Drivers side seat belt buckle does not work. The tongue on the long strap does not lock into the buckle at the seat. I think this may be a recall problem with other models and/or years, but not 1996 Ford Rangers.
1996 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 80 of 413 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
413 reportsheading back from picking up meal at pizza hut when "POP" sound from front of truck and then cabin filled with smoke. within 20-30 seconds of exiting the car it was in flames (See attached photos) recall notification was never sent to current owner and current owner didnt own in 2009 when it was first recalled. Ford customer ser…
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heading back from picking up meal at pizza hut when "POP" sound from front of truck and then cabin filled with smoke. within 20-30 seconds of exiting the car it was in flames (See attached photos) recall notification was never sent to current owner and current owner didnt own in 2009 when it was first recalled. Ford customer service informed that auto insurnace would be required to handle loss of vehicle, but current owner doesnt have comprehensive coverage so insurance company is unable to payout for loss due to fire. This recall should have been communicated to titled owner after purchase.
Drivers side seat belt buckle does not release. Broken about ten years. Currently using middle seat belt buckle.
MY 96 FORD RANGER HAS TREMENDOUS FRAME ROT ON THE DRIVE SIDE AT THE FRONT OF THE SPRING SHACKLES. SOMEONE HAD SPRAYED RHINO LINER LIKE MATERIAL ON THE ROT TO COVER IT UP OR TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOLD. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION EXCEPT FOR IT BEING ALMOST BROKEN INTO AT THE GAS TANK STRAP AND FRONT SHACKLES. I …
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MY 96 FORD RANGER HAS TREMENDOUS FRAME ROT ON THE DRIVE SIDE AT THE FRONT OF THE SPRING SHACKLES. SOMEONE HAD SPRAYED RHINO LINER LIKE MATERIAL ON THE ROT TO COVER IT UP OR TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOLD. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION EXCEPT FOR IT BEING ALMOST BROKEN INTO AT THE GAS TANK STRAP AND FRONT SHACKLES. I HAVE REPLACED EVERY FRONT END PART ON THIS TRUCK THINKING IT WAS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WHEN DRIVING IT RUNS OUT OF LINE FROM THE REAR AND THE FRAME IS STARTING TO BEND.
NANO AND MICRO PARTICULATES/CONTAMINANTS HAVE BEEN SPRAYED FROM AN AIRLINER AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY BODY AND MY VEHICLE; IT INCLUDES FLAKES, TUBULES AND HIGHLY REFLECTIVE PARTICLES AND METALS. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND LOST TWO GEARS AS A RESULT. IT HAS A GAS LEAKING ISSUE CAUSED BY THE TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE HAD TO GO TO …
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NANO AND MICRO PARTICULATES/CONTAMINANTS HAVE BEEN SPRAYED FROM AN AIRLINER AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY BODY AND MY VEHICLE; IT INCLUDES FLAKES, TUBULES AND HIGHLY REFLECTIVE PARTICLES AND METALS. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND LOST TWO GEARS AS A RESULT. IT HAS A GAS LEAKING ISSUE CAUSED BY THE TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED, DAMAGED AND SABATAGED AS WELL AS MY FAMILY MEMBERS VEHICLES, PERSONS AND PROPERTY. IT'S OCCURING ON AND OFF HIGHWAY. IT'S HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. OIL AND BATTERY INTERIOR AND EXTERIORS AS WELL AS BODILY HARM, RISK AND INJURY. THE TECH AND PARTICULATES ARE HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE. [XXX] IS THE OFFENDING PARTY THAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TAKATA RECALL. I CRASHED MY 1996 FORD RANGER IN 2010. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY COLLISION SHOP REPLACED THE AIRBAGS WITH UNKNOWN YEAR FORD RANGER AIRBAGS, BUYING SOME NEW PARTS FROM FORD TO COMPLETE THE INSTALL. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THESE ARE RECALLED TAKATA AIRBAGS WITHOUT AN INSPECTION. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, VAR…
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TAKATA RECALL. I CRASHED MY 1996 FORD RANGER IN 2010. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY COLLISION SHOP REPLACED THE AIRBAGS WITH UNKNOWN YEAR FORD RANGER AIRBAGS, BUYING SOME NEW PARTS FROM FORD TO COMPLETE THE INSTALL. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THESE ARE RECALLED TAKATA AIRBAGS WITHOUT AN INSPECTION. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, VARSITY FORD IN ANN ARBOR MI, IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT A RECALL NOTICE. ANY INSPECTION, EVEN IF THESE ARE RECALLED AIRBAGS, WILL BE AT MY COST BECAUSE THIS IS A 1996 TRUCK. I CALLED FORD'S RECALL LINE AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PLAN TO TRACK DOWN DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAGS INSTALLED AFTER MANUFACTURE, EVEN IF THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED, BUT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED, BUT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000. *TR *JS *BF CONSUMER STATED BOTH ODI 11173289 AND 11173291 HAD MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE FIRE.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MONTHS LAT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED INTO LATCHING MECHANISM
Official recalls
209V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
96V161000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 29, 1996
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration