IllustrationWINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE WITHOUT ANY WARNING,SOMETIMES WASHERS ACTIATE AT SAME TIME.I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW. ORIGINALY IT WAS ONLY ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS OR SO BUT NOW IT IS NEARLY DAILY AND MANY TIMES DURING THE DAY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMERO. *AK
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
What owners actually said
413 reportsWHEN TRUCK IS DRIVEN IN THE MORNING, NO MATTER AT WHAT SPEED, REAR BRAKES LOCK UP. TRUCK IS FINE FOR THE REST OF DAY. OWNER PHONED TWO DEALERSHIPS ABOUT PROBLEM. OWNER WAS TOLD BY ONE OF DEALERSHIPS THAT THERE WAS A NEW MATERIAL ON THE BRAKE LINING THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (00T-005) NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THE TIRES WERE NOT AFFECTED, HOWEVER THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND CHANGED THE TIRES, CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *MJS
CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SIDEWALL ON ONE OF THE TIRES HAD SPLIT, INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES REVEALED THE SAME, THE TIRES HAVE LEGAL TREAD BUT SHOW INCREASING SIGNS OF SEPARATION OF THE SIDEWALLS (FIRESTONE P225/70R14 M+S). NLM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE (POSSIBLY DUE TO TIRE FAILURE) RESULTING THE THE TRAILER DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE AND OVERTURNING ON THE ROAD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES P195 70 R14 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND A SLIPPED BELT. *SLC
TIRE LOW, NEXT DAY TIRE SEPARATION, ROLL OVER WITH A CRITICALY INJURED DRIVER. DIABLED FOR LIFE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R14 )
THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT LISTED ON THE FORM WAS APPROXIMATE, AND THE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY (AMERICAN FAMILY). AT THE TIME OF THE WRECK, I BELIEVE I HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS. I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR, AS THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED IT. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND…
Read full complaint
THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT LISTED ON THE FORM WAS APPROXIMATE, AND THE INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY (AMERICAN FAMILY). AT THE TIME OF THE WRECK, I BELIEVE I HAD A BLOW OUT AND THE ROAD CONDITIONS. I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR, AS THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED IT. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND TIRES AT THE TIME OF WRECK WERE 60, 000. THEY WERE JUST INSPECTED AT FIRESTONE DEARLERSHIP THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND WAS TOLD THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. NORTHCOUNTRY FORD WHERE I GOT MY VEHICLE INSPECTED THAT SAME WEEK ALSO SAID THE SAME THING, TIRES DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE PRESENT TIME. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU MIGHT HAVE AND I MAY BE REACHED AT THE NUMBERS AND ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY GIVEN ON THE FORM. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE TIRE, P22570R14, DOT WSFC1PR495 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, FIRESTONE WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT TIRES WERE NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. *SLC
REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE, CAUSING REAR END TO DROP.*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.