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1998 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ranger years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 109 of 576 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.

  • Tires. Review the 136 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

66 crash reports29 fire reports34 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, WITH A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THE FORD DEALER). THE SECOND FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY, A…

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THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS. THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, WITH A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY FAILED (ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE DEPT. OF THE FORD DEALER). THE SECOND FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY, AGAIN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE SAME SERVICE DEPT. REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP. THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED TONIGHT, AGAIN ON THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. THIS IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE -- TWICE I HAVE BEEN ABRUPTLY LEFT POWERLESS IN A FREEWAY WITH NO WAY TO MOVE THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #709144

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP/SENDER AND SENSOR, SENSOR REPLACED A SECOND TIME DUE TO FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #547420

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

GAS GAUGE FAILED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #544375

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineSeatsVisibility

COMPLAINT#1: GAS TANK LEAKED AFTER VEHICLE WAS ONLY ONE WEEK OLD. DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TANK. COMPLAINT#2: POWER WINDOWS ARE 'JERKY' AND THEY CHATTER WHEN GOING DOWN. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT YET. COMPLAINT#3: PASSENGER SEAT VIBRATES ANY TIME TRUCK DRIVES OVER ANY BUMPS, LARGE OR SMALL. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT …

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COMPLAINT#1: GAS TANK LEAKED AFTER VEHICLE WAS ONLY ONE WEEK OLD. DEALER REPLACED IT WITH A NEW TANK. COMPLAINT#2: POWER WINDOWS ARE 'JERKY' AND THEY CHATTER WHEN GOING DOWN. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT YET. COMPLAINT#3: PASSENGER SEAT VIBRATES ANY TIME TRUCK DRIVES OVER ANY BUMPS, LARGE OR SMALL. DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED IT AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI #700768

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827306

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SURGE/HESITATE DURING CRUISE.

NHTSA ODI #534619

Official recalls

5

07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 3, 2007

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

99V204000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jul 28, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE TRANSAXLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH THE PARK DETENT SPRING MISALIGNED. IF THE SPRING IS MISALIGNED, THE PARK MECHANISM MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PARK MECHANISM DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATOR HAS NOT APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE AS IF IN NEUTRAL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSAXLE AND ANY WITH MISALIGNED PARK DETENT SPRINGS WILL BE REPLACED.

99V062001 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 30, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.

98V021000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 2, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH OFF-ROAD OPTION. THE TIRE AND RIM IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION IS INCORRECT ON THESE VEHICLES. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE 16" TIRES COULD NOT BE INFLATED ON THE SPECIFIED 15X7.0J RIM.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT A SAFETY CERTIFICAITON LABEL PARTIAL OVERLAY WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE CORRECT RIM SIZE, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THIS LABEL TO THE VEHICLE. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THEIR FORD DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

97V186001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 28, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES. THE FLEXIBLE SECTION OF THE CHASSIS MOUNTED FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE LINE COULD CONTACT THE MANIFOLD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE, OR IN SOME CASES, CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CLIP TO HOLD THE FUEL LINE IN THE INTENDED DESIGN POSITION.

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

1

PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations

Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available