IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF RUST ON THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE FRONT END. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
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 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR BUMPER BEGAN HANGING HALFWAY OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR BUMPER BEGAN HANGING HALFWAY OFF THE VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THAT THE RUSTING WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO THE SALTING OF THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 68,800
1999 FORD RANGER, FRAME RUSTED SO BAD THAT MY MECHANIC SAYS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT WORK ON IT. I HAVE WELDED THE FRAME IN TWO PLACES. WHAT IS UPSETTING IS THAT THERE IS NO RUST HOLES IN THE BED OR BODY. THE FRAME SHOULD NOT BE DISINTEGRATING BEFORE OTHER PARTS RUST. *TR
FRAME ROT. HAD TO PUT NEW SPRING SHACKLES IN. FOUND THE FRAME ROTTED OUT AT AND AROUND SPARE TIRE. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND NOT KNOWING THIS PRIOR TO BUYING IT COULD HAVE SAVED ME ALOT OF MONEY AND GRIEF. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF HER VEHICLE WAS ROTTED. SHE NOTICED A NEWS SOURCE STATING THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP OTHER THAN THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,319. UPDATED 05/27/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A PROBLE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF HER VEHICLE WAS ROTTED. SHE NOTICED A NEWS SOURCE STATING THAT THIS WAS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP OTHER THAN THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,319. UPDATED 05/27/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. UPDATED 05/28/09. *JB
THE FRAME OF THE 1999 FORD RANGER XLT HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE IRREPAIRABLY (SP) DETERIORATED. THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF HAVING LOST ALL MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND MAY BREAK CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CON…
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THE FRAME OF THE 1999 FORD RANGER XLT HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE IRREPAIRABLY (SP) DETERIORATED. THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER IS RUSTED TO THE POINT OF HAVING LOST ALL MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND MAY BREAK CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, OR THE ENGINE/TRANS MAY DROP AND CAUSE THE SHIFT LINKAGE AND OR THE ACCELERATOR TO MOVE WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. *TR
FRAME RUST TO THE POINT OF FRAME FAILURE, DUE TO RUST. *TR
WE HAVE A 99 FORD RANGER BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS ONLY APPROX. 80,000 MILES ON IT. WE JUST NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED AND READY TO SPLIT IN HALF. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO., THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OVER. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. …
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WE HAVE A 99 FORD RANGER BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT IS IN MINT CONDITION AND HAS ONLY APPROX. 80,000 MILES ON IT. WE JUST NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED AND READY TO SPLIT IN HALF. WE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO., THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OVER. THEY WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE FRAME AND IF, IT WAS NOT NOTICED, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE MAY BE MORE VEHICLES OUT THERE THAT COULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN IF IT WASN'T NOTICED. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE METAL FRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DETERIORATED. AS A RESULT, THE BUMPER HANGS DOWN FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WA SPARKED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF REAR BUMPER WAS HANGING DOWN BECAUSE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE METAL FRAME ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DETERIORATED. AS A RESULT, THE BUMPER HANGS DOWN FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WA SPARKED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF REAR BUMPER WAS HANGING DOWN BECAUSE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS RUSTED. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME AND THE VEHICLE'S BODY WERE NOT RUSTED. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND TIME TO VIEW THE VEHICLE, BUT OFFERED $1000 OF THE $3500 REPAIR COST IF REPAIRED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. CONTACT REJECTED IT CLAIMING IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK
WHEN IT RAINS GALLONS OF WATER COMES THROUGH THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR, THOUGH THE DASHBOARD, DOWN THE FLOOR BOARD. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB
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.