IllustrationRACK AND PINION HAS FAILED AT ONLY 38,000 MILES AND WITHIN 2 YEARS WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK
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
What owners actually said
576 reportsINSIDE/OUTSIDE EDGES OF FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/70R16 ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR, WAS HAVING STEERING CONTROL PROBLEMS & VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE RETAILER. LEFT TIRES ALONE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER BRAND OF TIRES. DOT VN08 *SLC
DOOR AJAR - FALSE READING. DOME LIGHT STAYS ON WITH DOOR CLOSED.
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING SUPERHEATED AND IGNITED LUBRICATION OF GREASE WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. AND WHEEL OFF WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS CRASH. FORD WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER, EVEN UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
RIM RUPTURED AND DEFLATED, CONSUMER FELT IF HE WAS GOING ANY FASTER MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE BEAD COMING THROUGH THE CRACK IN THE RIM, CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER 3 RIMS ON VEHICLE. *AK *SLC
TIRE WAS LOW ON AIR, AND THE SIDEWALL WAS PEELED BACK TO THE RIM.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VN08IPU TIRESIZE: 235/70R16)
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE P225/70R15 DOT W2UU1P0069 WAS CAUSING A NOISE, SO CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SEE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, FIRESTONE STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE 1 TIRE, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES ALL TIRES ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TREAD, FIRESTONE WILL NOT ASSIST UNLESS TIRES ARE …
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FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE P225/70R15 DOT W2UU1P0069 WAS CAUSING A NOISE, SO CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SEE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, FIRESTONE STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE 1 TIRE, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES ALL TIRES ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TREAD, FIRESTONE WILL NOT ASSIST UNLESS TIRES ARE ON A RECALL LIST. *SLC
THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IN MY LANE. I CORRECTED MY VEHICLE TO COME BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY AND WHEN I TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT FRON TIRE BLEW AND THE WEIGHT SHIFTEN FROM THE WEAK SPRINGS IN THE REAR, ROLLING MY VEHICLE FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL WAS ON AT…
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THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IN MY LANE. I CORRECTED MY VEHICLE TO COME BACK ONTO THE ROADWAY AND WHEN I TURNED BACK TO THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT FRON TIRE BLEW AND THE WEIGHT SHIFTEN FROM THE WEAK SPRINGS IN THE REAR, ROLLING MY VEHICLE FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL WAS ON AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, THEY WERE OVERSIZED (16 INCH, OFF-ROAD PACKAGE) AND UNSAFE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE 16 INCH TIRES ARE NO LONGER BEING PUT ONTO RANGERS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
DRIVER'S REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT OWL TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH.TIRES HAD 8200 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WITHOUT ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. TIRE SIZE P225/70R15, DOT# UNKNOWN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD THUMPING NOISE AND WENT TO A TIRE DEALER WHO NOTICED TIRE TREAD HAD PEELED, DEALER ALSO NOTICED THE OTHER 3 TIRES WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION, RIGT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 WAS REPLACED, DOT VNHL. *SLC
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