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
What owners actually said
576 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Visibility
THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE QUITE BADLY; IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING AT TWO OR MORE VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME. THE MIRRORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY, BUT WE HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY IMPROVEMENT WITH THE NEW MIRRORS, THEY VIBRATE ALMOST AS BAD AS THE OTHERS AND WILL GET JUST AS BAD SHORTLY!!!!!!!!! ALSO, WE BROUGHT THE '98 R…
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THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE QUITE BADLY; IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING AT TWO OR MORE VEHICLES AT THE SAME TIME. THE MIRRORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY, BUT WE HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY IMPROVEMENT WITH THE NEW MIRRORS, THEY VIBRATE ALMOST AS BAD AS THE OTHERS AND WILL GET JUST AS BAD SHORTLY!!!!!!!!! ALSO, WE BROUGHT THE '98 RANGER IN FOR THE PROBLEM OF WE HAD A LIST OF 14 THINGS THAT WERE WRONG, (ONE OF WHICH WAS THE MIRRORS). THEY FIXED MOST OF THE THINGS THAT WERE WRONG WITH THE TRUCK, THEY ALSO CHANGED THE MIRRORS, BUT, THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE NEW MIRRORS, THEY VIBRATE ALSO!!!!!!!! I WILL TELL THE REST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WERE WRONG WITH THE TRUCK WHEN I DO TALK TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE OR HOWEVER IT IS TAKEN CARE OF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #741341
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2001
Tires
DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE JUST SEPARATED AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IF TRAFFIC WERE HEAVIER AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SWERVED VERY ABRUPTLY WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. IT WAS MY SPARE TIRE THAT COULDN'T HAVE HAD MORE THAN 3000 MILES ON IT.…
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DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE JUST SEPARATED AS I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT IF TRAFFIC WERE HEAVIER AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE SWERVED VERY ABRUPTLY WHEN THE TIRE BLEW. IT WAS MY SPARE TIRE THAT COULDN'T HAVE HAD MORE THAN 3000 MILES ON IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE REST OF THE TIRES ON MY TRUCK. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY138 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
NHTSA ODI #741002
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed ControlVisibility
VEHICLE IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THEN IDLE WILL GO AWAY FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE TURNED OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER ROUGH IDLE GOES AWAY, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR STALL, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. PASSENGER S…
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VEHICLE IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THEN IDLE WILL GO AWAY FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE TURNED OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER ROUGH IDLE GOES AWAY, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR STALL, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM WAS LOOSE. PWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO WHEN TURNING WHEEL IT WOULD MAKE ANOISE. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #880587
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2001
Interior Lighting
CONSUMER'S SECOND VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND COURTESTY LIGHT STAYING ON, *AK
NHTSA ODI #880446
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2001
Tires
NOTICED HAIR LINE CRACKS WHERE TREAD MEETS TIRE, ON A 1998,FORD, RANGER; ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P235/70R15, DOT# W2HL1PY138. TIRE CENTER NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. TIRE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #880399
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2001
Interior LightingPower TrainStructure
DOOR AJAR AND LIGHT STAYING ON FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE SHUTING OFF. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LEAKING AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, PLACE WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED IS GOING TO REPLACE VEHICLE BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM…
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DOOR AJAR AND LIGHT STAYING ON FOR 45 MINUTES OR MORE BEFORE SHUTING OFF. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK A SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS LEAKING AND HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, PLACE WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED IS GOING TO REPLACE VEHICLE BECAUSE IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THE TRANSMISSION, COMPUTER CHIP, AND DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #880149
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUME R WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON HIGHWAY ON ICY ROADS AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIM. FORCING HIM INTO A MERIDIAN BARACADE ENBANKMENT. CAUSING HIM TO ROLL THREE TIMES, THERE WERE SOME MINOR INJURIES. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879637
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Suspension
WAS AT A STOP SIGN & HAD HEARD A LOUD CLUNK & CLANG. THEN, THERE WAS A LOT OF RATTLING AND IT GOT WORSE AS VEHICLE MOVED. THEN, SOMETHING FELL. PULLED OVER. NOTICED LEAF SPRING HAD PARTIALLY BROKEN. THERE WAS SOME RUST ON IT. MECHANIC INDICATED ENTIRE REAR LEFT LEAF SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, HAD PARTS. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #879636
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
2 WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH JUMPED INTO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879183
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2001
Interior Lighting
THE INFORMATION I HAVE PROVIDED IS IN REGARD TO THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT OF MY VEHICLE. I DRIVE MOSTLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THE DOME LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. I HAVE DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK ON A FEW OCCASSIONS WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON THE WHOLE WAY. THE LIGHT GETS VERY HOT AND IT MAKES SE…
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THE INFORMATION I HAVE PROVIDED IS IN REGARD TO THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT OF MY VEHICLE. I DRIVE MOSTLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. THE DOME LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. I HAVE DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK ON A FEW OCCASSIONS WITH THE DOME LIGHT ON THE WHOLE WAY. THE LIGHT GETS VERY HOT AND IT MAKES SEEING OUT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR DIFFICULT AT BEST. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR WORSE, A VEHICLE FIRE WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, BUT OFTEN ENOUGH TO CAUSE CONCERN. THANK YOU.*AK
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
1
PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations
Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
1998 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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