IllustrationMY 1999 FORD RANGER FRAME IS RUSTING IN SEVERAL LOCATION WHICH WILL MAKE IT VERY UNSAFE THE BODY LOOKS BRAND NEW BUT THE FRONT FRAME AND REAR FRAME ARE RUSTING AWAY. THE SHOCKS ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE ARE ABOUT THE BREAK THROUGH THE SUPPORT AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM IS ABOUT THE BREAK OFF.
1999 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Ranger years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
100–25K
3425–50K
3450–75K
4475–100K
56100–150K
36150K+
214 reports with mileage · 541 unknown
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 178 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 89 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 80 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
96 crash reports14 fire reports50 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
28 reportsMY FRAME HAS RUSTED/ ROTTED ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF WHERE IT CONNECTS TO MY REAR BUMPER. THE BUMPER IS NOW ATTACHED BY ONE OF TWO BRACKETS AND IS SOON TO FALL OFF WHERE AS IT MAY CAUSE A FATAL INJURY TO ANOTHER DRIVER OR PEDESTRIANS.
UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC SAID "SHACKLES , FRAME, LEAFSPRINGS, ALL RUSTED AND TRUCK WILL NOT LAST. MOTOR RUNS GREAT, BODY NO RUST.
THE FRAME KEEPS CRACKING AT THE PASSENGERS SIDE SHOCK MOUNT AND WORKING ITS WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE WELDED IT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS AND CRACKING IN DIFFERENT SPOTS. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.MY FRAME IS ABOUT TO SNAP IN HALF. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 124,000 MILES ON IT. ITS PRETTY MUCH THE…
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THE FRAME KEEPS CRACKING AT THE PASSENGERS SIDE SHOCK MOUNT AND WORKING ITS WAY TO THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE WELDED IT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS AND CRACKING IN DIFFERENT SPOTS. ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS.MY FRAME IS ABOUT TO SNAP IN HALF. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 124,000 MILES ON IT. ITS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS TOYOTA'S FRAME RECALL. *TT
MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND REPLACED THE REAR SPRING HANGERS IN10/2009. I HAVE THE TRUCK NOW. AFTER PRESSURE WASHING THE FRAME I NOTICED THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER HAS A HOLE IN IT AT THE MUFFLER. FRONT SPRING HANGERS ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY AS IS THE SHOCK MOUNTS. THE FRAME FROM THE CAB TO REAR IS EXTREMELY RUSTY AND T…
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MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND REPLACED THE REAR SPRING HANGERS IN10/2009. I HAVE THE TRUCK NOW. AFTER PRESSURE WASHING THE FRAME I NOTICED THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER HAS A HOLE IN IT AT THE MUFFLER. FRONT SPRING HANGERS ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY AS IS THE SHOCK MOUNTS. THE FRAME FROM THE CAB TO REAR IS EXTREMELY RUSTY AND THIN LOOKING. THE SPARE TIRE HOLDING AREA HAS A HOLE IN IT. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR IN THE MUD. VERY LITTLE TIME ON THE ROAD IN THE WINTER. THE BODY IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE AS IS THE FRAME FROM CAB TO FRONT. TRUCK HAS ONLY 98,000 MILES ON IT NOW. COULD THIS BE A FRAME ISSUE AS IT WAS WITH TOYOTA? SAME MANUFACTURE MAYBE? JUST A THOUGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE PLENTY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS IN THE SAME AREA.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I WENT OVER SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND TRUCK LURCHED SIDEWAYS SUDDENLY, AFTER THAT THE HANDLING OF THE TRUCK WAS EXTREMELY POOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK I SAW THAT THE REAR FRAME OF THE TRUCK FROM THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNT BACK WAS SEVERELY ROTTED (THE FRAME HAS ROT HOLES IN IT) AND THE DRIVERS …
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I WENT OVER SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND TRUCK LURCHED SIDEWAYS SUDDENLY, AFTER THAT THE HANDLING OF THE TRUCK WAS EXTREMELY POOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TRUCK I SAW THAT THE REAR FRAME OF THE TRUCK FROM THE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNT BACK WAS SEVERELY ROTTED (THE FRAME HAS ROT HOLES IN IT) AND THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNT HAD ROTTED OFF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK HAS NO BODY ROT WHATSOEVER AND HAS BEEN WELL CARED FOR AND THE FRAME SHOULD NOT ROT OUT BEFORE THERE IS EVER A SPEC OF RUST ON THE BODY.
