IllustrationMY FRAME IS RUSTING OUT! I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING MY GAS TANK SO I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SHOP TO FIND THAT WHERE THE GAS TANK SUPPORTS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT. MY GAS TANK WAS HANGING ON BY A THREAD. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHOLE THING REMOVED, REPAIRED, AND REPLACED.
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
Structure complaints
89 reportsMY 1999 FORD RANGER FRAME IS RUSTING IN SEVERAL LOCATION WHICH WILL MAKE IT VERY UNSAFE THE BODY LOOKS BRAND NEW BUT THE FRONT FRAME AND REAR FRAME ARE RUSTING AWAY. THE SHOCKS ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE ARE ABOUT THE BREAK THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT THE BREAK OFF.
UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC SAID "SHACKLES , FRAME, LEAFSPRINGS, ALL RUSTED AND TRUCK WILL NOT LAST. MOTOR RUNS GREAT, BODY NO RUST.
I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE 99 FORD RANGER, AND EVERY ONE I HAVE SEEN IS RUSTED OUT. FRAME, REAR BUMPER & BED. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES RUSTED BUT NOT AS BAD AS THE FRAME, RUSTED IN HALF, REAR BUMPER FELL OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD, OTHER THINGA THAT BOLT UNDER THE BED FELL OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR FRAME WAS RUSTED OUT. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
TOOK TO GET INSPECTED MECHANIC SAID FRAME WAS IN BAD SHAPE. I HAD 5 DIFFERENT PEOPLE TELL ME IT WAS BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
THIS WINTER WHILE WASHING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY 1999 RANGER, I NOTICED THE FRAME AT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR SHOCK MOUNT IS RUSTED THROUGH. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, I SEE THAT THE FRAME AT THE REAR BUMPER MOUNTS IS ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. THE BED SUPPORTS THAT RUN PERPENDICULAR TO THE FRAME ARE ALSO SEVERELY RUSTED. *TR
I HAVE OWNED 4 RANGERS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, A 1995, 1998,1999,AND A 2001 AND ALL 4 TRUCKS HAVE HAD THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS ROT OFF . MY LATEST TRUCK THE LEAF SPRING HANGER AND NOW THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTAND…
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I HAVE OWNED 4 RANGERS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, A 1995, 1998,1999,AND A 2001 AND ALL 4 TRUCKS HAVE HAD THE LEAF SPRING HANGERS ROT OFF . MY LATEST TRUCK THE LEAF SPRING HANGER AND NOW THE FRAME HAS ROTTED AWAY THERE IS NO WAY THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT TUNDRAS HAD A RECALL ON THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY IS IT DIFFERENT FOR A RANGER? *TR
FOR THE SECOND TIME AS FAR AS I KNOW THE REAR FRAME (REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND SPEAR TIRE HOLDER SPECIFICALLY) HAVE AND ARE BEING REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAVE RUSTED AND THEY TORE APART. AS I WAS DRIVING I HIT A REGULAR BUMP IN THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 45 MPH ON THE WAY TO WORK. WELL IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HIT PRETTY HARD, A…
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FOR THE SECOND TIME AS FAR AS I KNOW THE REAR FRAME (REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND SPEAR TIRE HOLDER SPECIFICALLY) HAVE AND ARE BEING REPLACED BECAUSE THEY HAVE RUSTED AND THEY TORE APART. AS I WAS DRIVING I HIT A REGULAR BUMP IN THE ROAD. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 45 MPH ON THE WAY TO WORK. WELL IT SOUNDED LIKE IT HIT PRETTY HARD, AS I WAS DRIVING I NOTICED THE TRUCKS PERFORMANCE WAS LACKING. SO, WENT TO WORK, GOT OUT OF WORK AND ON THE WAY BACK HOME I NOTICED THE SAMETHING WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS LACKING IN A BIG WAY. AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY I HEARD A LARGE CLUNK SOUND. THE NEXT DAY I HAD A PRIOR APPOINTMENT AT MY TRANSMISSION SHOP. AS THE MECHANICS PUT IT ON THE LIFT "THE REAR AXLE DROPPED TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND BUSTING THEIR SEALS. BECAUSE THE SHACKLE BROKE IT WAS CAUSING THE AXLE TO TWIST WHILE I WAS DRIVING GIVEN THE TRUCK THE BAD PERFORMANCE, BAD STEERING, AND GIVING THE TRANSMISSION A PULSATING AFFECT. ALSO THE ENGINE LOST THE POWER GIVING THE TRUCK RESISTANCE AND USING MORE GAS. SO I AM REPLACING BOTH SHACKLES, BOTH SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND THE SPEAR TIRE MECHANISM. AT THE SAME TIME I WILL BE SANDING THE FRAME DOWN, AND COATING ALL PARTS (CLEANING AND COATING PARTS) WITH BEDLINER COATING TO HOPEFULLY STOP THE RUST. THE PARTS THAT I AM REPLACING ARE ALSO REPLACEMENT PARTS BECAUSE THEY ARE BOLTED ON TO THE FRAME INSTEAD OF RIVETED LIKE THE ORIGINALS WERE. ALSO THE STEEL SEAMS TO BE THINNER IN THE REAR THAN THE FRONT AND MIDDLE. *TR
I TRIED TO GET MY 99 RANGER INSPECTED WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT A BIG CHUNK OF THE FRAME FELL TO THE GROUND .UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WERE HOLES IN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME NEXT TO THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND THE GAS TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED OUT OF THE FRAME .THE GARAGE OWNER TAPED THE FRAME WITH A BALL PEEN HAMMER AND F…
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I TRIED TO GET MY 99 RANGER INSPECTED WHEN THEY PUT IT ON THE LIFT A BIG CHUNK OF THE FRAME FELL TO THE GROUND .UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WERE HOLES IN THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME NEXT TO THE REAR SPRING SHACKLES AND THE GAS TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED OUT OF THE FRAME .THE GARAGE OWNER TAPED THE FRAME WITH A BALL PEEN HAMMER AND FOUND MORE HOLES ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE RIGHT FRONT UNDER THE AIR CONDITIONER .I COULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK HOME IT WAS SO UNSAFE I CAN'T BELIEVE THE FRAME DID NOT BRAKE WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT .IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THE TRUCK IN THAT CONDITION THE FRAME WOULD HAVE CRUMPLED UP LIKE TIN FOIL .READING THE COMPLAINTS HERE I'M NOT ALONE .THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN CARE OF WASHED ALL THE TIME IF FORD IS GOING TO SELL TRUCKS IN NEW YORK THEY BETTER BE SAFER .I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD . *TR
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.