IllustrationWHILE DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FRONT WHEEL LOCK-UP, A LOUD GROWLING NOISE IS HEARD WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *AK *JB
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 reportsVEHICLE'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM HAS FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP WHEN DRIVING IN WET/RAINING ROAD CONDITIONS. *AK
A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISON IN WHICH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN 2ND TO 3RD DEGREE BURNS. ALSO DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT MIGHT HAVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HER TO SUSTAIN AN INJURIES TO THE HEAD. *AK
DURING FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEED THE MOTOR RUNS BETWEEN 3/4 TO 1/2 WIDE OPEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
SLIDING REAR WINDOW GLASS IS REFLECTIVE AND DECREASES VISIBILITY.
REAR END SWINGS AFTER HITTING POTHOLES.
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLIED THE BRAKES IN THE RAIN AND THEY LOCKED UP, ALSO IF IT IS DAMP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP, AFTER THE PADS DRY UP THEY WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY, BUT WHEN THEY ARE DAMP THEY DO NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHEN ON DAMP OR HUMID MORNINGS WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST DRIVEN T…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLIED THE BRAKES IN THE RAIN AND THEY LOCKED UP, ALSO IF IT IS DAMP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY WILL GRAB AND LOCK UP, AFTER THE PADS DRY UP THEY WILL FUNCTION NORMALLY, BUT WHEN THEY ARE DAMP THEY DO NOT PERFORM CORRECTLY. *AK CONSUMER STATED WHEN ON DAMP OR HUMID MORNINGS WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST DRIVEN THE BRAKES TEND TO GRAB UPON THE FIRST OR SECOND STOPPING ATTEMP, IF VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES ON A RAINY DAY THE BRAKE TENS TO GRAB UNTIL DRUMS AND ROTORS ARE WARMED UP AND DRY FROM USE.*JB
IDLE CONTROL SPEED UNIT FAILED, SPEED VARIES WIDELY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT OR ABOUT 10-18 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *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.