IllustrationBRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS....BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FRONT AND REAR 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YRS...BLOWN WHEEL CYLINDER DRIVERS REAR 2 X....SPRINGS RUSTED DRIVERS REAR 4 TIMES.... ROTORS AND DRUMS REPLACED TWICE, PAD AND/OR SHOES REPLACED 4 TIMES. *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 reportsON 6/7/20 04 CONSUMER FILLED VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL, AND WENT TO WORK. WHEN SHE GOT OFF WORK AND WENT TO HER VEHICLE SHE WITNESSED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. SHE WAS TOLD THAT WHO EVER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BEFORE BOTCHED THE REPAIRS, AND MAY HAVE CUT …
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ON 6/7/20 04 CONSUMER FILLED VEHICLE UP WITH FUEL, AND WENT TO WORK. WHEN SHE GOT OFF WORK AND WENT TO HER VEHICLE SHE WITNESSED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. SHE WAS TOLD THAT WHO EVER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BEFORE BOTCHED THE REPAIRS, AND MAY HAVE CUT A LINE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WAS COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED HAD A PLENTY OF TIME TO MENTAL THINK HOW TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE PASSENGER SIDE IN A NARROW ALLEY, SCRAPE AGAINST THE WALL OF BRICK HOUSE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEA…
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WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WAS COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED HAD A PLENTY OF TIME TO MENTAL THINK HOW TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE PASSENGER SIDE IN A NARROW ALLEY, SCRAPE AGAINST THE WALL OF BRICK HOUSE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER COULD NO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
TWICE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL SIDEWALL FAILURE ON THE MICHILEN LTX A/T TIRE SIZE 75/15. BOTH INSTANCES HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE PICK-UP I WAS DRIVING. *LA
LETTER REFERENCING FORD MOTOR CO. RECALL #00B40, CONSUMER CONCERNED WHY HIS 1999 FORD RANGER PICKUP WAS NOT INCLUDED RECALL #00B40 FOR DEFECTIVE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. *PH THE FAULTY SWITCH CAUSED THE WIPER TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING OR USING THE TURN SIGNAL. MANY 1999 RANGERS WERE RECALL BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE INDIC…
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LETTER REFERENCING FORD MOTOR CO. RECALL #00B40, CONSUMER CONCERNED WHY HIS 1999 FORD RANGER PICKUP WAS NOT INCLUDED RECALL #00B40 FOR DEFECTIVE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. *PH THE FAULTY SWITCH CAUSED THE WIPER TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING OR USING THE TURN SIGNAL. MANY 1999 RANGERS WERE RECALL BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT EH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *NM
DRIVING AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE RACK AND PINION ROD PULLED APART FROM THE TIE ROD END. RACK AND PINION ROD SEEMS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUST AND WEAR ON THE THREADED END. THE DAMAGE TO THE ROD END IS TOO SEVERE TO BE USED AGAIN. THE THREADS SEEM TO BE RUSTED OFF.*AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DOME LIGHT/AJAR LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LOCKING THE DOORS. STEERING COLUMN SMOKED, AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A WOOD FENCE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATED AT THEIR WHIM AND WHEN USING TURN THE SIGNAL. (MR. CHARLES LENNON AND MR. MOHAMED HASHI WAS ASSIGNED THE SAME ODI # 10062157) *PH THE WIPERS WOULD SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED HIS MONEY BACK FOR PRIOR REPAIR. *SC *JB
CRACKED ENGINE HEAD, TRUCK HAD ONLY 65,000 MILES AND WAS NOT DRIVEN HARD. HEATER STILL DOESN'T WARM UP AS IT SHOULD, EVEN AFTER MANUFACTURES REPAIR. *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.