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
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE SYMPTOM WAS THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUED. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THE NEW FUEL PUMP, THE SYMTOM OCCURED AGAIN WITHIN 1 DAY. THE DEALER…
Read full complaint
THE SYMPTOM WAS THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUED. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND REPLACED IT. AFTER THE NEW FUEL PUMP, THE SYMTOM OCCURED AGAIN WITHIN 1 DAY. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS, AND CLAIMS THAT NOTHING ELSE WAS FOUND, AND NO OTHER CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE. AFTER THE SECOND TRIP TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RE-OCCURED.
NHTSA ODI #758176
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2002
Electrical SystemVisibility
WHEN TURNING ON DIRECTIONAL LIGHT, AND AT MAKING A TURN, WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON BY THEMSELVES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003799
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2002
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING 4-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD SHIFT INTO 2-WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER CONTACTED, AND HAD INFORMED OWNER PROBLEM WAS DUE TO HOW HUBS WERE SET ON VACUUM. PLEASE ADD VIN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003298
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #757313
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2002
Interior LightingVisibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY (WITHOUT DRIVER TURNING THEM ON), AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STAYS ON FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER THE DOORS HAVE BEEN CLOSED
NHTSA ODI #757299
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2002
Wheels
WHILE OBSERVING A FLAT TIRE CONSUMER NOTICED A 6-8 INCH SPLIT IN ALUMINUM WHEEL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8002590
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Seat Belts
WHEN UNLATCHING SHOULDER BELT IT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO RETRACTOR. THIS RETRACTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES BY DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8002161
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE LEAKING, RIGHT REAR CYLINDER BURSTED. DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDERS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8001982
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Tires
I JUST DISCOVERED THAT MY 1999 FORD RANGER 4X4 OFF-ROAD PICKUP, WHICH WAS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH 16" TIRES, HAS A 15" SPARE. THE ENGINEERS AT FORD HAVE DECIDED THAT MISMATCHING TIRE SIZES POSES NO ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR CONSUMERS. I FEEL THAT EMERGENCY HANDLING WITH A 15" SPARE MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WOULD B…
Read full complaint
I JUST DISCOVERED THAT MY 1999 FORD RANGER 4X4 OFF-ROAD PICKUP, WHICH WAS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH 16" TIRES, HAS A 15" SPARE. THE ENGINEERS AT FORD HAVE DECIDED THAT MISMATCHING TIRE SIZES POSES NO ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR CONSUMERS. I FEEL THAT EMERGENCY HANDLING WITH A 15" SPARE MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE WOULD BE A CHALLENGE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I DOUBT THAT ANY TIRE MANUFACTURERS WOULD RECOMMEND OR SUPPORT THIS PRACTICE. WHAT DID THE DEALERSHIP OR FORD MOTOR COMPANY DO WHEN I BROUGHT THIS MATTER TO THEIR ATTENTION, YOU ASK? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE THE RESULTS FROM SOME INDEPENDENT TEST CONDUCTED BY A CONSUMER GROUP OR FROM ANY TESTS THAT FORD MAY HAVE PERFORMED. COULD THIS BE ANOTHER RECALL IN THE MAKING? I HOPE SO, AS I THINK THAT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, DRIVING A VEHICLE IN THIS CONFIGURATION COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS! THIS IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 1999 MODEL YEAR. FORD HAS DONE THIS ON THE 2000, 2001 AND IS STILL DOING IT ON THEIR 2002 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 16 TIRES. APPARENTLY FORD HAS NO PROBLEM AGGRESSIVELY MARKETING AND UPGRADING THE STANDARD 15 TIRES TO OPTIONAL 16 TIRES. THEY JUST DONT SEE ANY NEED TO UPGRADE THE SPARE. I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH FORDS ATTITUDE, AS I SEE A REAL PROBLEM WITH DRIVING MISMATCHED TIRES EVEN TEMPORARILY, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)
NHTSA ODI #756673
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2002
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER AND HEADED INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
Illustration