Illustration1) WINDSHIELD WIPERS RANDOMLY START AND STOP 2) SMOKE PUFFS RISING FROM STEERING COLUMN OCCASIONALLY
1999 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
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
Electrical System complaints
39 reportsI HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN DOORS ARE SHUT. ALSO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN THE DOORS ARE SHUT. THE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. OF COURSE THAT WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. *JB
ELETRICAL SYSTEM. MY DOOR CONTACT PIN SWITCH SAYS MY DOORS ARE OPEN EVEN THOUGH I SHUT THE DOOR AND LOCK THEM. *JB
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR SWITCHES WITH THIS VECHICLE. I HAD THE DOOR SWITCHES REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY BOTH WERE SAYING THE THE DOOR WAS OPEN WHEN IN FACT THEY WERE CLOSED. A YEAR LATER THE CAR STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. TH…
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THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOOR SWITCHES WITH THIS VECHICLE. I HAD THE DOOR SWITCHES REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY BOTH WERE SAYING THE THE DOOR WAS OPEN WHEN IN FACT THEY WERE CLOSED. A YEAR LATER THE CAR STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS. THEY SPONTAINSOULY TURN THEMSELVES ON FOR NO REASON AND AT TIMES WHEN I TRY TO TURN THEM ON IN THE RAIN THE DONT WORK PROPERLY.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED ON THEIR OWN. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DOME LIGHT/AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING THE DOORS. STEERING COLUMN SMOKED, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
TRUCK WAS STOPPED & LEFT RUNNING, DRIVER AND PASSENGER GOT OUT TO SEE IF ROAD TOO MUDDY TO DRIVE ON. WHEN OPENED DOOR LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER, TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRE SMELLED ELECTRICAL, BATTERY UNHOOKED, VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY WIRE ON POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE TOUCHED METAL AND STARTED THE FI…
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TRUCK WAS STOPPED & LEFT RUNNING, DRIVER AND PASSENGER GOT OUT TO SEE IF ROAD TOO MUDDY TO DRIVE ON. WHEN OPENED DOOR LESS THAN 1 MINUTE LATER, TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE. FIRE SMELLED ELECTRICAL, BATTERY UNHOOKED, VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY WIRE ON POWER WINDOW ON PASSENGER SIDE TOUCHED METAL AND STARTED THE FIRE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND DOOR OR WINDOWS WORKED ON. WHAT WOULD MAKE IT SHORT OUT AND START FIRE IF NOT FACTORY DEFECT. DT
SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I TURNED ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES. INITIALLY THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED NORMALLY. AFTER CHANGING LANES, A COLUMN OF SMOKE BEGAN RISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD HAD GONE FROM BLINK…
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SMOKE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I TURNED ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO CHANGE LANES. INITIALLY THE TURN SIGNAL WORKED NORMALLY. AFTER CHANGING LANES, A COLUMN OF SMOKE BEGAN RISING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD HAD GONE FROM BLINKING ON AND OFF TO A STEADY DIM GREEN AND THE TURN SIGNAL ARM HAD NOT FULLY MOVED TO THE OFF POSITION. I MOVED THE TURN SIGNAL ARM TO THE OFF POSITION AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE SMOKE STOPPED SHORTLY AFTER THAT. AT A STOP SIGN, THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED. I DID NOT USE TURN SIGNAL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DRIVE.*AK
WHEN TURNING ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. SOMETIMES LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF. CONSUMER PLAYED TWICE WITH SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Official recalls
407V336000 · 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.
98V201000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Sep 1, 1998
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.