IllustrationTHE TWO BUTTONS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HORN, ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT CONTROL THE CRUISE CONTROL MELT IN THE HEAT AND EXPOSE THE CIRCUIT BOARDS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND I FINALLY NEED TO REPORT THIS. *TR
1996 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1996 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
Limited mileage data: 80 of 413 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
41 crash reports18 fire reports30 injury reports
Steering complaints
17 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH TWO BOLTS WHICH HELD THE STEERING BOX BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BOLTS AND THE STEERING PUMP AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $458.00 . *AK THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED WHEN CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO MOVE F…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH TWO BOLTS WHICH HELD THE STEERING BOX BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BOLTS AND THE STEERING PUMP AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $458.00 . *AK THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED WHEN CONSUMER WAS ABOUT TO MOVE FROM A STOP SIGN. *LA
WHILE MAKING A SLOW TURN STEERING WENT OUT, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. DEALER DETERMINED TWO BOLTS IN STEERING BOX HAD BROKEN.*AK
BOLTS HOLDING STEERING GEARBOX IN PLACE EITHER BROKE OR FELL OUT, CAUSING NEARLY COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. ALMOST HIT GUARDRAIL ON EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH STEERING FAILED AS THE TRUCK ENTERED A CURVE. AFTER FORCEFULLY TRYING TO STEER TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING BECAME FREE. HOWEVER, THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK FROM THE COLLISION. *AK
DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR BOX, STEERING BECAME INOPERATIVE, ALMOST CAUSING A COLLISION. *AK
STEERING WHEEL JERKS WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ANY ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
STEERING GEAR BOX THAT'S BOLTED TO FRAME CAME LOOSE. BOLTS BACKED OUT OF FRAME. TOOK TO DEALER & REPLACED 1 BOLT & 3 LOCK WASHERS. *AK
ANIT-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO FAILURE.
STEERING IMPAIRED WHEN VEHICLE HIT BUMP, DOES NOT TRACT PROPERLY, CAUSES VEHICLE TO PHYSICALLY MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE,DEALER BALANCED WHEELS THREE SEPARATE TIMES , FORD FACTURY REPRESENTATIVE NEEDED TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK
Official recalls
209V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 13, 2009
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
96V161000 · Equipment:other:labels
Aug 29, 1996
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
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.