THE FRAME NEAR MY BACK WHEELS IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS NOW A BIG CRACK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME. THE RUST AMOUNTS ARE EXCESSIVE, AND IN MY OPINION SEEM TO BE A FAILURE IN DESIGN OF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 105,000 MILES ON IT AND THE FRAME IN THAT SECTION OF THE CAR HAS SERIOUS RUST WHILE THE REST OF THE CAR…
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THE FRAME NEAR MY BACK WHEELS IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND THERE IS NOW A BIG CRACK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME. THE RUST AMOUNTS ARE EXCESSIVE, AND IN MY OPINION SEEM TO BE A FAILURE IN DESIGN OF THE FRAME. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 105,000 MILES ON IT AND THE FRAME IN THAT SECTION OF THE CAR HAS SERIOUS RUST WHILE THE REST OF THE CAR LOOKS GOOD. ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS IN THE BACK HAVE A LOT OF RUST, MORE THAN CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO POOR MAINTENANCE. IF I HADN'T SEEN THIS CRACK DEVELOPING IN THE FRAME A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED. I FEEL FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A FAULTY PRODUCT
LEFT SIDE OF FRAME RAIL RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT FRAME IS ALMOST BROKE IN HALF ON LEFT REAR PORTION JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. SWAY ARM WAS ALSO CONNECTED TO THIS PART OF FRAME. LARGE PORTION OF FRAME RAIL IS MISSING, (APPROXIMATELY 6X6") WHICH HAS RENDERED TRUCK USELESS & UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LAST YEAR BOTH REAR SPRING SHACKLES HA…
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LEFT SIDE OF FRAME RAIL RUSTED THROUGH TO THE POINT FRAME IS ALMOST BROKE IN HALF ON LEFT REAR PORTION JUST AHEAD OF REAR AXLE. SWAY ARM WAS ALSO CONNECTED TO THIS PART OF FRAME. LARGE PORTION OF FRAME RAIL IS MISSING, (APPROXIMATELY 6X6") WHICH HAS RENDERED TRUCK USELESS & UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LAST YEAR BOTH REAR SPRING SHACKLES HAD TO BE REPLACED OR REAR AXLE WAS GOING TO FALL OUT. UNTIL NOW THIS VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE TO REAR SECTION OF FRAME. SPARE TIRE HOLDER COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT.
DT: PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 6/2/05 WHEN THE WIRE THAT HOLD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL TO THE GROUND. OWNER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING AROUND A CORNER ABOUT 5 MPH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *AK CONSUMER IS NOT MAKING A COMPLAINT BUT IS JUST REPORTING A SAFETY HAZARD IN T…
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DT: PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 6/2/05 WHEN THE WIRE THAT HOLD THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE BROKE AND THE TIRE FELL TO THE GROUND. OWNER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING AROUND A CORNER ABOUT 5 MPH. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *AK CONSUMER IS NOT MAKING A COMPLAINT BUT IS JUST REPORTING A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE DESIGN OF THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER.*SB *NM
Official recalls
407V336000 · 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.
98V201000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System
Sep 1, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH 3.0L ENGINE. AN 'O'-RING SEAL IN THE FUEL INJECTION PULSE DAMPER TO FUEL RAIL JOINT COULD BE DAMAGED ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE CAN RESULT FROM FUEL LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PULSE DAMPER.
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.