IllustrationBLEND AIR DOOR FAILED AND WILL NOT OPERATE ON 1996 FORD RANGER RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE DEFROSTERS. FORD WANTS $700 TO REPAIR PROBLEM. NUMBEROUS WEB SITE FORUMS REPORT THIS TO BE A CHRONIC AND FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH 93-96 FORD RANGER/EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES.*AK
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
What owners actually said
413 reportsCONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING SEAT BELT PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY WARRANTY, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, SEAT BELTS ON THE MIDDLE SEAT WOULD NOT NOT BUCKLE.*AK
CONSUMER STATED ALL FOUR FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES, SIZE 22570R14, DOT # UNKNOWN, ARE CRACKED, AND TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES. *NLM
FIRESTONE FR480 P225/70R14 40000 MILES. LEFT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.
1996 FORD RANGER, 4.0, STANDARD CAB, STANDARD SHIFT, 2WHL DRIVE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET, WHICH IS SPOT WELDED TO THE FIREWALL, BROKE THE WELDS. THIS LEFT THE VEHICAL WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO INCREASE SPEED ABOVE IDLE. ALTHOUGH THE BRACKET HAD POTENTIAL FASTENER HOLES THAT LINED UP WITH HOLES IN THE FIREWALL, THE…
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1996 FORD RANGER, 4.0, STANDARD CAB, STANDARD SHIFT, 2WHL DRIVE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET, WHICH IS SPOT WELDED TO THE FIREWALL, BROKE THE WELDS. THIS LEFT THE VEHICAL WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO INCREASE SPEED ABOVE IDLE. ALTHOUGH THE BRACKET HAD POTENTIAL FASTENER HOLES THAT LINED UP WITH HOLES IN THE FIREWALL, THE BRACKET DOES NOT BOLT ON. REFER TO FORD CPD 2000 VERSION 15.04--JANUARY 2003, P-29097 ITEM 9A762 FOR A "BLOW UP" OF THE ITEM. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED AND SINCE I AM A MECHANIC, I DROVE THE VEHICAL HOME AND REPAIRED IT MYSELF.
FUEL TANK CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL INTO A PARKING LOT. PHOENIX TEMP WAS 106 THAT DAY. SMELLED AND SAW GAS RUNNING ON THE GROUND. TOWED IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. REMOVED TANK AND FOUND CRACKS THAT LOOK LIKE STRESS FRACTURES BEHIND THE MOUNTING BRACKETS. IT WAS ALSO LEAKING AT THE TOP OUTLET OF THE TANK WHERE THE GASKET HAD D…
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FUEL TANK CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL INTO A PARKING LOT. PHOENIX TEMP WAS 106 THAT DAY. SMELLED AND SAW GAS RUNNING ON THE GROUND. TOWED IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. REMOVED TANK AND FOUND CRACKS THAT LOOK LIKE STRESS FRACTURES BEHIND THE MOUNTING BRACKETS. IT WAS ALSO LEAKING AT THE TOP OUTLET OF THE TANK WHERE THE GASKET HAD DRIED OUT AND CRACKED. CONTACTED FORD BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURE, THEIR COMMIT WAS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP AND WAS HIT ON THE DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND ONLY THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND BURNT THE DRIVER FACE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN A FRONTAL COLLISION THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELTS BUCKLES WILL NOT LOCK PROPERLY CAUSING THE CONSUMER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
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.