IllustrationFAULTY DRIVETRAIN; ALSO, A CONNECTING ROD FROM ENGINE PERTRUDED THROUGH OIL PAN WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, CAUSING ENGINE TO SIEZE AND BLOW. *AK
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
Power Train complaints
67 reportsWHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO LEFT OR TO RIGHT. WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CONSUMER WOULD HEAR LOUD/WEIRED RUBBING NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FELT NOISE WAS COMING FROM DRIVELINE AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT, BUT COULD NOT CORRECT DEFECT. *AK
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS AND SHAKES CAR VIOLENTLY AT START OF ACCELERATION, AND IN BETWEEN SOME GEARS. TRANSMISSION CLUNK INTO GEAR INTERMITENTLY. SHUTTERS AT BRAKING AS TRANSMISSION IS GEARING DOWN. PROBLEM WAS SO BAD. IN SHOP 42 DAYS TOTAL. DEALER (PEYTON CREAMER) TRIED TO FIX. COULD NOT. AFTER FILING UNDER…
Read full complaint
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS AND SHAKES CAR VIOLENTLY AT START OF ACCELERATION, AND IN BETWEEN SOME GEARS. TRANSMISSION CLUNK INTO GEAR INTERMITENTLY. SHUTTERS AT BRAKING AS TRANSMISSION IS GEARING DOWN. PROBLEM WAS SO BAD. IN SHOP 42 DAYS TOTAL. DEALER (PEYTON CREAMER) TRIED TO FIX. COULD NOT. AFTER FILING UNDER CA LEMON LAW TO GET A REPLACEMENT VEHICAL, FORD OFFERED ME A BUY BACK OF MY VEHICAL. I ACCEPTED. I NOW HAVE A NEW TRUCK AND IT TOO IS DOING MOST OF THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I NO LONGER OWN THIS 1999 TRUCK BUT DO STILL OWN THE 2000 TRUCK WHICH I TOO HAVE MADE A COMPLANINT ON. DEALER IS PRETTY MUCH REFUSING TO HAVE MY TRUCK IN THIER SHOP ANY MORE UNLESS THEY HEAR FROM FORD.
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO 3RD GEAR VEHICLE GRINDS AND SLOWS DOWN. DEALER REBUILT TRANSMISSION, AND THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE GEARS TO SLIP WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH INOPERATIVE. YH
WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THE MANUAL SHIFT IS IN GEAR AFTER BEING PARKED A WHILE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS/DOES NOT ENGAGE, AND IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS FREE AS IF IN NEUTRAL
REAR END IS THREE QUATERS OF AN INCH OFF LINE. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. DEALERS HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, TRANSAXLE SEAL IS LEAKING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CALIPER MALFUNCTION, SHOES RUBBING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CLUNKING WHEN SHIFTING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE OR VICE VERSA
WAS DRIVING NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE LEFT REAR WHEEL. CALLED DEALER AND HAD IT TOWED. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE AUSED SMOKE TO ENTER VEHICLE. *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.