TSB 01197 — Ford Service bulletin
01197 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 2 Ford models, 1990–1996 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / ONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK.
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years 01197 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Ford Ranger | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Every document filed under 01197
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 01197 | October 1, 2001 | Service bulletin |
What 01197 covers
Engine — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB 01197?
01197 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford, covering 2 Ford models across the 1990–1996 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L OHV ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE NOISE WHICH MAY BE PERCEIVED BY THE CUSTOMER AS A PISTON / ONNECTING ROD BEARING KNOCK.
Which vehicles does 01197 cover?
NHTSA's file names Ford Explorer (1990–1996); Ford Ranger (1990–1996). A bulletin number can be re-issued against more vehicles later, so check the model-year list on this page against your own.
Is TSB 01197 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. 01197 is repair guidance the manufacturer sent its dealers, not a safety defect finding. You pay for the work unless the vehicle is still under warranty. Recall repairs, by contrast, are always free.
How do I get the full text of 01197?
Take the document ID to a dealer's service desk, or search NHTSA's manufacturer-communications records. This page carries every document ID filed under 01197, its date, and NHTSA's own summary from the public file.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. This page lists only what NHTSA's manufacturer-communications file records under 01197. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.