IllustrationCONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET, APPROX. 30-35 MPH, NEEDED TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE/SHAKE/ AND OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPAIR AT THE COST TO CONSUMER. *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 reportsENGINE IDLES VERY ERRATIC.
ENGINE CONNECTING ROD FAILED.
WHEN IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE THE REAR WHEELS LOCK UP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER CAN'T FIND SOLUTION. *AK
CONSUMER PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRES FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES. *AK *ML
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. HEADLIGHTS WORK SOMETIMES. A/C WOULD NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. DEALER BEING CONTACTED. *AK
HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED.
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT READY TO MAKE A TURN SHE PUT ON BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER MANAGED TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND FLUIDS LEAKING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THEN CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING.
ENGINE LOCKED AT 42,000 MILES.
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.