1997 Ford Ranger Interior Lighting Problems

NHTSA component category: INTERIOR LIGHTING · data through 07/12/2026

36Interior Lighting complaints

8.8%Of all 411 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How interior lighting ranks on this vehicle

INTERIOR LIGHTING36 · 8.8%

TIRES:TREAD/BELT34 · 8.3%

TIRES27 · 6.6%

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER24 · 5.8%

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION21 · 5.1%

Share of the 411 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1997 Ford Ranger overview page.

What owners report

“DOME LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER IGNITION TURNED ON. CHIMES WHEN KEY IS INSERTED IN IGNITION SWITCH.”NHTSA complaint 722441 — filed 05/09/2000

“WINDSHIELD WIPERS SEEM TO HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN. THE DOME LIGHT ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THEY BOTH COME…”NHTSA complaint 721699 — filed 04/20/2000

“INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH NIGHT DRIVING.”NHTSA complaint 720089 — filed 03/14/2000

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Interior Lighting complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Ford Ranger have interior lighting problems?

Interior Lighting is the most-reported problem area on the 1997 Ford Ranger: 36 of 411 complaints on file (8.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1997 Ford Ranger have in total?

411 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 40 involved a crash, 8 involved a fire, 44 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's interior lighting category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the INTERIOR LIGHTING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.