IllustrationI HAVE A 96 FORD RANGER. SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY FASTENED, WILL COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. *JB
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 reportsDRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING, WOULD NOT RECONNECT. PURCHASED A NEW ONE AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. NOTIFIED FORD MOTOR CO., NO RESPONSE. *NM
1996 FORD RANGER TRUCK, FUEL FILLER HOSE CRACKED AND SEPARATED FROM FUEL TANK. CAUSED FUEL TO SPILL OUT OF THE TANK. *NM
GASOLINE LEAKS FROM THE FILLER HOSE AT THE TOP OF THE TANK WHEN VEHICLE IS FUELED. *NM
1) ON THE EVENING OF 11/14/05 I STOP AT A GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY TANK. AFTER I FILLED UP THE TANK I COULD SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T SPILL ANY WHEN REMOVING THE NOZZLE. I LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND I COULD SEE A GAS LEAK DRIPPING AT A MODERATE PACE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A FRIEND WH…
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1) ON THE EVENING OF 11/14/05 I STOP AT A GAS STATION TO FILL UP MY TANK. AFTER I FILLED UP THE TANK I COULD SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T SPILL ANY WHEN REMOVING THE NOZZLE. I LOOKED UNDER MY CAR AND I COULD SEE A GAS LEAK DRIPPING AT A MODERATE PACE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED A FRIEND WHO WORKS ON CARS AND HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE MECHANIC TO AVOID CATCHING FIRE FROM THE FUMES. 2) THE VERY NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS PROBABLY A CRACK IN THE FILLER HOSE. HE ALSO MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN MANY FORD RANGERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. 3) MY MECHANIC WAS CORRECT ON DIAGNOSING THE LEAK AND I HAD TO HAVE A NEW GAS TANK FILLER HOSE INSTALLED. THE OVERALL COST WAS $458.60 AND I LOST A FULL DAY OF WORK. *JB
WHEN I PUT MY DRIVERSIDE SEAT BELT INTO THE BUCKLE IT WILL NOT LATCH. I WENT TO CLASSIC FORD AT 7799 MENTOR AVE, MENTOR, OH AND THEY SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRENTY AND FORD WOULD NOT COVER IT. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE IT. APPROX. $100. I CURRENTLY USE THE FEMALE END OF THE MIDDLE PASSENGER SEAT BELT. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA CONCERNING ODI 10139675. HE FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE LIGHT THAT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION BECAUSE THIS WOULD DECREASE REAR END COLLISIONS AT NIGHT. ALSO, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PUT …
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DT: THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA CONCERNING ODI 10139675. HE FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE LIGHT THAT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION BECAUSE THIS WOULD DECREASE REAR END COLLISIONS AT NIGHT. ALSO, WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PUT A SENSOR ON THE SPEEDOMETER AND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SO THAT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ ZERO MPH, AND IN COMBINATION WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL LIGHT UP AND SIGNAL TO OTHER MOTORIST THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IF A MOTORIST HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK OR NEUTRAL POSITION OTHER MOTORIST COULD IDENTIFY THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THIS TECHNOLOGY SHOULD BE USED ON ALL VEHICLES WHETHER THEY WERE AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.*AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
WHILE FUELING VEHICLE FUEL SPILLED FROM THE TOP OF FUEL TANK CREATING A ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE TRAVELING HOME FUMES MADE BOTH OCCUPANTS FEEL SICK. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE FUEL FILLER HOSE SPLIT DUE TO FORD OBLONGING THE HOSE FOR BED CLEARANCE WITH A METAL CLAMP. WENT ONLINE TO A FORD CHAT FORUM AND FOUND THIS TO…
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WHILE FUELING VEHICLE FUEL SPILLED FROM THE TOP OF FUEL TANK CREATING A ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE TRAVELING HOME FUMES MADE BOTH OCCUPANTS FEEL SICK. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE FUEL FILLER HOSE SPLIT DUE TO FORD OBLONGING THE HOSE FOR BED CLEARANCE WITH A METAL CLAMP. WENT ONLINE TO A FORD CHAT FORUM AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH RANGER TRUCKS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *JB
DT: ON JULY 10, 2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE BAKES WERE NOT PRESSED. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT SHOULD STAY ON WHIL…
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DT: ON JULY 10, 2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE BAKES WERE NOT PRESSED. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT SHOULD STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND DECK. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE TWO VEHICLE OPERATORS ONLY EXCHANGED PHONE NUMBERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AND TIRE FELL APART. *JB WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED THE TIRE ITSELF REMAINED INFLATED. *NM
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.