IllustrationAIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. THE DEACTIVATOR SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE CAME WITH AN OF/OFF SWITCH, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. *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
What owners actually said
755 reportsINTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED ON THEIR OWN. WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM
PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON 1999 FORD RANGER.*MR THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND IS VERY DISTRACTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT EH PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED FOR $200-$300. THE CONSUMER FEELS THA…
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PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON 1999 FORD RANGER.*MR THE VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND IS VERY DISTRACTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT EH PROBLEM COULD BE FIXED FOR $200-$300. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT SINCE THE PART DID NOT FAIL DUE TO WEAR THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM THE CONSUMER FOUND TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, TSB 00B40 AND TSB 0096. *NM
AFTER HITTING A DEER AT 45 MPH A WHITE POWERED SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE FRONT AIR BAG WHEN DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WE HAVE PURCHASED 3 FORD RANGER PICKUPS SINCE 1992 AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY WITH THEM BUT THIS LAST ONE HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES. ON IT AND WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR CHECK WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DEALER SAID "NEW HEAD GASKET NEEDED". SO WE TOOK IT HOME AND TO OUR OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC AND HE SAYS "NEW ENGINE NEEDED". WE HA…
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WE HAVE PURCHASED 3 FORD RANGER PICKUPS SINCE 1992 AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY WITH THEM BUT THIS LAST ONE HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES. ON IT AND WHEN WE TOOK IT IN FOR CHECK WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DEALER SAID "NEW HEAD GASKET NEEDED". SO WE TOOK IT HOME AND TO OUR OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC AND HE SAYS "NEW ENGINE NEEDED". WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE WITH THESE PICKUPS AND NEVER LESS THAN 250,000 MI. ON THE ENGINES. I JUST WANTED THIS ON RECORD BECAUSE I KNOW IT HAS TO HAVE BEEN FAULTY ENGINE AND ALSO TO LET YOU KNOW THAT EVEN WITH THE GOOD LUCK IN THE PAST, IT IS DOUBTFUL WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER CHANCE WITH A FORD PICKUP. *AK
THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND OVERHEATED. DEALERSHIPS WOULD NOT REPAIR, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH RECALL 98V005000. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED INTO A HOUSE. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED AND IN THE PARK GEAR. RECALL#99V204000. *SC (INSURANCE COMPANY OF BEHALF OF CONSUMER) *JB
WIPERS DIDN'T OPERATE CORRECTLY - WAS RECALLED FIX AND WORKED OKAY FOR A WHILE NOW CURRENTLY COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES OR WHEN YOU PUT HIGH BEAMS OR BLINKER ON. MY DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT A DOOR OPEN AND THE DOME LIGHTS CAME ON AND DRAINED DOWN MY BATTERY. FORD HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *LA
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT LEFT DRIVER TIRES WITH TIRE TREAD FAILURE AND BLOWOUT. TIRES 2 YEARS OLD AND PREVENTATIVE MAINTAINANCE PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. CAUSED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO MY 1999 FORD RANGER SUPERCAB XLT RWD.*AK
CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH . VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 4000 RPMS. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE EXCESSIVELY. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. MANUFACTURER'S RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE INITI…
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CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH . VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 4000 RPMS. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE EXCESSIVELY. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. MANUFACTURER'S RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE INITIAL PROBLEM STARTED SOME TIME AGO WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. THE PROBLEM CEASED FOR A WHILE. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE. AND HAD IT REPAIRED. *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.