1997 Ford Ranger XLT Regular Cab review from North America

Battery and Oxygen sensor while under warranty.

Starter and custom-molded Ford-exclusive fuel hose since warranty ended in 2000.

The truck was hit in the left rear in 1999. The fuel tank is to the left of center and the fuel line runs down the left side of the frame. I suspect that the fuel hose failure in 2002 might have been the result of some hidden damage done in that wreck.

Original shocks are bad at 100,000miles plus.

The truck hasn't seen a dealership since 2000, At both times times, I got right in without an appointment and was taken care of that day.

Very low cost per mile. Negligible maintenance costs over the 8 yrs., 2 mos. owned. Still no oil burning or leakage between changes. No transmission or clutch issues.

Original Firestone tires stank. I have 60K miles on the replacement Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires. No unusual tire wear patterns, though I've never had the truck in for wheel alignment.

Cabin is a bit cramped. '98 and newer ones have 4" longer wheelbase--most of it accounted-for by extending the cab.

20-to-25 mpg in town. Higher in moderate weather when neither heat nor AC is required. Lower if operated outside of a 50-to-80 degree weather band and/or under a heavy load.

Poor acceleration from a stop with AC on--especially if carrying a load.Otherwise, performance is adequate.

Dome light problem referred-to by other posters is cured by lubing the door latches with WD40. The switches are built into the latches and when the latches get dry they engage well enough to latch the doors, but not well enough to shut off the switches.

I like the lower lift over height of a small truck vs. a full-size. I do city deliveries of bi-weekly ad papers and appreciate the ease of loading and unloading.