Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
100–25K
3425–50K
3450–75K
4475–100K
56100–150K
36150K+
214 reports with mileage · 541 unknown
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 178 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 89 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
96 crash reports14 fire reports50 injury reports
What owners actually said
755 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2021
Suspension
I was driving to the store around 1 month ago and I noticed the truck was trying to tail to the side as I was driving. I thought nothing of it until my Uncle Bobby noticed my rear shock was scraping the ground. We looked underneath to investigate and found both shock mounts completely rusted off and the frame in terrible shape. …
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I was driving to the store around 1 month ago and I noticed the truck was trying to tail to the side as I was driving. I thought nothing of it until my Uncle Bobby noticed my rear shock was scraping the ground. We looked underneath to investigate and found both shock mounts completely rusted off and the frame in terrible shape. The truck itself barely has any rust other than the tailgate and bed floor. Also thought I should include that the hose that connect the gas tank and where you pump the gas is rusted to where every time I pump gas, a little drips out onto the floor. I was trying to find videos on how to fix it but came across a page that says Rangers have been recalled from the years 1995 to 2000 because of Toyota starting to make frames for them. *EDIT* Also would like to mention that the frame where the bumper attaches to on the driver side has cracked and now the bumper is sagging down .
NHTSA ODI #11437821
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2021
Structure
When washing the truck I noticed a crack in the left rear frame just aft of the forward leaf spring shackle.Vertical crack approx, 6" long and separating, frame severely rusted while the rest of the body has minimal rust.
NHTSA ODI #11426295
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2021
Engine
Motor rattling, knocking in transmission, exhaust sounded louder than usual, motor cut off and unable to start
NHTSA ODI #11422130
208,991 miles · Apr 12, 2021
Structure
MY VEHICLE IS OTHERWISE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION BUT TRY IS FRAME IS VERY WORRISOME. THE RUST MAKES ME AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE CONFIDENTLY.
NHTSA ODI #11407783
115 miles · Mar 9, 2021
Unknown Or Other
FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS ALONG WITH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ALL ROTTED OUT?, AS DO ALL THE FORD RANGERS AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AT LEAST TOYOTA CAME TO THE PLATE FOR THEIR OWNERS. GREAT TRUCK EXCEPT FOR THE ROTTING FRAME ISSUES. FOUND THIS OUT BY HEARING A CRACK ONE DAY AND WHEN CHECKING FOUND A CRACK IN FRAME BY L…
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FRAME AND CROSS MEMBERS ALONG WITH THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER ALL ROTTED OUT?, AS DO ALL THE FORD RANGERS AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AT LEAST TOYOTA CAME TO THE PLATE FOR THEIR OWNERS. GREAT TRUCK EXCEPT FOR THE ROTTING FRAME ISSUES. FOUND THIS OUT BY HEARING A CRACK ONE DAY AND WHEN CHECKING FOUND A CRACK IN FRAME BY LEFT REAR WHEEL , AND ALSO WHEN LOOKING FOUND A CRACK AND HOLE BY LEFT REAR SHOCK MOUNT, WHEN PULLING THIS APART TO FIX IT, ALSO FOUND A GAS TANK STRAP BROKEN OFF, AFTER PULLING TANK DOWN IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WHOLE CROSS MEMBER WAS ROTTED AND ALSO THE LEFT FRONT SIDE OF THE LEFT REAR FRAME RAIL.
NHTSA ODI #11400046
127,642 miles · Dec 29, 2020
SteeringStructureSuspension
I WAS DRIVING WAS ABOUT 20 MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. I HEARD A LOUD POP BANG NOISE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK DROPPED ABOUT 2 OR 3 INCHES. I THOUGHT THE FRONT END FELL OFF. THE FRAME IS RUSTED SO BAD YOU CAN PUNCH HOLES IS THE FRAME WITH A SCREW DRIVER, THE DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME THAT …
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I WAS DRIVING WAS ABOUT 20 MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE. I HEARD A LOUD POP BANG NOISE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK DROPPED ABOUT 2 OR 3 INCHES. I THOUGHT THE FRONT END FELL OFF. THE FRAME IS RUSTED SO BAD YOU CAN PUNCH HOLES IS THE FRAME WITH A SCREW DRIVER, THE DRIVER SIDE TORSION BAR HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO RUST ON THE FRAME THAT HOLDS IT IN PLACE, THE CROSSMEMBER TO TRANSMISSION IS BARLEY HOLDING TRANSMISSION UP, THE SPARE TIRE AREA IS RUSTED IN HALF, ALL MAIN CROSSMEMBERS ARE RUSTED IN HALF AND THE FRAME IS RUSTED IN HALF BEHIND FUEL TANK. TRUCK HAS 127K MILES AND THE BODY BODY HAS LITTLE TO NO RUST, UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS ARE UNSAFE FROM RUST. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BODY CAN BE SO GOOD BUT FRAME AND SUSPENSION IS COMPLETELY RUSTED TO NO RETURN.
NHTSA ODI #11385534
115,000 miles · Dec 20, 2019
Unknown Or Other
REPLACED REAR SHACKLES DUE TO ROT, SPARE TIRE FRAME ROTTED OFF AND SPARE FELL OUT, WAS FIXING TRUCK AND NOTICED ROT HOLE IN FRAME BY LEFT REAR SHOCK WHEN REPLACING, SO THAT WAS REPAIRED AND ALSO NOTICED CRACK IN FRAME AND GAS TANK STRAP BROKEN. TOOK DOWN GAS TAK AND THE WHOLE FRAME ON LEFT SIDE WAS ROTTED AND READY TO BREAK IN H…
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REPLACED REAR SHACKLES DUE TO ROT, SPARE TIRE FRAME ROTTED OFF AND SPARE FELL OUT, WAS FIXING TRUCK AND NOTICED ROT HOLE IN FRAME BY LEFT REAR SHOCK WHEN REPLACING, SO THAT WAS REPAIRED AND ALSO NOTICED CRACK IN FRAME AND GAS TANK STRAP BROKEN. TOOK DOWN GAS TAK AND THE WHOLE FRAME ON LEFT SIDE WAS ROTTED AND READY TO BREAK IN HALF AND THE CROSSMEMBER IS ALL ROTTED OUT.
NHTSA ODI #11290422
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemSuspensionUnknown Or Other
FRAME IS VERY RUSTED AND BIG HOLES IN THE FRAME. I THINK THERE IS A GAS LEAK AS WELL BUT THE FRAME IS VERY BAD.
NHTSA ODI #11257158
250,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Unknown Or Other
I AM UPSET THAT THIS TIRE SHOP SOLD ME TIRES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. I PAID 312.00 FOR TWO TIRES AND WHEN I WENT TO BUY TWO MORE I WAS TOLD THEY WERE DISCONTINUED. THEIR IS NO WARRANTY EXCEPT A MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY. I WANTED TO GET ALL 4 THE SAME. THAT IS MY COMPLAINT
NHTSA ODI #11194852
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2019
Unknown Or Other
RUSTED OUT STRAPS AND MOUNTS TO THE GAS TANK AND OTHER MAJOR RUST DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK DO NOT KNOW IF SHOULD REPAIR OR NOT
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 PICKUP TRUCKS WITH 3.0L ENGINE. AN 'O'-RING SEAL IN THE FUEL INJECTION PULSE DAMPER TO FUEL RAIL JOINT COULD BE DAMAGED ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE CAN RESULT FROM FUEL LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PULSE DAMPER.
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.
1999 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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