IllustrationSTEERING COLUMN SHAFT UPPER WAS REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE MAKING A LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE, AND GETTING HARD TO STEER. ALSO, PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING. DEALER AWARE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
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
What owners actually said
670 reportsWHEN DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES KICKED IN, AND MOMENTS LATER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HE KEPT ASKING THE DEALER TO REMEDY THE STEERING-3 TIMES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP TAKING…
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WHEN DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. THE BRAKES KICKED IN, AND MOMENTS LATER, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HE KEPT ASKING THE DEALER TO REMEDY THE STEERING-3 TIMES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP TAKING THE VEHICLE TO GET A FRONT END ALIGNMENT EVERY FEW DAYS. THE TAIL GATE LATCH DOES NOT OPERATE, THE WIND IS STILL LEAKING AROUND THE DOOR, THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAKE NOISE OVERHEAD/PERIODICALLY LOCKS UP AND THROWS OFF THE DRIVE BELT AND BECOMES HARD TO STEER, THERE IS A VIBRATION IN THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/ROARING NOISE-ROTATED TIRES. *SCC
WHEN DRIVING THERE WILL BE A WHINING NOISE PRESENT AND STEERING WHEEL WILL BECOME STIFF. STEERING HAS LOCKED UP BEFORE DUE TO MAIN DRIVE BELT BREAKING. DEALER HAS REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK FRONT BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AND THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. THE TAILGATE WILL NOT UNLATCH PERIODICALLY A…
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WHEN DRIVING THERE WILL BE A WHINING NOISE PRESENT AND STEERING WHEEL WILL BECOME STIFF. STEERING HAS LOCKED UP BEFORE DUE TO MAIN DRIVE BELT BREAKING. DEALER HAS REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK FRONT BRAKES NEEDED REPLACING AND THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. THE TAILGATE WILL NOT UNLATCH PERIODICALLY AND THEN COMES OPEN BY ITSELF. THE FRONT RODS WERE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. *JG
TAILGATE WILL SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT TO UNLATCH, AND THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN LATCH WILL COME OPEN WHEN HITTING A BUMP. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND CAN'T FIX TAILGATE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD REV, THEN VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. 6 WEEKS LATER , SAME THING HAPPENED. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AGAIN, TRANSMISSION LASTED LESS THAN ONE HOUR. CURRENTLY, TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME.*AK
THE FUEL LINE CAME LOOSE AT THE FUEL FILTER ALLOWING THE GAS TO BE PUMPED OUT UNDER THE TRUCK. ALTHOUGH THEIR WAS NO FIRE IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPITIED, WITH THE FUEL BEING SPRAYED ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF THE TRUCK, INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I FELL THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND SH…
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THE FUEL LINE CAME LOOSE AT THE FUEL FILTER ALLOWING THE GAS TO BE PUMPED OUT UNDER THE TRUCK. ALTHOUGH THEIR WAS NO FIRE IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE FUEL TANK WAS EMPITIED, WITH THE FUEL BEING SPRAYED ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF THE TRUCK, INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I FELL THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE A RECALL SITUATION BEFOR SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIES FROM THIS DEFECT.*AK
THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS, CURRENTLY, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ON, AND AIR CONDITIONER WON'T COME ON.*AK
CONSUMER WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30MPH ON A DIRT GRAVEL ROAD. DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT IMPACT. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
THE TIRES SHOW NO OTHER UNUSUAL SIGNS OF WEAR BUT DO SHOW SIGNS OF SEPARATION BESIDE THE TREAD THE VEHICLE HAS 28000 MILES ON IT AND I THINK THAT IT IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING AT THIS MILEAGE. THANKFULLY I NOTICED THE PROBLEM BEFORE ANY UNFORTUNATE EVENT HAPPENED WHILST DRIVING.*AK
I NOTICED A FAIRLY LARGE PATCH OF OIL BENEATH MY TRUCK WHEN VEHICLE HAD BEEN IDLE FOR A DAY OR SO. I CRAWLED BENEATH VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT A LEAK OF SOME MAGNITUDE WAS OCCURRING SOMEWHERE ON THE ENGINE. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT NOT PURCHASED FROM. ALL SERVICE HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AT LISTED DEALERSHI…
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I NOTICED A FAIRLY LARGE PATCH OF OIL BENEATH MY TRUCK WHEN VEHICLE HAD BEEN IDLE FOR A DAY OR SO. I CRAWLED BENEATH VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT A LEAK OF SOME MAGNITUDE WAS OCCURRING SOMEWHERE ON THE ENGINE. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT NOT PURCHASED FROM. ALL SERVICE HAS BEEN CONDUCTED AT LISTED DEALERSHIP. THEY DETERMINED THAT I HAD BLOWN THE REAR MAIN SEAL OF THE ENGINE, AND WOULD REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL REPAIR. DURING THE COURSE OF THAT REPAIR, IT WAS FURTHER DETEMINED THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS ALSO IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THIS MORE THAN DOUBLED THE REPAIR COST TO THIS VEHICLE. I AM NOT PARTICLULARY MECHANICALLY INCLINED TOWARD CARS OR TRUCKS, BUT DO CONSISTANTLY MAINTAIN THOSE THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO VERIFY THAT.. I DRIVE MY TRUCK HARD, BUT I DON'T ABUSE IT. I FEEL THAT THE AMOUNT OF REPAIR REQUIRED FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD IS WAY OUT OF LINE. THANK YOU.*AK
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.