1997 Ford Ranger Fuel System

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.

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

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.

FUEL TANK STRAPS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION/RUST CAUSING FUEL TANK TO PARTIALLY FALL. DEFECTIVE STRAPS WERE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES. *KB

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

THE GASOLINE HOSE FROM THE FILLER CAP TO THE TANK IS CRACKING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AS SEEN ON RANGER WEB FORUMS. THIS CAUSES GASOLINE TO LEAK FROM THE HOSE AS THE TANK FILLS. THE FUEL SPILLS ON THE GROUND OR VERY NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE ENTIRE SCENARIO COULD CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE INCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THIS HOSE CRACKING OCCURRED YEARS AGO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NEWER, BUT NOT REPORTED UNTIL NOW. THIS CRACKING SHOULD NOT OCCUR AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE IF GAS FUMES WERE TO IGNITE. THE CRACKING OCCURS MOSTLY AT THE CORNER WHERE THE HOSE ENTERS THE GASOLINE TANK. IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REPAIR WITHOUT MAJOR COSTS DUE TO ITS LOCATION. *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

1997 FORD RANGER XLT ,DATE IS APPROXIMATE SINCE FILLER HOSE SLOWLY CRACKED AND GOT WORSE, SMELLED FUEL CONSTANTLY SINCE 80,000 MILES AND HAD TO EVENTUALLY SPEND 600.00 TO GET IT FIXED AT FORD DEALERSHIP FOR WHAT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL RUBBER HOSE, I WOULD HAVE REPLACED MYSELF BUT COULD NOT LOCATE OEM REPLACEMENT ANYWHERE ELSE INCLUDING ALL AUTO STORES (DEALER ONLY PART), THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, I CONSIDERED IT A TIMEBOMB. THANKFULLY NOTHING DANGEROUS HAPPENED BEFORE I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THOUGH DOING A INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CERTAIN YEARS OF FORD RANGERS WHICH SOME PEOPLE DUE TO COST ARE REPLACING WITH A COMMON RUBBER HOSE WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS STATIC THAT COULD MAKE IT GO UP IN FLAMES. *TR

FUEL LEAKING AROUND FILLER TOP. FIRST TIME SERVICE REPLACED THE HOSE CLAMP, BUT NOW THE FILLER TOP IS CRACKED. OEM REPLACEMENT PART IS $500 PLUS LABOR OF REMOVING GAS TANK , ETC. ODOR A PROBLEM AND POTENTIALLY A FIRE HAZARD. GAS STATIONS DO NOT WANT TO PUT GAS IN LEAKING VEHICLE EITHER. *TR

WHEN FILLING FUEL TANK ON 1997 FORD RANGER 4X4 LONG BED, FUEL LEAKS BACK OUT AND PUDDLES ON PAVEMENT BELOW VEHICLE DUE TO A SPLIT THAT HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED IN THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK (HOSE). EVEN WHEN I DO NOT FILL TANK ALL THE WAY (TO PREVENT ABOVE LEAKING) GAS FUMES ARE STILL STRONG AND HAVE ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE CANOPY (TOPPER) ON PICKUP BED. FUEL APPEARS TO LEAK (BASED ON ODOR) AFTER EXECUTING A SHARP TURN, A QUICK STOP, AND WHEN TRAVELING OVER BUMPY ROADS. FORD'S PRICE FOR A REPLACEMENT FILLER NECK IS PROHIBITIVE (AROUND $450) PLUS LABOR AND THUS, I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. *TR

FUEL FILLER HOSE CRACKS PREMATURELY AT THE CONNECTION TO THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT FUEL SPILLAGE DURING REFUELING AS WELL AS PROBABLY SPLASHING OUT DURING DRIVING. FUEL VAPORS SURELY ESCAPE ALL THE TIME AS WELL. BOTH SITUATIONS LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD. SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD SAFETY ISSUE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF FORD RANGERS WITH SAFETY COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THIS SITE AS WELL AS DISCUSSIONS ON VARIOUS FORD RANGER FORUMS. THE OEM FORD PART LISTS FOR ~$400. *TR

FUEL FILLER TUBE CRACKS AT THE FUEL PUMP, RESULTING IN FUEL POURING OUT AND FUEL VAPORS ESCAPING WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE PARKED. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. *TR FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SELLS REPLACEMENT FILLER TUBES FOR UPWARDS OF $500, NOT INCLUDING LABOR.

