IllustrationDASHLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. CONSUMER SEES SOOT ON THE DASH SOMETIMES AND SMELLS SOMETHING BURNING. DEALER DETERMINED AMPS ON FACTORY INSTALLED FUSES ARE TOO HIGH. CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUSES SHOULD HAVE BEEN A 30 AMP. *SCC
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
Interior Lighting complaints
13 reportsINTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE COURTESY LIGHTS AND TRUNK CARGO LIGHTS STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING. BLOWER MOTOR WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE THE SWITCH ARE IN THE OFF MODE OR IN THE ON MODE. DEALER AND MANUFACTRER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK THE ABS BRAKES LOCK UP ON WET PAVEMENT. *YH
REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH DOME LIGHT ON ALWAYS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF, KEY IN IGNITION OR NOT; DOOR CHIME ALWAYS ON IF KEY IS IN IGNITION, VEHICLE ON OR OFF; BOTH CANNOT BE CORRECTED UNLESS FUSE IS REMOVED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR AT MINIM…
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REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH DOME LIGHT ON ALWAYS WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS ON OR OFF, KEY IN IGNITION OR NOT; DOOR CHIME ALWAYS ON IF KEY IS IN IGNITION, VEHICLE ON OR OFF; BOTH CANNOT BE CORRECTED UNLESS FUSE IS REMOVED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED OR AT MINIMUM, FIXED FREE EACH TIME.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON FOR NO REASON, WON'T COME ON SOMETIMES, DOME LIGHT AND DOOR BEEP STAYS ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, ACCELERATOR STICKS OFTEN.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES, DOME STAYS ON, DOOR CHIME STAYS ON. *AK
INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. IF DRIVING AT NIGHT IT MAY CAUSE A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD AND VISUAL DIFFICULTY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *AK.ET.
THE DOME LIGHTS AND DOOR AJAR BUZZER COME OFF AND ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES. IF THE SUN IS SHINNING IN THE WINDOW IT MY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AS I CAN'T SEE. I ALSO HAD TO PULL THE FUSE ON THE DOME LIGHT AS IT WAS ON SO MUCH IT WAS RES HOT AND RUNNING MY BATTERY DOWN.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE DOME LIGHT TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY, ETC. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
DOME STAYS ON CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE CONNECTED WITH A FAILED DOOR AJAR SENSOR. I KNOW OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WHO ARE EXPRERINCEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THERE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURING WITH THE SAME MILEAGE AND AGE AS MINE. SINCE I HAVE DISCOVERED TWO OTHER RANGER PI…
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DOME STAYS ON CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE CONNECTED WITH A FAILED DOOR AJAR SENSOR. I KNOW OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WHO ARE EXPRERINCEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS THERE PROBLEMS STARTED OCCURING WITH THE SAME MILEAGE AND AGE AS MINE. SINCE I HAVE DISCOVERED TWO OTHER RANGER PICKUP OWNERS WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE THERE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO WONDERING IF IT COULD BE A DESIGN PROBLEM TO GET OWNERS INTO THEIR REPAIR SHOP TO INCREASE PROFITS. *AK
EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING DURING OPERATION OR ARE NOT OPERATING AT ALL. ALSO, DOME LIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING WITH SWITCH IN THE OFF MODE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
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.