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 reports
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 2/13/01 WITHOUT CAUSE AT VEHICLE SPEED OF EST. 10 MPH, TRUCK HIT LAND EMBANKMENT ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE WITH EXCEPTION OF AIRBAG. AIRBAG CAUSED CRITICAL INJURY TO 47 YR OLD DRIVER INCLUDING: CRUSHED STERNUM, CRACKED RIBS, DAMAGED LUNGS, BRUISED HEART, …
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AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON 2/13/01 WITHOUT CAUSE AT VEHICLE SPEED OF EST. 10 MPH, TRUCK HIT LAND EMBANKMENT ALONG SIDE OF THE ROAD.THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE WITH EXCEPTION OF AIRBAG. AIRBAG CAUSED CRITICAL INJURY TO 47 YR OLD DRIVER INCLUDING: CRUSHED STERNUM, CRACKED RIBS, DAMAGED LUNGS, BRUISED HEART, INJURY TO LIVER & KIDNEYS, EXTENSIVE INTERNAL BLEEDING, RUPTURED GALLBLADDER RESULTING IN PERITONITIS. DRIVER WAS HOSPITALIZED 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 60 DAYS FOR A TOTAL INPATIENT ADMISSION OF 28 DAYS. EACH ADMISSION WAS LISTED AS CRITICAL WITH LAST ADMISSION OF 4/2/01 TO 4/13/01 RESULTING IN MAJOR SURGERY . PATIENT RECOVERY EXPECTED TO LAST 7 TO 12 MONTHS. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD WE MUST PAY APPROXIMATELY $5000 FOR AN EXPERT TO EXAMINE THE FORD RANGER TRUCK TO DETERMINE IF THE BUMPER SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE CAUSING UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTING IN CRITICAL INJURY TO DRIVER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #745756
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Tires
I EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION AT 70 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT ON A WARM DAY (90 DEGREES). *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDUTJAB146 TIRESIZE: P255/60R15)
NHTSA ODI #745681
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2001
Electrical SystemPower Train
TRUCK WAS TAKEN FOR EAST FORD (DEALER) FOR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE. THE OD LIGHT AND REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED FROM THAT POINT ON. TRUCK TAKEN BACK 4/16/2001 FOR SAME, DEALER SAYS WIRING IN STEERING/SHIFTER IS RUBBED AND REQUIRES SHIFTER REPLACMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #744121
Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLUTCH, AND HAS STATED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FIRST…
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WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLUTCH, AND HAS STATED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FIRST GEAR SYNCRO, BLOCKER RING, AND THIRD GEAR BLOCKER RING. HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT. TAIL PIPE WAS HITTING SPARE TIRE CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPOSITIONED TAIL PIPE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #885719
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKES LOCK UP ONLY DURING WET ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER'S REPAIR SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK
NHTSA ODI #884513
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2001
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BUCKLE WILL GO INSIDE OF RETRACTOR, BUT SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #883689
Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension
THE FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN DEFECT PREVENTS THE CROSS CAMBER FROM BEING ADJUSTED WITHIN MANUFACTURERS SPECIFIED TOLERENCE DURING FRONT END ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN RAPID WEAR TO THE OUTSIDE EDGE AND SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT TIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING ROARING NOISE AND UNSTABLE STEERING WHEEL, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED A…
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THE FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN DEFECT PREVENTS THE CROSS CAMBER FROM BEING ADJUSTED WITHIN MANUFACTURERS SPECIFIED TOLERENCE DURING FRONT END ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN RAPID WEAR TO THE OUTSIDE EDGE AND SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT TIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING ROARING NOISE AND UNSTABLE STEERING WHEEL, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED BUT BOTH HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM
NHTSA ODI #560206
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2001
Unknown Or OtherVisibility
ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON DOME LIGHT DOESNT GO OFF WINDSHIELD WIPERS DONT GO OFF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #741850
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HAS HIGH ENGINE RPM BETWEEN 1600 TO 2200. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON ICY ROAD CONDITONS. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT LONG TERM WEAR AND TEAR ON CLUTCH, TRANSMISSION AND REAR AXLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #881984
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
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.
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.
1996 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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