Complaints:

Looking to buy a used Ford Ranger? Here are some complaints / problems and recalls to be aware of.

Engine:

  • Engine sounds like it has marbles in it. (Possibly a valve alignment issue)
  • Engine loses power / stalls.
  • Cam shaft sensor became loose.
  • A/C condenser & compressor failed causing hesitation of the engine.

Fuel:

  • Rivets that hold the gas pedal rusted and broke.
  • Crossmember that supports the fuel tank straps rust and cause the tank to become loose.

Transmission:

  • 5R55E automatic transmission failed due to a stripped center support and broken teeth.
  • Grinding noise when shifting between 2, 3. and 4. (Manual)
  • Vehicle lost 1st & 2nd gear. (Manual)
  • Synchronizer fails, breaks and causes damage in the transmission. (Manual)
  • Bracket holding clutch & brake pedal broke leaving the owner unable to press either.

Driveshaft / Axles:

  • Several reports of the rear driveshaft failing.
  • Rear axle locked up.

Miscellaneous Electrical:

  • Door ajar and dome light come on and won’t go off. [Numerous reports] (Sticking door latch switch. Spray door latch with WD-40 or replace)
  • Vehicle caught on fire while parked outside. [Numerous reports] (Faulty cruise control)
  • Cruise control plug caught fire under the hood.
  • Engine surges / accelerates on its own when slowing. [Numerous reports] (Faulty cruise control)
  • Vehicle continues to accelerate and doesn’t disengage when accelerating with the cruise control on.
  • Turn signal multi switch fails.

Heating / Cooling:

  • Heater blend door fails and is stuck on full heat. (See how to fix it HERE.)

Suspension:

  • Excessive rust on the rear spring shackles and hanger cause them to fail. [Several reports]
  • Worn ball joints and wheel bearings.

Seat Belts / Air Bag:

  • Air bags did not deploy during front end collision. [Numerous reports]
  • Seat belt did not latch / do not stay latched.

Structure:

  • Excessive frame rust resulting in cracks and holes. [Numerous reports]
  • Spare tire fell off due to excessive frame rust.
  • Rear bumper falls off due to rust.

Brakes:

  • Brake lines rust and leak.
  • ABS brakes lock up.
  • Brake pedal goes to the floor.
  • Brake pedal gets hard and increases the stopping distance.

Tires:

  • Numerous reports of Firestone Wilderness tires separating / blowing out.

Recalls:

1998 Ford Ranger EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS NHTSA Campaign #09E025000

Date Announced: MAY 11, 2009 / Vehicles Affected: 42,540

Summary: Dope, Inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, “lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.” These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.

Consequence: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.

Actions: Dope, Inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, Inc. At 1-626-272-1798. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 09E025000 »

1998 Ford Ranger EXTERIOR LIGHTING NHTSA Campaign #09E012000

Date Announced: APRIL 07, 2009 Vehicles Affected: 16,270

Summary: Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, “lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.” These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.

Consequence: Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.

Actions: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 09E012000 »

1998 Ford Ranger VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL NHTSA Campaign #07V336000

Date Announced: AUGUST 03, 2007 / Vehicles Affected: 3,600,000

Summary: 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: This could result in an underhood fire.

Actions: 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. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 07V336000 »

1998 Ford Ranger FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE NHTSA Campaign #06E056000

Date Announced: JUNE 13, 2006 / Vehicles Affected: 58,640

Summary: Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, P/N F65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect design, the quick connectors may not fully seat with the tube interface, even though the person making the connection may believe that the quick connector is fully attached.

Consequence: Failure of this connection could lead to fuel spillage and, in the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.

