IllustrationON SLIPPERY HARD PACKED SNOW AND/OR ICE ON DRIVING SURFACES, MY 1999 FORD RANGER BRAKES FAIL TO WORK AT ALL. I HAVE 4 WHEEL ABS. JUST THE IDLE OF THE ENGINE WILL MOVE VEHICLE ALONG, EVEN THOUGH I HAD 2 FEET ON THE BRAKE. *CB
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
80 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A HALT, AND CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ALL THE BRAKE HARDWARE IN THE REAR WHEELS RU…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY CAME TO A HALT, AND CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ALL THE BRAKE HARDWARE IN THE REAR WHEELS RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE REAR CYLINDER TO BLOWOUT. *AK
ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER OF 2002 IT WAS FOUND THAT MY FRONT CALIPERS HAD BECOME SEVERELY WARPED, LARGE PORTIONS OF STEEL WERE GOUGED OUT AND ROTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT LED TO CONSEQUENTAL DAMAGE BY WEARING OUT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME OF TH…
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ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER OF 2002 IT WAS FOUND THAT MY FRONT CALIPERS HAD BECOME SEVERELY WARPED, LARGE PORTIONS OF STEEL WERE GOUGED OUT AND ROTOR WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT LED TO CONSEQUENTAL DAMAGE BY WEARING OUT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR HAD JUST OVER 37,500 MILES. *AK
THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WERE PITTED. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE ROTORS MATERIAL. *NLM THERE WAS 50 PERCENT OF THE BRAKE PAD LIFE THAT REMAINED. FORD STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBL…
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THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN THEY WERE DEPRESSED. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE ROTORS WERE PITTED. THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE ROTORS MATERIAL. *NLM THERE WAS 50 PERCENT OF THE BRAKE PAD LIFE THAT REMAINED. FORD STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL NOT REPAIR THE ROTORS. (THE VEHICLE WAS PAST WARRANTY) *SCC
THE CONSUMER FELT THE BRAKES LOCK UP, AND THE PARKING BRAKE LOCKED UP ALSO. CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR CABLE, SHOES, AND DRUMS. *JB
CONSUMER ADVISED THAT DUE TO DESIGN OF BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WILL INADVERTENTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND VICE-VERSA. CONSUMER FEELS THAT PEDALS WERE DESIGNED TO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. TS
WHILE DRIVING 45MPH BRAKES SHIMMIED REAL HARD.*AK
OWNER HAD TO HIT BRAKES DUE TO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM COMING TO A DEAD STOP WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. TRUCK WENT INTO A SKID, AND STRUCK VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NUMEROUS AMOUT OF FRONT DAMAGE FROM HOOD TO COOLANT SYSTEM, ETC. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, THE DISTANCE NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS GREATLY INCREASED THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN COLD, EVEN WHEN A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, I CAN NOT BRING THE TRUCK TO AN ABRUPT STOP. IT IS ESPECIALLY N…
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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS COLD, THE DISTANCE NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS GREATLY INCREASED THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES I APPLIED THE BRAKES. WHEN COLD, EVEN WHEN A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, I CAN NOT BRING THE TRUCK TO AN ABRUPT STOP. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICABLE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP GOING DOWNHILL. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO 3 LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. NONE HAVE OFFERED ANY SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OR THEY DENY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. MOST RECENTLY, I HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AT PHIL LONG FORD OF DENVER LLC. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE BRAKES STILL TOOK A LONGER TIME TO STOP THE TRUCK WHEN COLD, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THE FORD RANGER BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE UNTIL THE BRAKES WARM UP.*AK
THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SEAL MOVED OUT OF THE AXLE HOUSING, AND CAUSED FLUID TO GET ON BRAKES. THIS HAS AFFECTED THE BRAKING ABILITY, AT PANIC STOP VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 4700 MILES, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE. *AK THE DEALER DENIED THAT THE AXLE HOUSING WAS DEF…
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THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SEAL MOVED OUT OF THE AXLE HOUSING, AND CAUSED FLUID TO GET ON BRAKES. THIS HAS AFFECTED THE BRAKING ABILITY, AT PANIC STOP VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 4700 MILES, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 MORE TIMES SINCE. *AK THE DEALER DENIED THAT THE AXLE HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. SCC
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.