IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT LATCH. THE BUCKLE WILL NOT CONNECT TO THE LATCH OF THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 118,000.
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 reportsFUEL TANK FILLER NECK CRACKED. *TR
GAS FILL HOSE DEFECTED AND CRACKED, I TRIED TO GET ONE FROM SALVAGE YARD AND THE GUY TOLD ME EVERY HOSE THEY TRIED TO SAVE WAS ALSO CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE AND THAT HE HAS PEOPLE COMING IN ALL THE TIME ASKING FOR THE SAME HOSE FOR A 95 THROUGH 97 THERE IS A STRONG GAS VAPOR AND POOR GAS MILEAGE RESULTING FROM HOSE A NEW HOSE C…
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GAS FILL HOSE DEFECTED AND CRACKED, I TRIED TO GET ONE FROM SALVAGE YARD AND THE GUY TOLD ME EVERY HOSE THEY TRIED TO SAVE WAS ALSO CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE AND THAT HE HAS PEOPLE COMING IN ALL THE TIME ASKING FOR THE SAME HOSE FOR A 95 THROUGH 97 THERE IS A STRONG GAS VAPOR AND POOR GAS MILEAGE RESULTING FROM HOSE A NEW HOSE CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED FOR A FORD DEALER AND THE COST IS AROUND 258.00 I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE HOSE BECAUSE OF THE COST AND I DON'T WONT TO SPED ALL THIS MONEY IF I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM 3 YEARS LATER I DID TRY TO REPAIR HOSE BY PATCHING IT WITH A TUBE REPAIR KIT BECAUSE OF THE COST BUT IT DIDN'T CORRECT MY PROBLEM WITH THE GAS VAPORS. IT WORRIES ME THAT A FIRE COULD RESULT OR THE FUMES COULD BE HARMFUL TO MY HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE ACTIVATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING DAILY FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. UPDATED 04/08/08. *LJ THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS AND EM…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE ACTIVATING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING DAILY FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 164,000. UPDATED 04/08/08. *LJ THE RIGHT TURN SIGNALS AND EMERGENCY FLASHERS DID NOT WORK. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS A PROBLEM AS WELL. UPDATED
DRIVERS SEAT BELT WOULD LATCH AND LATER POP OUT OF BUCKLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, HE NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WAS BURNED AND THE PLASTIC WAS MELTED. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. A NEW CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WILL COST $50. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT INFORM HIM IF THE NEW SWITCH W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, HE NOTICED THAT THE SWITCH WAS BURNED AND THE PLASTIC WAS MELTED. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. A NEW CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WILL COST $50. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT INFORM HIM IF THE NEW SWITCH WOULD FAIL AND ADVISED HIM TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE CONTACT WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH HIMSELF, BUT WILL INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF IT WILL BURN AGAIN. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 209,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK HOSE LEAKS. ON AUGUST 8, 2007, HE NOTICED THAT THE TANK WAS SWELLING FROM THE INSIDE AND WAS SPLIT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
THE FRAME MOUNTS ON THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED OFF ALLOWING THE SPRINGS TO RIDE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BED.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIT A DEER ON 09/24/06, WITH THE 1996 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE DEER ON THE DRIVER' FRONT SIDE , AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND B…
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIT A DEER ON 09/24/06, WITH THE 1996 FORD RANGER EXTENDED CAB WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HIT THE DEER ON THE DRIVER' FRONT SIDE , AND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND BEFORE GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME BY AND HIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE BACK AT THE SPEED OF 55-60 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT'S IS WHEN THE AIR DID BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 97,000. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH.*AK
I HIT A SMALL DEER DOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT THREE MINUTES LATER ANOTHER AUTO CAME UP FROM BEHIND AND REAR ENDED ME MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED THEN. WHY DID IT DEPLOY THEN AND NOT WHEN I HIT THE DEER. THE ONLY DAMAGE I DID TO THE FRONT END TO MY TRUCK WAS CRACKED THE GILL AND OTHERS ARO…
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I HIT A SMALL DEER DOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ABOUT THREE MINUTES LATER ANOTHER AUTO CAME UP FROM BEHIND AND REAR ENDED ME MY AIR BAG DEPLOYED THEN. WHY DID IT DEPLOY THEN AND NOT WHEN I HIT THE DEER. THE ONLY DAMAGE I DID TO THE FRONT END TO MY TRUCK WAS CRACKED THE GILL AND OTHERS AROUND IT. THE DAMAGE THAT THE OTHER AUTO DID WAS BENT THE BUMPER UNDER MY TRUCK ALONG WITH THE BRACKETS TOO, THE IMPACT FROM THE OTHER AUTO WAS LOUD AND WAS HEARD FROM ABOUT A MILE AWAY. THE AUTO THAT REAR ENDED ME WAS GOING ABOUT 55 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR. *JB
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.