2004 Ford Ranger Problems & Recalls

Trucks Of The Month

Ranger Buyers Guide

Complaints:

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

Engine:

Check engine light comes on and the truck stalls. Problem is faulty cylinder heads. See TSB 05-26-3

Engine Miss fire - stalls. Problem is faulty cylinder heads. See TSB 05-26-3

Crankshaft pulley fails. Starts out squeaking / chirping and then separates at the rubber. [Few reports]

Timing chain guide wears and breaks (plastic).

Transmission:

Automatic transmission. Clunks. Jumps in and out of gear. Slips on 1-2 shift. [Few reports]

Miscellaneous Electrical:

Fuel inertia cutoff switch fails and shuts off the fuel to the motor. [Numerous reports]

Truck lurches forward (accelerates) when braking. [Numerous reports]

Intermittent windshield wipers.

Wipers come on with headlights.

Horn and windshield wipers come on with the headlights.

Windows / Windshield:

Rear window pops out. [Several reports]

Rear window becomes loose. Allows water to enter the cab.

Rear window problems are caused by the seats being pushed up against the rear window.

Drivetrain:

Rear pinion seal leaks.

Seat Belts / Air Bag:

Airbag did not deploy. [Several reports]

Airbag on/off switch has a lightbulb that is hard wired into the board inside the switch module. It has a relatively short life span, and when the bulb burns out is causes the module to deactivate the airbags in both the driver's side and the passengers side. This causes the occupant(s) to be unprotected as the airbags cannot deploy in the event of a collision.

Steering:

Rattle in steering column.

Body / Paint:

Bed rot. Bed rots (rusts) where the sticky pad was applied under it where the muffler is. The cold /wet conditions and heat from the exhaust creates condensation resulting in rust.

Roof leaks around rear brake light.

Structure:

Excessive frame rust.

Front bed mounts rust out.

Paint peels off the front of the roof.

Excessive rear spring hanger and shackle rust.

Spare tire fell off due to excessive rust.

Recalls:

2004 Ford Ranger Exterior Lighting: Tail Lights, Exterior Lighting: Brake Lights: NHTSA Campaign #11V352000

Date Announced: JULY 13, 2011 / Vehicles Affected: 26,715

Summary: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011 Ranger trucks built from January 25, 2011, through April 25, 2011 at the Twin Cities assembly plant, and service parts distributed to dealers for certain 2004 through 2011 model year Ranger trucks, 2002 through 2005 model year Excursion vehicles, and 2002 through 2007 model year F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." The multi-function switch was shipped with a subcomponent (slider) that may experience deformation. A multi-function switch with a deformed slider may malfunction causing the turn signal, tail lights, hazard warning signal flashers and/or brake lights not to activate.

Consequence: Non-functioning lights could increase the risk of a crash.

Actions: Dealers will replace the switches free of charge. The safety recall began on August 15, 2011. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA Recall 11V352000 »

2004 Ford Ranger AIR BAGS NHTSA Campaign #14V787000

Date Announced: DECEMBER 12, 2014 / Vehicles Affected: 0

Summary: Ford Motor Company, (Ford) is conducting a regional recall for certain model year 2004-2005 Ford Ranger and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa, as well as certain areas of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, are included. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

Actions: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflators in all affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in the latter part of January 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S28. NOTE: This recall supersedes, in part, safety recall 14V-343 as to the front passenger air bag inflators only. The driver's air bag inflators will continue to be addressed by that recall. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 14V787000 »

2004 Ford Ranger AIR BAGS NHTSA Campaign #14V343000

Date Announced: JUNE 19, 2014 Vehicles Affected: 85,023

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is conducting a limited regional recall for certain model year 2005-2008 Mustang, 2005-2006 GT and 2004-2005 Ranger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and equipped with Takata-brand air bag inflators. Upon deployment of the driver side and/or passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture. Specifically, in the following vehicles, the driver's air bag inflators are affected: 2005-2008 Mustang. In the following vehicles, both the driver's and passenger's air bag inflators are affected: 2005-2006 GT and 2004-2005 Ranger.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one of the affected frontal air bags, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the vehicle occupants.

Actions: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any defective air bag inflators, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began at the end of October. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14B04. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 14V343000 »

2004 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 »

2004 Ford Ranger EXTERIOR LIGHTING NHTSA Campaign #06E065000

Date Announced: JULY 17, 2006 / Vehicles Affected: 3,593

Summary: Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.

Consequence: Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.

Actions: Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on July 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 06E065000 »

2004 Ford Ranger STRUCTURE: FRAME AND MEMBERS: UNDERBODY SHIELDS NHTSA Campaign #04V331000

Date Announced: JULY 14, 2004 / Vehicles Affected: 1,395

Summary: On certain pickup trucks, the frame may have a center rail section flange that was not formed properly.

Consequence: In the event of a side impact crash, the frame rails could puncture the fuel tank, resulting in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Actions: Dealers will inspect the frame to determine whether the frame was incorrectly manufactured. If there is a problem, the vehicle will not be repaired. Ford and the dealer will replace the vehicle. The recall began on July 19, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the NHTSA recall 04V331000 »