← New search

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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Parking Brake complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
121,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Parking BrakeCrash

1999 FORD RANGER....LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON FREEWAY...WHEN TIRE EXPLODED IT LIFTED THE REAR OF THE TRUCK UP AND IT STARTED TO SPIN COUNTER CLOCKWISE WHEN I TRIED TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT BY TURNING TO THE RIGHT IT CHANGED LANES IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS IN FRONT OF 2 SEMI TRUCKS I WENT UNDER ONE OF THEM WITH THE BED/REAR OF TRUCK. I L…

Read full complaint

1999 FORD RANGER....LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON FREEWAY...WHEN TIRE EXPLODED IT LIFTED THE REAR OF THE TRUCK UP AND IT STARTED TO SPIN COUNTER CLOCKWISE WHEN I TRIED TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT BY TURNING TO THE RIGHT IT CHANGED LANES IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS IN FRONT OF 2 SEMI TRUCKS I WENT UNDER ONE OF THEM WITH THE BED/REAR OF TRUCK. I LATER LEARNED THE TIRE HAD ALSO PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE OUT OF THE BACKING PLATE CAUSING THE LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK COMPLETELY...THE PARK BRAKE CABLES NEED ENCLOSED SOMEHOW SO THE TIRE CANNOT APPLY THE BRAKES.....THE REAR OF THE TRUCK ISN'T HEAVY ENOUGH DURING A BLOW OUT TO KEEP THE REAR END DOWN..........I HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO A FORD EXPLORER WHERE THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW AND IT LIFTED UP 1 TO 2 FEET TURNED SIDEWAYS CHANGED LANES AND WAS HIT BY A CAR T-BONING IT HARD.......IF NITROGEN WAS USED INSTEAD OF AIR THEY MAY NOT EXPLODE LIKE THEY DO......MY TIRES WERE GOOD CONDITION FROM PEP BOYS BOUGHT BY MYSELF..........I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SURVIVE THIS ACCIDENT.....SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10365899

118,977 miles · Oct 18, 2006
Parking Brake

1999 FORD RANGER EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE IN COLD WEATHER; HARD TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEELS AT OTHER TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN FEB 2004. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS REPLACED AS WAS THE REAR BRAKE DRUM AND PADS. THE HEAT CAUSED A BREAKDOWN OF THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSING THE REPAIR FACILITY TO REPLACE THE …

Read full complaint

1999 FORD RANGER EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE IN COLD WEATHER; HARD TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEELS AT OTHER TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN FEB 2004. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS REPLACED AS WAS THE REAR BRAKE DRUM AND PADS. THE HEAT CAUSED A BREAKDOWN OF THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSING THE REPAIR FACILITY TO REPLACE THE FLUID, ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD DONE THIS. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2004. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171157

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001
Electrical SystemInterior LightingParking Brake

EMERGENCY BRAKES WILL NOT RELEASE, AND THERE A SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, DOME LIGHTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #877432

Official recalls

4

07V336000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.