IllustrationWHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THEY FREEZE/LOCK UP, AND THE VEHICLE VEERS TO THE RIGHT, ALSO EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS CAUSE UNKNOWN. *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 reportsDRIVING DOWN ROAD ALL HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. *AK
IN MORNING WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE IT HESITATES TO ENGAGE, OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIR WORK DONE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VEHICLE. *AK *ML
VERY RANDOMLY AND INTERMITTENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL KICK ON TO FULL SPEED WITHOUT APPLICATION. DRIVER HAS TO TURN THE WIPER SWITCH ON AND OFF TO GET THE WIPERS TO GO OFF. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
SAFETY BELTS "ROLL" - WHEN USING THE SEAT BELTS IN MY RANGER, THE MATERIAL FOR THE BELTS IS SO SOFT THEY ROLL INSIDE THE GUIDE BY MY SHOULDER CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE TWISTED. IT TAKES ADJUSTMENT TO STRAIGHTEN THE BELT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD OR WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS DURING AN ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS TO ME THE BELT SHO…
Read full complaint
SAFETY BELTS "ROLL" - WHEN USING THE SEAT BELTS IN MY RANGER, THE MATERIAL FOR THE BELTS IS SO SOFT THEY ROLL INSIDE THE GUIDE BY MY SHOULDER CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO BE TWISTED. IT TAKES ADJUSTMENT TO STRAIGHTEN THE BELT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD OR WOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS DURING AN ACCIDENT. IT SEEMS TO ME THE BELT SHOULD ALWAYS BE STRAIGHT FOR MAX SUPPORT DURING AN ACCIDENT.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS FAILED TO OPERATE, SOMETIMES OPERATED INVOLUNTARILY. FORD DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED GEM AND WIPER/WASHER SWITCH; PROBLEM IS RECURRING. NOW INVOLVES DOME LIGHT AND WARNING CHIME AS WELL.
HEATER SWITCH FAILED.
WHEN DRIVING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED SOFTLY THE REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AND DON'T WANT TO RELEASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD IT CHECKED & REPAIRED. HAD COMPUTER CHIP CHECKED ALSO. *AK
WHENEVER CONSUMER HITS A BUMP THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON. ALSO EVERY TIME HE PUTS THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE FUSE, WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH AND REVERSE LIGHTS, BLOWS OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
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.