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 · Jul 15, 2004
Steering
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH TWO BOLTS WHICH HELD THE STEERING BOX BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BOLTS AND THE STEERING PUMP AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $458.00 . *AK THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED WHEN CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO MOVE F…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH TWO BOLTS WHICH HELD THE STEERING BOX BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BOLTS AND THE STEERING PUMP AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $458.00 . *AK THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED WHEN CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO MOVE FROM A STOP SIGN. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10079544
92,000 miles · Jun 9, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING A FORD RANGER VIN [XXX] AT AROUND 40 MILES/HOUR IN A REGULAR STREET, THE TRUCK SUDDENLY START TO SPEED UP. IT DID NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I BRAKED VERY HARD. FINALLY I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO BE ABLE TO STOP. I WAS ALMOST KILLED OR VERY BAD INJURED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY DO NOT WHAT TO TAKE ACTION…
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I WAS DRIVING A FORD RANGER VIN [XXX] AT AROUND 40 MILES/HOUR IN A REGULAR STREET, THE TRUCK SUDDENLY START TO SPEED UP. IT DID NOT STOP EVEN WHEN I BRAKED VERY HARD. FINALLY I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO BE ABLE TO STOP. I WAS ALMOST KILLED OR VERY BAD INJURED. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY DO NOT WHAT TO TAKE ACTIONS WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. TAKE THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #10075065
135,000 miles · May 15, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
ON MY 1996 FORD RANGER I HAVE A GAS LEAK WHEN I FILL THE TANK ALL THE WAY UP. IT LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, DOWN THE SIDES, AND ON TO THE GROUND. IT APPEARS THAT THE HOSE GOING INTO THE GAS TANK HAS FAILED. *AK WHAN CONCERNS ME ARE TWO THINGS: FIRST, IF IT GETS ON SOME HOT METAL.....I WILL BE TOAST. NEXT, MY AUTO M…
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ON MY 1996 FORD RANGER I HAVE A GAS LEAK WHEN I FILL THE TANK ALL THE WAY UP. IT LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK, DOWN THE SIDES, AND ON TO THE GROUND. IT APPEARS THAT THE HOSE GOING INTO THE GAS TANK HAS FAILED. *AK WHAN CONCERNS ME ARE TWO THINGS: FIRST, IF IT GETS ON SOME HOT METAL.....I WILL BE TOAST. NEXT, MY AUTO MECHANICS TOLD ME HE SAW THE SAME PROBLEM ON A 1999 OR 2000 FORD RANGER. SO, I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS BIGGER PROBLEM THAN JUST MY TRUCK.
NHTSA ODI #10072670
82,000 miles · May 14, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
GAS TANK LEAKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10072631
178,800 miles · May 11, 2004
Tires
SUMMIT TIRE, P225/70R14. DO TPJFC1ELR1203. CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 60 MPH AND EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL TIRE SEPARATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073499
112,620 miles · May 5, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
AN UNDERHOOD ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED AT OR NEAR THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH MOUNTED ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10068311
130,000 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
AFTER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GAIN SPEED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED THE VEHICLE STAYED AT THE SAME SPEED OR ACCELERATED AT A HIGHER SPEED WITHOUT ANY FORCE. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10059798
154,626 miles · Feb 25, 2004
Fuel System, Other
I OWN A 1996 FORD RANGER V6, 4.0L TRUCK. THREE INCIDENTS OF THE SAME NATURE HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER RELEASE OF THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE ME…
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I OWN A 1996 FORD RANGER V6, 4.0L TRUCK. THREE INCIDENTS OF THE SAME NATURE HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER RELEASE OF THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE "STICKS". I CONSENTED TO THEIR SUGGESTION TO HAVE THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WHICH WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $400. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NUMBER: 99-23-5) WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 1999 FOR THE 1996 FORD RANGER 2WD V6-182 3.0L ENGINE TRUCK WITH A PROBLEM OF "THROTTLE STICKING". I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE 4.0L ENGINE ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10058975
135,000 miles · Oct 21, 2003
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON BY THEMSELVES OR WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. HOW DO YOU DRIVE SAFELY IN THE RAIN? *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043300
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2003
Seats
CONSUMER STATES UPON SEATING IN DRIVER SEAT BACK OF SEAT COLLAPSED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. *AK
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.
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.
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