IllustrationTHE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE. SOMETIMES HAVE TO MOVE AROUND BIT TO GET INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE OTHER DAY I HAD IT IN PARK, WITH THE TRUCK RUNNING AND AFTER I WAS OUT OF IT, IT STARTED MOVING. I HAD TO RUN AROUND AND GET BACK IN TO STOP IT. LUCKILY HAD THE DOOR OPEN. NO MORE LEAVING IT RUNNING WHEN NOT IN THE TRUCK.
2000 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
180–25K
4725–50K
6250–75K
5175–100K
71100–150K
33150K+
282 reports with mileage · 388 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 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
86 crash reports12 fire reports64 injury reports
Steering complaints
25 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OCCURRENCES. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TWENTY MILES T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER MADE THE REPAIR AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OCCURRENCES. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT DRIVE THE VEHICLE TWENTY MILES THEN RETURN FOR A FOLLOW-UP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,310 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,331.
I OWN A 2000 YEAR MODEL FORD RANGER, AND FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WOULD HANG AND THEN POP WHEN I WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I WOULDN'T DO IT IF TURNING THE OTHER DIRECTION. I SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX. HE CHANGED THE RACK AND PINION AND INFORMED M…
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I OWN A 2000 YEAR MODEL FORD RANGER, AND FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WOULD HANG AND THEN POP WHEN I WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I WOULDN'T DO IT IF TURNING THE OTHER DIRECTION. I SEEMED TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIX. HE CHANGED THE RACK AND PINION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD RACK AND PINION HAD A REVISED DESIGN TWICE. FOR THIS REASON I HAD A FORD MOTORCRAFT PART INSTALLED RATHER THAN AN AFTERMARKET PART. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE VERY NEXT DAY AFTER HE FIXED MY TRUCK, ANOTHER RANGER OF THE SAME YEAR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WORSE, BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS TOTALLY LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULDN'T TURN. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A RECALL TO COME OUT, BECAUSE THIS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. SO NOW I FEEL I MUST FILE A COMPLAINT. ALSO, THERE MUST BE A RECURRING PROBLEM IF FORD HAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL RACK AND PINION DESIGN WITH A NEW DESIGN. *JB
THE VEHICLE TIE RODS MADE A NOISE WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *BF *SC *JB
I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH AND AS I CAME TO THE CREST OF A DOWNHILL SECTION, I LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A SKID. I CORRECTED AND AGAIN LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK AGAIN VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AN…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH AND AS I CAME TO THE CREST OF A DOWNHILL SECTION, I LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A SKID. I CORRECTED AND AGAIN LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK AGAIN VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BEFORE THE TRUCK LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A LARGE TREE STUMP. THE TRUCK IS AWAITING INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT DECISION ON REPAIR.*AK
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 25 OR MORE MPH. VEHICLE WAS TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAD THE POWER STEERING PUM/ RACK AND PINION, AND GEAR BOX REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, TURNING 180 DEGREES. *AK
WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A POPPING NOISE. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN A NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
SOMETHING IN MY STEERING BROKE CAUSING MY TRUCK TO CRASH INTO A BRIDGE. IT LOCKED MY STEERING CAPABILITY ON THE LEFT SIDE. 2000 FORD RANGER. IT WAS TOTALED.*JB
Official recalls
307V336000 · 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.
00V228001 · Seat Belts
Aug 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
00V094000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
Mar 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L OHC ENGINES. ENGINE COOLANT CIRCULATION THROUGH THE HEATER CIRCUIT IS PREVENTED BECAUSE OF A PLUGGED HEATER RETURN TUBE (WATER PUMP INLET TUBE) AT THE WATER PUMP. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE INTENT OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AS A RESULT OF NO HEAT IN THE HEATER CIRCUIT, DEFROST PERFORMANCE IS COMPROMISED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PLUGGED HEATER WATER RETURN TUBES.
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.