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: 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
What owners actually said
576 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2000
Air BagsSteeringCrash
CRASH INVOLVED MY VEHICLE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH HAD TURNED INTO MY PATH TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHTED INTERSECTION. POLICE DETERMINED THAT OTHER DRIVER WAS AT FAULT. OTHER VEHICLE (A VW JETTA) WAS STRUCK IN THE SIDE, YET BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO BREAK FRONT AX…
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CRASH INVOLVED MY VEHICLE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH HAD TURNED INTO MY PATH TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A LIGHTED INTERSECTION. POLICE DETERMINED THAT OTHER DRIVER WAS AT FAULT. OTHER VEHICLE (A VW JETTA) WAS STRUCK IN THE SIDE, YET BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE TO BREAK FRONT AXLE, YET NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I CONTACTED DEALER WHO REFERRED ME TO THEIR 1-800 CUSTOMER HOTLINE, WHO THEN REFERRED ME BACK TO DEALER TO PURSUE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS. THEREFORE, I'M NOW CONTACTING YOU.
NHTSA ODI #734936
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Tires
FIRESTONE TIRES HAD VISIBLE SPLITS AT THE TREAD/SIDEWALL INTERFAVE OF SEVERAL TIRES, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA ODI #556728
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Tires
SIDEWALL BLEW OUT OF TIRE AT 60MPH. FROM TREAD AROUND SIDEWALL HALF THE DIAMETER OF THE TIRE. (DOT NUMBER: VN08 TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
NHTSA ODI #734720
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2000
Tires
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE HAS A 2" VERTICLE BREAK IN IT'S SIDEWALL. UPON SEARCH OF THE LOCATION, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT HAVE HIT AT THE TIME AND I DON'T RECALL HITTING ANYTHING WITH THAT TIRE IN THE PAST. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE TIRE HAS OTHER VERTICLE …
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WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE TIRE HAS A 2" VERTICLE BREAK IN IT'S SIDEWALL. UPON SEARCH OF THE LOCATION, I DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT I MIGHT HAVE HIT AT THE TIME AND I DON'T RECALL HITTING ANYTHING WITH THAT TIRE IN THE PAST. UPON INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE TIRE HAS OTHER VERTICLE RIPPLES IN THE SIDEWALL AS WELL AS THE OTHER THREE STILL ON THE GROUND. THE TIRE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE TWO PLYS OF POLYESTER IN THE SIDEWALLS. UNLESS THEY ARE ADJACENT, I CAN ONLY IDENTIFY ONE IN THE BREAK. NO INJURIES OR OTHER DAMAGE OCCURED. (DOT NUMBER: W2FC IP4 TIRESIZE: P22570R14)
NHTSA ODI #734643
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Tires
WAS DRIVING 45- 50MPH, HAD NO PRIOR WARNING, AND LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED TIRE WAS SHREDDED; REPLACED IT WITH SPARE; TOOK TIME FOR REPLACEMENT TIRE. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. P235/70R16 WITH 7,000 MILES ON A 1998 FORD RANGER.*AK THE OLD TIRE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND THE CAUSE FOR BLOW O…
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WAS DRIVING 45- 50MPH, HAD NO PRIOR WARNING, AND LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. VEHICLE WAS CONTROLLABLE. PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED TIRE WAS SHREDDED; REPLACED IT WITH SPARE; TOOK TIME FOR REPLACEMENT TIRE. DO NOT HAVE TIRE. P235/70R16 WITH 7,000 MILES ON A 1998 FORD RANGER.*AK THE OLD TIRE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND THE CAUSE FOR BLOW OUT OF THE TIRE IS NOT KNOWN. *YH
NHTSA ODI #873074
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Tires
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, CONSUMER REQUESTS TIRES BE REPLACED WITH QUALITY TIRES. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #556146
Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2000
Tires
SIDEWALL RIGHT WHERE THE TREAD IS CONNECTED TO THE TIRE BLEW OUT IN THREE DIFFERENT PLACES WITHIN 18 INCHES OF EACH OTHER ON THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE, SOME OF THE TREAD WAS INCLUDED IN THE BLOWOUT. *AK (TIRESIZE: P22570R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22570R14 )
NHTSA ODI #734216
Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR HAS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 9,000 AND 31,000 MILES. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ENGINE STALLS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RESTART AND KEEP RUNNING. WITHOUT ENGINE POWER, THERE IS LIMITED BRAKE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT OCCURS IN A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION. FORD IS UNABLE (UNWILLING?…
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MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR HAS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 9,000 AND 31,000 MILES. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ENGINE STALLS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RESTART AND KEEP RUNNING. WITHOUT ENGINE POWER, THERE IS LIMITED BRAKE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT OCCURS IN A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION. FORD IS UNABLE (UNWILLING?) TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE FAILURE RATE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #734023
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2000
Tires
WEARING UNEVEN, MY TIRES HAVE CHECKED BY FIRESTONE REP. ALLIED TIRE CENTER, 1529 MACARTHUR DRIVE , ALEXANDRIA, LA. 71301, ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED AS PER MANUAL , AIR PRESSURE CHECKED, BUT THE TIRES WHICH ARE 60,000 MILE TIRES IS NOT HOLDING UP , WIRE CAN BE SEEN IN THIS TIRES, WHATS NEEDED IS REPLACEMENT OF THESE TIRES BECAUSE IT…
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WEARING UNEVEN, MY TIRES HAVE CHECKED BY FIRESTONE REP. ALLIED TIRE CENTER, 1529 MACARTHUR DRIVE , ALEXANDRIA, LA. 71301, ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED AS PER MANUAL , AIR PRESSURE CHECKED, BUT THE TIRES WHICH ARE 60,000 MILE TIRES IS NOT HOLDING UP , WIRE CAN BE SEEN IN THIS TIRES, WHATS NEEDED IS REPLACEMENT OF THESE TIRES BECAUSE ITS VERY UNSAFE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY WITH THESE TIRES IN THIS CONDITION, WHICH IS REAL UNSAFE. (TIRESIZE: P225/70R14)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/70R14 )
NHTSA ODI #733933
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2000
Tires
THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AT 60 MPH EARLIER THIS YEAR. MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE FORD RANGER. USAA HAS THE DAMAGE REPORT AND FIRESTONE HAS THE TIRE FAILURE REPORT. THE ONLY THING I HAVE ARE THE PICTURES OF THE FAILED WILDERNESS AT 16 INC…
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THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT AT 60 MPH EARLIER THIS YEAR. MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE UNDER THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY BUT WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE DAMAGE TO THE FORD RANGER. USAA HAS THE DAMAGE REPORT AND FIRESTONE HAS THE TIRE FAILURE REPORT. THE ONLY THING I HAVE ARE THE PICTURES OF THE FAILED WILDERNESS AT 16 INCH TIRE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE REMAINING TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: ? TIRESIZE: P235/70R16)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
1998 Ford Ranger Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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