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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 →

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

Exterior Lighting complaints

17 reports
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75,000 miles · Jun 5, 2008
Exterior LightingUnknown Or OtherCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE MOST RECENT CRASH OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 2008 AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT HAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE MOST RECENT CRASH OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 2008 AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A FEATURE TO KEEP THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE CLUTCH BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED.UPDATED 06/25/08

NHTSA ODI #10230008

133,000 miles · Oct 14, 2005
Exterior LightingStructureCrash

DT: ON JULY 10, 2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE BAKES WERE NOT PRESSED. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT SHOULD STAY ON WHIL…

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DT: ON JULY 10, 2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE BAKES WERE NOT PRESSED. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT SHOULD STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND DECK. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE TWO VEHICLE OPERATORS ONLY EXCHANGED PHONE NUMBERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10139675

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE DARK, LIGHTS WILL GO OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CONSUMER HAD TO TOUCH DIMMER SWITCH SO THAT LIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON. SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE UNDER WARRANTY. BUT, CURRENTLY WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN, CONSUMER FEES IF IT GETS FIXED AGAIN, IT WILL NOT WORK AGAIN LATER ON. *AK *YD

NHTSA ODI #899685

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Exterior Lighting

DIMMER SWITCH CAUSES LIGHTS TO SHUT OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755070

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2001
Exterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, COME BACK ON WITHIN TEN SECONDS. OCCURS ONLY ONCE OR TWICE IN 3 TO 4 MONTH TIME FRAME. FORD AND DEALER CAN NOT HELP. OIGINALLY TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON 5/16/97. COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NO INFO RELATED IN THEIR DATA BASE. VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVED TRI…

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BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, COME BACK ON WITHIN TEN SECONDS. OCCURS ONLY ONCE OR TWICE IN 3 TO 4 MONTH TIME FRAME. FORD AND DEALER CAN NOT HELP. OIGINALLY TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON 5/16/97. COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NO INFO RELATED IN THEIR DATA BASE. VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVED TRIED TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM ON MY OWN (ELECTRICAL ENGINEER) BUT WIRING DIAGRAMS DO NOT EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM. I BELEIVE THERE IS A CIRCUIT BREAKER INLINE THAT DOES NOT SHOW IN THE FORD WIRING DETAILS FOR THIS TRUCK. I CANNOT VERIFY THIS THRU FORD. WOULD HAVE TO TEAR TRUCK APPART TO FIND.*AK

NHTSA ODI #752985

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2001
Exterior LightingVisibility

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 YEARS THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ON THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL ARM HAS FAILED. WASHER SWITCH ON ARM STILL WORKS, BUT WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN ANY MODE. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WILL ONLY OFFER TO REPLACE AGAIN FOR AROUND $300.00

NHTSA ODI #750711

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

ENGINE. KNOCKING ROD AT ONLY 56,000 MI. OVER $3,000 FOR NEW ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO TURN ON BEFORE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. CAME ON AFTER TURNING ON HIGH BEAMS AND TURN SIGNALS. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'M ABOUT TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NEARLY LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #738332

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TO SIGNAL LANE CHANGE WHILE OVERTAKING SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER TOUCHING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH STALK. SWITCH STALK HAS EXCESSIVE UP-AND-DOWN PLAY; ABLE TO REPRODUCE INCIDENT AT WILL BY SLIGHTLY MOVING SWITCH STALK UP (TOWARD STEERING WHEEL). VEHI…

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HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TO SIGNAL LANE CHANGE WHILE OVERTAKING SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON AFTER TOUCHING TURN SIGNAL SWITCH STALK. SWITCH STALK HAS EXCESSIVE UP-AND-DOWN PLAY; ABLE TO REPRODUCE INCIDENT AT WILL BY SLIGHTLY MOVING SWITCH STALK UP (TOWARD STEERING WHEEL). VEHICLE NOW AT DEALER FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #727925

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE HAS A BAD HEADLIGHT SWITCH. SWITCH HAS TO BE JIGGLED AROUND TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. ALSO, WHEN HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED THE LIGHTS GO OUT COMPLETELY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859522

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1999
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. AFTER PUTTING THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH BEAM, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853016

Official recalls

2

09V399000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.