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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

34 reports
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130,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GAIN SPEED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED THE VEHICLE STAYED AT THE SAME SPEED OR ACCELERATED AT A HIGHER SPEED WITHOUT ANY FORCE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10059798

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Interior LightingVehicle Speed ControlVisibility

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

NHTSA ODI #740161

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE GOING UP A STEEP PASS VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT COMPUTER SHOWED THAT ENGINE REVVED, BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHY. CONSUMER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM NEXT DAY. THEN, DEALER FOUND THAT THROTTLE CABLE WAS STUCK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867759

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

ABNORMALLY HIGH COLD IDLE MADE WORSE BY ATTEMPTING TO 'KICK IT DOWN' WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL; PEDAL STICKS TO KICKED POSITION CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE EVEN HIGHER. MUST SHUT OFF ENGINE TO AVOID DAMAGE. WITH ENGINE OFF, MUST REPEATEDLY STOMP PEDAL TO ATTEMPT RELEASE. PARTIAL RELEASE STILL LEAVES VERY HIGH ENGINE SPEED, UNDRIVEABL…

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ABNORMALLY HIGH COLD IDLE MADE WORSE BY ATTEMPTING TO 'KICK IT DOWN' WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL; PEDAL STICKS TO KICKED POSITION CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE EVEN HIGHER. MUST SHUT OFF ENGINE TO AVOID DAMAGE. WITH ENGINE OFF, MUST REPEATEDLY STOMP PEDAL TO ATTEMPT RELEASE. PARTIAL RELEASE STILL LEAVES VERY HIGH ENGINE SPEED, UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM; FOUND CORROSION AT END OF THROTTLE CABLE, CLEANED AND LUBRICATED. NOT SURE IF PROBLEM IS FIXED, SINCE ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAD SAT FOR ONE WEEK OF NONUSE BEFORE PROBLEM OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #725873

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlFire

WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW TWO-LANE ROAD, I PROCEEDED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. I ACCELERATED AND KICKED THE TRUCK INTO PASSING GEAR. THE THROTTLE WENT TO THE WIDE OPEN POSITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I USED THE BRAKES TO FIGHT THE OUT OF CONTROL ENGINE AND VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED DOWN THE CURVY FOR 3 TO FOUR MILES UNTIL I GOT TO…

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WHILE DRIVING ON A NARROW TWO-LANE ROAD, I PROCEEDED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. I ACCELERATED AND KICKED THE TRUCK INTO PASSING GEAR. THE THROTTLE WENT TO THE WIDE OPEN POSITION AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. I USED THE BRAKES TO FIGHT THE OUT OF CONTROL ENGINE AND VEHICLE. I PROCEEDED DOWN THE CURVY FOR 3 TO FOUR MILES UNTIL I GOT TO A PULLOUT PLACE WHERE I APPLIED THE BRAKES SO HARD THAT IT KILLED THE ENGINE. THE BRAKES WERE DOWN TO NO PADS, WERE VERY HOT, AND COOKED OUT GREASE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AT WHICH TIME THE THROTTLE WAS NO LONGER STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719743

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN / UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION; WHENEVER GAS PEDAL IS APPLIED IN A SPEEDY WAY, IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO OPEN UP AND TAKE OFF. THIS OCCURRED ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE FOUNED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #852157

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlVisibility

ACCELERATOR STICKS DUE TO FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #548576

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR HARD AND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE STUCK,CAUSING VEHICLE TO RACE UP TO 55 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP . THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845711

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE DOES NOT IDLE AS IT SHOULD UPON STARTING UP DUE TO A BAD IDLE AIR VAVLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847121

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1999
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED, RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, HOWEVER THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO 80 MPH WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEAR FATALITY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #705188

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.