NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
413 reports188,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 1996 FORD RANGER HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THE FRONT BRAKES STICKING. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN WET WEATHER BUT ISN'T STRICTLY LIMITED TO THAT. I NOTICED A FORD RANGER THAT HAD SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR ON A SANDED CORNER AND RECALLED THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO AS MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE GRAVEL CAUSING TH…
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MY 1996 FORD RANGER HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM OF THE FRONT BRAKES STICKING. THIS OCCURS MOST OFTEN IN WET WEATHER BUT ISN'T STRICTLY LIMITED TO THAT. I NOTICED A FORD RANGER THAT HAD SLID INTO ANOTHER CAR ON A SANDED CORNER AND RECALLED THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO AS MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON THE GRAVEL CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND I ONLY MISSED RUNNING INTO THE CAR IN THE OTHER LANE BY LETTING OFF THE BRAKE AND TWISTING THE STEERING WHEEL. THAT POOR MAN PROBABLY GOT A TICKET FOR GOING TOO FAST BUT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, NOT A MATTER OF SPEED. I BELIEVE THE TRUCK IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANTILOCK BRAKES, BUT THAT IS NOT HOW ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO PERFORM. MECHANICS HAVE VERIFIED TO ME THIS BEHAVIOR PROBLEM FOR RANGER'S SO IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. HAD MY BRAKES REWORKED A COUPLE YEARS AGO WITH NO CHANGE. YESTERDAY THEY LOCKED UP AGAIN AND SEEING AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER ABOUT TOYOTA I FINALLY OUT WHO TO REPORT THIS TO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10305101
140,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Fuel System, Other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY AT 3 MPH, THE LID FOR THE GAS TANK SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE SPRINGS HAD CORROSION. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS. HOWEVER THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE ENTERING THE DRIVEWAY AT 3 MPH, THE LID FOR THE GAS TANK SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT THE SPRINGS HAD CORROSION. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRINGS. HOWEVER THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10291075
97,000 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHEN HE ENTERED HIS VEHICLE HE FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AND ON SWITCH MELTED. THE DEALER STATED THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS OCCUR. RECALL 09V399000 REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT REPAIR THE SWITCH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10287419
17,000 miles · Oct 14, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE AND HAS NOT OPERATED SINCE. THIS FORD RANGER HAS THE SAME WIRING HARNESS AS THE RECALLED FORD F-150 WIRING HARNESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287354
108,000 miles · Feb 25, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. AFTER THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL UNDERNEATH THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 03/24/09. *LJ THE FILLER NECK HAD BUSTED DUE TO AGE. UPDATED 03/24/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10259908
13,300 miles · Dec 30, 2008
Electrical SystemFire
UPON ENTERING THE VEH TO GO TO WORK WE FOUND THAT ONE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD MELTED AND A BURNT ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEH. THIS OCCURRED ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE CRUISE FEATURE IS LOCATED. WE TALKED WITH ANOTHER OWNER OF A RANGER AND HE ADVISED US THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE RANGER TRUCK. WE H…
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UPON ENTERING THE VEH TO GO TO WORK WE FOUND THAT ONE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN HAD MELTED AND A BURNT ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEH. THIS OCCURRED ON THE SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT THE CRUISE FEATURE IS LOCATED. WE TALKED WITH ANOTHER OWNER OF A RANGER AND HE ADVISED US THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE RANGER TRUCK. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION AS TO THE RECALL AND WE BOUGHT THE VEH NEW IN 1995. IT IS A 1996 MODEL. THIS VEH WAS IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE THIS HAPPENED AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS CAN BE FIXED AND WHAT STEPS TO TAKE IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253276
Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
1996 FORD RANGER TRUCK HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND GOT WEDGED BETWEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE BRIDGE WALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS BRAKES FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0535-91)*JB …
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1996 FORD RANGER TRUCK HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE DRIVER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT BERM AND GOT WEDGED BETWEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE BRIDGE WALL. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HIS BRAKES FAILED. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0535-91)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF
NHTSA ODI #10240463
85,000 miles · Jun 17, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL LINE FAILURE 1996 FORD RANGER DRIVEN WEEKLY. TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE PAVED ROAD AT POSTED SPEED. "CHECK GAUGES" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. FUEL GAUGE BELOW EMPTY (HAD STARTED TRIP 40 MINUTES EARLIER WITH 2/3 TANK). PULLED OVER AT FIRST SAFE OPPORTUNITY AND STEPPED OUT OF TRUCK. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND GAS POURING ON THE GR…
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FUEL LINE FAILURE 1996 FORD RANGER DRIVEN WEEKLY. TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE PAVED ROAD AT POSTED SPEED. "CHECK GAUGES" WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. FUEL GAUGE BELOW EMPTY (HAD STARTED TRIP 40 MINUTES EARLIER WITH 2/3 TANK). PULLED OVER AT FIRST SAFE OPPORTUNITY AND STEPPED OUT OF TRUCK. STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND GAS POURING ON THE GROUND. STOPPED ENGINE AND THE FUEL STOPPED POURING. HAD LOCAL TIRE STORE DROP THE TANK. THEY FOUND A CRACK AT A 90 DEGREE BEND IN THE PLASTIC HOSE LEADING TO THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. THE HOUSE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN RUBBING AGAINST SOME SURFACE BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE TANK AND THE BODY. NEW ASSEMBLY ORDERED FROM FORD ($128) WITH AN INSTALLED PRICE OF $416. I RETAINED THE OLD FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY. FUEL WAS BEING PUMPED ONTO THE TOP OF THE TANK AND ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK. I FEEL VERY LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED A FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231319
75,000 miles · Jun 5, 2008
Exterior LightingUnknown Or OtherCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE MOST RECENT CRASH OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 2008 AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT HAS …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IDLING OR PLACED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REAR ENDED FOUR TIMES IN FIVE YEARS. THE MOST RECENT CRASH OCCURRED IN MARCH OF 2008 AND THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A FEATURE TO KEEP THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL AND THE CLUTCH BRAKE IS NOT PRESSED.UPDATED 06/25/08
NHTSA ODI #10230008
98,000 miles · May 27, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
AFTER SMELLING A STRONG FUEL ODOR I FOUND THE FUEL FILLER HOSE HAS MANY SMALL CRACKS WHERE IT FITS ON TO THE FUEL TANK, AND LEAKS FUEL WHEN GAS TANK IS FILLED. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILLER HOSE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, I DO HAVE THE OLD HOSE AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10229032
Official recalls
2Oct 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.
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 ↗