1997 FORD SPLASH RANGER SHORT BED TRUCK LEAKING GASOLINE FROM THE FUEL FILLER HOSE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE FUEL TANK. THE HOSE IS CRACKED BUT NOT ROTTEN AND FUEL LEAKS ON THE GROUND WHEN FILLING THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE TANK IS NEAR FULL. DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

1997 FORD RANGER XLT SHORT BED TRUCK LEAKING GASOLINE FROM THE FUEL FILLER HOSE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE FUEL TANK. THE HOSE WAS CRACKED BUT NOT ROTTEN AND FUEL WOULD LEAK WHILE FILLING THE TANK AND ALSO WHEN THE TANK WAS NEAR FULL, BUT ALWAYS HAD FUEL VAPORS ESCAPING. A FIRE HAZARD AND EXCESSIVE HYDRO CARBON EMISSIONS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMANATING FROM HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. A FIRE COULD ERUPT IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD THE FILLER HOSE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER HOSES CRACKED AND CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHEN IT IS FILLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $600 TO REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,609 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,839. UPDATED 2/9/09 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE FULE FILTER. UPDATED 02/13/09. *JB UPDATED 07/20/09 *BF UPDATED ADDRESS. 07/21/09. *JB

THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAS A HOLE IN IT, THEREFORE WHEN YOU FILL UP YOUR VEHICLE; GAS LEAKS OUT ONTO THE GROUND. I WAS NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM UNTIL I WAS FUELING ONE DAY AND I ENDED UP WITH A PUDDLE ON THE GROUND. THIS IS NOT ONLY A FIRE HAZARD, BUT ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ONE TOO. *TR

FUEL FILLER HOSE. THE HOSES (BOTH INNER & OUTER CRACK AND CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPILL OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK IF FUEL TANK IS FILLED. THE HOSE IS AN EXPENSIVE PART TO REPLACE. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS PART IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PARTS THEY SELL." (THE PART COSTS BETWEEN $225.00 AND $500.00) PLUS LABOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT'S SISTER OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER FUEL IS PLACED INTO THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL LEAKS OUT ON TWO SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL OVERFLOW WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,819 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 FORD RANGER AND FUEL FILLER HOSE BEING FAULTY. THE HOSE ITSELF HAS CRACKS IN IT AND LEAKS FUEL UPON REFILL PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DUE TO THE FUEL VAPORS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE TO THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO THE CRACKS IN FAULTY FUEL FILLER HOSE. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ISSUE. PLEASE PUT FORTH AN EFFORT TO CORRECT PROBLEM BEFORE FIRE, INJURIES, AND , POTENTIAL DEATHS ARE SUSTAINED, ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A MAJOR FUEL LEAK AND SMELLED A STRANGE ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A FAILED FUEL FILLER TUBE. THE MECHANICS ALSO STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $800 TO HAVE THE FUEL FILLER TUBE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FUEL TANK EVERY TIME HE ADDS FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND HAS SINCE BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE MAY OCCUR AT ANY TIME. HE HAS PHOTOS IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,479.

THE FUEL FILLER HOSE ON MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS 1997 FORD RANGER DEVELOPED NUMEROUS CRACKS WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE TANK. THIS PROBLEM RESULTS IN GASOLINE SPILLS WHENEVER SHE COMPLETELY FILLS THE TANK. THE TANK IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON WITH 1990-1997 RANGERS, ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS ONLINE POSTS. *TR

NOTED FUEL RUNNING ONTO THE GROUND WHILE REFUELING VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A RUBBER PORTION OF THE FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT. CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY OFFERED TO ORDER A REPLACEMENT FUEL FILLER ASSEMBLY BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVED. PART COST EXCEEDS $400. ESTIMATED LABOR IS ~$200. NOTE: THIS SAME PROBLEM IS DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS. SEE COMPLAINT NUMBERS 10151411, 870010 & 10110378. I DID NOT SEARCH THE DATABASE FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT THERE IS SUFFICIENT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH BOTH FORD RANGER AND MAZDA B-SERIES VEHICLES FOR SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. *JB

FUEL FILLER TUBE CRACKED WHERE IT ENTERS THE FUEL TANK, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK WHEN FILLING UP. *JB