IllustrationTIRE FAILED AT 20 MPH. CALLED VISION FORD IN ALAMOGORDO, NM. SPOKE TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THEY ESSENTIALLY TOLD ME TO STUFF IT, AND GO TO LAS CRUCES (2 1/2 HRS AWAY) IF I WANTED SERVICE.( DOT NUMBER: VN081PU147 TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )
1998 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1998 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: 109 of 576 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.
- Tires. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
66 crash reports29 fire reports34 injury reports
Tires complaints
136 reportsTHE TIRE SIMPLY "BLEW UP" FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE TIRE DEALER COULD NOT EXPLAIN IT. THE TIRE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THIS TIRE WAS 16" NOT 15" BUT IT STILL "BLEW UP".( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R16 )
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. TIRE WAS COMING IN CONTACTED WITH GRAVEL/ PEBBLES WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE TIRE, CAUSING TIRE TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. ALSO, TREAD WAS RAPPED ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. …
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PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS FLAT. TIRE WAS COMING IN CONTACTED WITH GRAVEL/ PEBBLES WOULD GO RIGHT THROUGH THE TIRE, CAUSING TIRE TO LOSE AIR PRESSURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. ALSO, TREAD WAS RAPPED ON THE OUTSIDE SIDEWALLS. THEY WERE FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS #AT, P23575 R15, MADE IN CANADA.*AK ONE TIRE WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING, 3 OTHER TIRES WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED, A TINY GRAVEL WAS FOUND IN EACH ONE AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WALLS OF THE TIRES WERE VERY SOFT, THE TIRES WEER NOT REPLACED FOR FREE. *SLC
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS/AT TIRES ON THIS VEHICLE ARE SPLITTING UP THE SEAM OF THE TIRE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES ARE NOT OUT OF THE RECALL MANUFACTURER.*AK
ALL TIRES ARE SHOWING CRACKS ON SIDEWALLS, THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THOMAS FORD IN BEVERLY,MA. AND THE TRUCK WAS DROPPED OFF FOR MANT. AND TO CHECK THE TIRES, ALL FORD WOULD SAY IS THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN I ASKED IF THEY LOOKED AT THE CRACKS THEY SAID NO,ALL THEY WOULD DO IS CHECK THE DOT CODE, I UND…
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ALL TIRES ARE SHOWING CRACKS ON SIDEWALLS, THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THOMAS FORD IN BEVERLY,MA. AND THE TRUCK WAS DROPPED OFF FOR MANT. AND TO CHECK THE TIRES, ALL FORD WOULD SAY IS THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN I ASKED IF THEY LOOKED AT THE CRACKS THEY SAID NO,ALL THEY WOULD DO IS CHECK THE DOT CODE, I UNDER STAND THAT IF THEY ARE NOT ON THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING, BUT I FEEL THEYY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST LOOK AT THE CRACKING, I HAD PROVIDED THEM WITH PHOTOS AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT THEM ( I CAN EMAIL THE PHOTO TO YOU IF IT WOULD BE OF ANY HELP ) FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED BY EMAIL BUT ALL I'VE GOTTEN IS AN AUTOMATED RESPONCE ( TRACKING # WT20000815_0000000266 ) WHEN I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THEM BY PHONE IT'S JUST A LONG HOLD, AND LIKE YOU I CAN'T STAY ON THE PHONE FOR AN HOUR JUST WAITING TO TALK TO SOMEONE MY BOSS WILL KILL ME, TAHANKS FOR ANY HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM!!!( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT 225/70R15.*AK
STRUCK PIECE 2X4 LUMBER ON ROADWAY. TIRE CAME APART. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT WAS ROAD HAZARD AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I ORDERED A TIRE FROM NTB IN ST. PETERS ,MO AFTER 4 WEEKS THEY SIAD THEY COULD NOT GET DELIVERY ON THE TIRE, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR THE TIRE AND THEY SHOWED THIS SIZE WITH SIGNIFICA…
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STRUCK PIECE 2X4 LUMBER ON ROADWAY. TIRE CAME APART. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT WAS ROAD HAZARD AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I ORDERED A TIRE FROM NTB IN ST. PETERS ,MO AFTER 4 WEEKS THEY SIAD THEY COULD NOT GET DELIVERY ON THE TIRE, I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR THE TIRE AND THEY SHOWED THIS SIZE WITH SIGNIFICANT BACKORDER. I FINALLY CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR FIRESTONE AND THEY FINALLY CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY HAD LOCATED ONE TIRE AT FIRESTONE DEALER IN ST. CHARLES MO NOW I SEE REPORTS ON THE 15 INCH TIRE FAILURE AND MY FAILURE OF THE 16 INCH APPEARS SIMILAR. THE FIRESTONE CUSTOMER RELATION PERSON SAID THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUFACTURE OF THE TIRES AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THEM. I HAVE SENT FIRESTONE EMAILS BUT AM ONLY GETTING THERE STANDARD RECALL INFORMATION. TRACKING NUMBER IS WT20000817_0000000126( DOT NUMBER: VN08 TIRE SIZE: P235/70R16 )
I ALSO PUCHASED ANOTHER SET OF THE SAME SIZE THAT I HAD TO REPLACE DATE OF REPLACEMENT 8-16-2000 BECAUSE OF VIBRATIONS COMING FROM TIRES/REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES AND VIBRATIONS ARE NO LONGER NOTICEABLE /THE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE BALANCED 3 TIMES BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265X75R15 )
TIRE FAILURE CAUSED TRUCK TO VEER INTO DITCH-REPLACED ALL TIRES WITH LARGER SIZE FOR SAFETY( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P235/70/16 )
THIS TIRE HAD A FOOT LONG SPLIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TREAD EXPOSING THE STEEL BELT. I DID NOT STRIKE NOR ABUSE THE TIRE IN ANY MANNER TO CAUSE THIS. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THIS TIRE REPLACED ALSO WITNESSED MANY OTHER TIRES OF THE SAME TYPE WITH I. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2FC TIRE SIZE: P22570R14 )
Official recalls
507V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
99V204000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jul 28, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THE PARK DETENT SPRING MISALIGNED. IF THE SPRING IS MISALIGNED, THE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE PARK MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NOT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE AS IF IN NEUTRAL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE AND ANY WITH MISALIGNED PARK DETENT SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.
99V062001 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 30, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.
98V021000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 2, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OFF-ROAD OPTION. THE TIRE AND RIM IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS INCORRECT ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE 16" TIRES COULD NOT BE INFLATED ON THE SPECIFIED 15X7.0J RIM.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A SAFETY CERTIFICAITON LABEL PARTIAL OVERLAY WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE CORRECT RIM SIZE, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THIS LABEL TO THE VEHICLE. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR FORD DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
97V186001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Oct 28, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES. THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTED FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LINE COULD CONTACT THE MANIFOLD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO HOLD THE FUEL LINE IN THE INTENDED DESIGN POSITION.
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
1PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations
Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available