IllustrationHIGH BEAM FOG LIGHT WIRES ARE COMING OUT AND CAUSING FOG LIGHT TO BE INOPERATIVE. LICENSE PLATE SOCKET BULB HAD TURNED COPPER WIRES BLACK.*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 reportsTHE REAR ABS BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A VERY LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. YOU GET THE FEELING THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO STOP IN TH DISTANCE NEEDED. VERY CLOSE NEAR ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES. EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE WEAR AND REPAIR REQUIRED.*AK
ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
PE00 020; ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, HT TIRES. *AK
STOPPED AT RED LIGHT WITH LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON. TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ON DASH WENT DIM, BUT NOT OUT COMPLETELY. A FEW SECONDS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND THE OPENING FOR THE HAZARD LIGHT ACTIVATION SWITCH. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, PUSHED TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE; WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, STA…
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STOPPED AT RED LIGHT WITH LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON. TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR ON DASH WENT DIM, BUT NOT OUT COMPLETELY. A FEW SECONDS LATER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN AROUND THE OPENING FOR THE HAZARD LIGHT ACTIVATION SWITCH. SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, PUSHED TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE; WAITED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, STARTED BACK UP, NO FURTHER INDICATION OF PROBLEM (HOWEVER, DID NOT USE TURN SIGNALS AGAIN FOR REMAINDER OF TRIP: ~5 MILES).*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 60-65MPH ON HIGHWAY FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS HT TIRES, SIZE P225R70R15, DOTW2UU1P0, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND MILES ON THEM EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTATCED BUT REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR DAMAGE AND TIRES TO VEHICLES. *AK *NLM
SEATBACK MAKES POPPING NOISES. SEATBACK SEEMS LIKE IT'S GIVING AWAY, AND WIRES ARE COMING THROUGH THE SEAT. CONSUMER FILLED OUT A FORM AT DEALER, BUT MANUFACTURER WILL NOT HELP PAY FOR REPAIRS DEALER NEVER LOOKED AT THE SEAT.*AK
WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST 3 GEARS GEARSHIFT PUSHES BACK FIRST. THEN, IT GOES IN GEAR, AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED YOKE AND THE SYNCHRONIZER. HOWEVER ,THIS DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 TO 35 MPH VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT.*AK
THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. AN ACCIDENT DIDN'T OCCUR, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INJURY. THE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDE, NOT ON THE TREAD. MY FORD DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGE OF A NEW TIRE AND REFUSED TO HEAR MY CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDER…
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THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE. AN ACCIDENT DIDN'T OCCUR, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INJURY. THE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE SIDE, NOT ON THE TREAD. MY FORD DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGE OF A NEW TIRE AND REFUSED TO HEAR MY CONCERNS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN ONGOING AND WANT TO MAKE MY INCIDENT KNOWN. I STILL HAVE THE TIRE FOR EVIDENCE.*AK (TIRESIZE: P22570R15)
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.