Actions: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters usa at 800-230-5876. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 06E056000 »

1998 Ford Ranger TIRES: TREAD / BELT NHTSA Campaign #01X001000

Date Announced: MAY 22, 2001 / Vehicles Affected: 13,000,000

Summary: This is not a safety recall in accordance with the Safety Act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the Agency. Equipment description: Ford is replacing all Firestone Wilderness AT 15, 16, and 17 inch tires mounted on Ford trucks and SUVS. Ford reports tread separation can occur due to a combination of the sensitivity of the tire design to stress, aging, and manufacturing differences between plants. Ford is replacing these tires to prevent possible premature tire failure. Vehicle description: The vehicles listed below may have been originally equipped with Firestone Wilderness AT tires or may have had Wilderness AT tires installed during the Firestone recall launched in August 2000. Certain 1991 throught 2002 Ford Explorer certain 2001 throught 2002 Explorer Sport, and Sport Trac certain 1997 through 2002 Mercury Mountaineer certain 1991 through 2001 Ranger certain 1999 through 2001 Expedition certain 1991 through 1994, and 1997 model year F-series certain 1991 through 1994 Bronco note: Both original equipment and replacement tires are affected.

Consequence: Should the tread separate at highway speeds, a vehicle crash could occur, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.

Actions: The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on March 31, 2002. However, customers can contact Ford at 1-877-917-3673 or go on-line to www.Ford.com for possible assistance. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 01X001000 »

1998 Ford Ranger EXTERIOR LIGHTING NHTSA Campaign #06E026000

Date Announced: MARCH 23, 2006 / Vehicles Affected: 61,944

Summary: Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.

Consequence: Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.

Actions: Pro-a motors will notify owners and offer to repurchase the lamps. The recall began on April 3, 2006. Owners may contact pro-a motors at 323-838-2988. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 06E026000 »

1998 Ford Ranger TIRES: TREAD BELT NHTSA Campaign #00T005000

Date Announced: AUGUST 21, 2000 / Vehicles Affected: 14,400,000

Summary: Tire description: Firestone Wilderness AT, size P235/75R15, produced at the Decatur, Illinois tire plant and all Firestone radial ATX and radial ATX II tires, size P235/75R15. Operation of these tires at low inflation pressures, high speed, and in hot weather, can contribute to separation of the tire tread.

Consequence: If the tread separates from the tire, the driver can lose control of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash causing injury or death.

Actions: The replacement/reimbursement program for this campaign expired on August 29, 2001. However, customers should contact Firestone customer service at 1-800-465-1904 for possible assistance. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 00T005000 »

1998 Ford Ranger POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NHTSA Campaign #99V204000

Date Announced: JULY 28, 1999 / Vehicles Affected: 326

Summary: 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: 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.

Actions: Dealers will inspect the transaxle and any with misaligned park detent springs will be replaced. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 99V204000 »

1998 Ford Ranger VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL NHTSA Campaign #99V062001

Date Announced: MARCH 30, 1999 / Vehicles Affected: 898,739

Summary: 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/Mountaineer equipped with 4.0L OHV/SOHC or 5.0L engines or 1998-1999 Ranger 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: If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.

Actions: 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. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 99V062001 »

1998 Ford Ranger EQUIPMENT: OTHER: LABELS NHTSA Campaign #98V021000

Date Announced: FEBRUARY 02, 1998 / Vehicles Affected: 11,500

Summary: Vehicle description: Light duty four-wheel drive pickup trucks equipped with off-road option. The tire and rim identification information is incorrect on these vehicles. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 120, “tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars.”

Consequence: The 16″ tires could not be inflated on the specified 15X7.0J rim.

Actions: Owners will be sent a safety certification label partial overlay which will contain the correct rim size, and instructions for affixing this label to the vehicle. If an owner so desires, their Ford dealer can install the label for them. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 98V021000 »

1998 Ford Ranger FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS NHTSA Campaign #97V186001

Date Announced: OCTOBER 28, 1997 / Vehicles Affected: 2,000

Summary: Vehicle description: Light duty pickup trucks equipped with 4.0L engines. The flexible section of the chassis mounted fuel line that connects to the engine was routed too close to the exhaust manifold. The line could contact the manifold.

Consequence: This could potentially result in damage to the fuel line, or in some cases, cause a fuel leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Actions: Dealers will install an additional clip to hold the fuel line in the intended design position. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA recall #97V186001 »

 

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