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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 →
413Owner complaints

Model-year median: 144

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
232
1993438
1994321
1995413
1996411
1997576
1998755
1999
Compare all Ranger years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
60Visibility
52Tires
41Electrical System
38Vehicle Speed Control
34
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
31Fuel System, Gasoline
31Power Train
28Seat Belts
26Air Bags
25Suspension
21Exterior Lighting
17Steering
17Interior Lighting
13Equipment
11Structure
10Unknown Or Other
10Parking Brake
6Seats
6Fuel System, Other
3Latches/locks/linkages
3Wheels
3Engine
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Service Brakes
2Service Brakes, Air
1

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 · Apr 10, 1997
Visibility

TURN SIGNAL GLARES IN WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #603005

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Latches/locks/linkagesUnknown Or Other

OIL GAUGE INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #602995

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602981

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 1997
Electrical System

IGNITION SPRING FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602945

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

ENGINE IDLES, RPMS RUN AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 AT ALL TIMES. ALSO, WITHOUT HITTING ACCELERATOR VEHICLE CAN ACCELERATE UP TO 40 MPH. HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 3 MONTHS AND THEY CANNOT FIX IT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810467

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 1997
EquipmentVisibility

WHEN TURNING ON EITHER AIR CONDITIONER OR DEFROSTER THE GAS SURGES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES FORWARD. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR AND DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. TO SURGE.

NHTSA ODI #810291

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1997
Power Train

OWNER STATES THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START WITHOUT THE CLUTCH BEING DEPRESSED, OWNER'S VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE AND OUT OF DRIVEWAY.OWNER NOTES THAT THERE WAS FAULTY NEUTRAL START SWITCH. DEALER CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810242

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicInjury

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #515593

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING EXPERIENCED SUDDEN SEVERE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATION DUE TO CRACKED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809997

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1997
Power TrainCrash

CLUTCH SWITCH BROKE, VEHICLE DOES NOT SUPPOSE TO START WITHOUT IT. HOWEVER VEHICLE STARTED WITHOUT THE CLUTCH SWITCH AND RAN RIGHT INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. DEALER PATCHED SWITCH UP, MANUFACTURER IS SUPPOSE TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809876

Official recalls

2

09V399000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.