDLE.DEALER CLAIMED CRUISE CONTROL WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DEACTIVATE BY APPLYING CLUTCH PEDAL , ONLY BY APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL AND BUTTON. THIS IS IN CONFLICT WITH OWNER'S AND SERVICE MANUAL.
NHTSA complaint #850717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #711819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONS. YH
NHTSA complaint #784562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO REV UP AND ACCLERATE AT A HIGH SPEED WITH NO BRAKING ABILITY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #827505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY INCLUDED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #701967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
GAS PEDAL FELL OFF, LEAVING CONSUMER STRANDED. COMPUTER PROGRAM IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE. DEALER HAD TO REPROGRAM COMPUTER.
NHTSA complaint #828911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL BROKE AWAY FROM FIREWALL.
NHTSA complaint #781139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT DECELERATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
NHTSA complaint #539504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE TRAVLING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE SHIFTS GEARS FROM 4TH TO 3RD. CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THE RMP IDLES HIGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #818944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.