IllustrationPASSENGER'S FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP WHICH CAUSES BRAKE LOCK UP, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. FIRST TIME IT WAS THE REAR BRAKES. CURRENTLY, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsWHEN TRAVELING CONSUMER NOTICED DIMMER LIGHTS COME ON. ALSO WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE DOOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER STATED THE COMPUTER CHIP HAS GONE BAD. *AK *ML
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER OPERATE UNPREDICTABLY WHILE THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS IS VERY DANGEOUS SINCE THE WINDSHIELD GETS SMEARED WHEN DIRTY, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS IN SWITCH. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM ACCOSS THE FORD LINE UP, SINCE MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 1997 F-150…
Read full complaint
WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER OPERATE UNPREDICTABLY WHILE THE SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS IS VERY DANGEOUS SINCE THE WINDSHIELD GETS SMEARED WHEN DIRTY, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. DEALER SAYS PROBLEM IS IN SWITCH. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PROBLEM ACCOSS THE FORD LINE UP, SINCE MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS 1997 F-150 AND THE PROBLEM WAS PRESENT ON A RENTED 1999 WINDSTAR. IN ADDITION THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. I THINK IT IS RECALL TIME. *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
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT HIGH SPEED WITHOUT EVER BEING TURNED ON BY THE SWITCH. SOMETIMES WIPERS FAIL TO COME ON WHEN SWITCH IS TURNED ON. DOME LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON BY THE SWITCH. *AK
TRANSFER CASE WOULD NOT ENGAGE 4WD IN SNOWY CONDITIONS
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
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH & WAS ENTERING INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE RED LIGHT. RANGER "T" BONED THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT WITH OTHER VEHICLE, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC VEHICLE DID NOT HIT THE RIGHT AREA. MECHANIC WOULD CHECK THE AIR BAG SENSORS. *AK
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
HEATER TAKES 20 MINS. TO WARM UP/SOMETIMES VOLTAGE DROPS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD
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.