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 reports
38,000 miles · Aug 21, 2003
Visibility
1999 FORD RANGER: DURING WARRANTY HAD WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH REPLACED BY FORD FROM NOTICE IN MAIL. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, OUT OF WARRANTY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WONT STAY ON. THEY COME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD BUT ONCE START DRIVING THEY STOP WORKING...DONT KNOW IF SHORT IN SWITCH OR HEAT RELATED..FORD HAS SAID THAT FIRST FIX SHOULD …
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1999 FORD RANGER: DURING WARRANTY HAD WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH REPLACED BY FORD FROM NOTICE IN MAIL. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, OUT OF WARRANTY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WONT STAY ON. THEY COME ON WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD BUT ONCE START DRIVING THEY STOP WORKING...DONT KNOW IF SHORT IN SWITCH OR HEAT RELATED..FORD HAS SAID THAT FIRST FIX SHOULD HAVE FIXED IT, BUT NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND NEED TO PAY TO FIX IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10033245
32,444 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Power TrainCrashInjury
TRUCK PLACED IN PARK. I LEFT VEHICLE TO GO TO MAILBOX. TRUCK STARTED TO BACK UP IN IDLE. DRAGGED ME AND RAN OVER ANKLE. VEHICLE CAME OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10032769
50,000 miles · Aug 8, 2003
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL OPERATE IN THE OFF POSITION.
NHTSA ODI #10031125
23,000 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages
WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD LATCH BECAME UNLATCHED. *AK *TS *JB
NHTSA ODI #10027198
60,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Unknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING, THE CABLE SNAPPED WHICH CAUSED THE SPARE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. *JB *CB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10019690
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 45MPH SUDDENLY ENGINE DIED, FORCING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024720
69,138 miles · Jun 22, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE TRAVELING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIT UP AND TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART. TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED NOT OVERHEATING, WATER WAS IN RADIATOR, OIL WAS AT THE FULL MARK ON THE OIL DIP STICK. NO FLUIDS LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. MY VEHICLE IS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS LIT UP AND TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART. TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED NOT OVERHEATING, WATER WAS IN RADIATOR, OIL WAS AT THE FULL MARK ON THE OIL DIP STICK. NO FLUIDS LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE. MY VEHICLE IS AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN OWATANNA, MN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FORD DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN THAT HE BELIEVES IT TO BE PIECES OF THE GASKET AROUND THE OIL PUMP THAT BLOCKED THE FLOW OF OIL TO THE ENGINE SEIZING THE VALVES IN THE ENGINE. APPARENTLY IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY TO HIS KNOWLEDGE. ALSO , I KNOW OF ANOTHER FORD RANGER THAT EXPERIENCED UNEXPLAINED ENGINE FAILURE THIS PAST WEEK. I HAVE MAINTAINED OIL CHANGES WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 69136 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT THIS JUNCTURE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE AND THE DEALERSHIP HAVE NOT RESOLVED METHOD OF REPLACING THE ENGINE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10023564
Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE DRIVER TRIED AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE AND WAS HIT ON THE SIDE AND THE FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10024247
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE THROTTLE HOUSING BROKE WHICH CAUSED IMMEDIATE DECELERATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10022441
29,000 miles · Jun 4, 2003
Power Train
NOISE AND GRINDING COMING FROM DRIVE SHAFT AND/OR TRANSMISSION...THIS OCCURS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ALSO, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LIKE THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND ALSO THE CAB LIGHT STAYS ON..I ALSO HAD THE BRAKES REPLACED AND IT STILL RUMBLES WHEN USING THE BRAKES..CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO VEER TO A CERTAIN SIDE. *NLM
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.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1999 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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