IllustrationENGINE RUNS AT HIGH IDLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES WHEN AIR CONDITIONING FIRST USED
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.
41 crash reports18 fire reports30 injury reports
Equipment complaints
11 reportsLEAK INSIDE AIR COMPRESSOR THAT WILL NOT HOLD ITS CHARGE
WAS TOLD BY REPAIR CENTER EVAPORATOR IS COMMON ON FORD RANGER. COST OVER $600 TO REPAIR/REPLACE. BUILT FORD TUFF?
AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN DATABASE I FOUND 2 LIKE PROBLEMS RELATING TO MINE. COMPRESSOR FAILURE. # 96-20-6 AND # 96-22-6 THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY ON ITS SECOND SUMMER OF USE. AN AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR SHOULD NOT SELF DESTRUCT CAUSING EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT FORD IS AW…
Read full complaint
AFTER RESEARCHING YOUR SERVICE BULLETIN DATABASE I FOUND 2 LIKE PROBLEMS RELATING TO MINE. COMPRESSOR FAILURE. # 96-20-6 AND # 96-22-6 THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY ON ITS SECOND SUMMER OF USE. AN AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR SHOULD NOT SELF DESTRUCT CAUSING EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT THAT FORD IS AWARE OF AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS NOT IN MY BUDGET TO HAND OUT $1200 (FORDS ESTIMATE) FOR A PIECE OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT WHICH FAILED DUE TO AN ERROR AT THE FACTORY. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AND CAN HONESTLY TELL YOU THAT I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN IF THIS IS HOW FORD TREATS THEIR CUSTOMERS. PLEASE HELP. SINCERELY, MARK LACHAPPELL
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A GRINDING / DRAGGING NOISE, DUE TO FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE. HOWEVER THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, DUE TO LEAKING. ALSO THE SWAY BAR EXPERIENCED FAILURE, WHICH WAS REPLACED. *YC
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. HEADLIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES. A/C WOULD NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. DEALER BEING CONTACTED. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED.
OIL PUMP FAILED.
A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND FAILED.
WHEN TURNING ON EITHER AIR CONDITIONER OR DEFROSTER THE GAS SURGES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES FORWARD. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. TO SURGE.
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.