IllustrationCONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT LOOK AT TRUCK SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY 3/36MONTH.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
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
What owners actually said
755 reportsVEHICLE JERKS BEFORE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT A GOOD SPEED. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION IT'S BACK TO NORMAL. SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED DRIVESHAFT IS A 38 AND IS TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE. OVERTIME FRONTEND WILL DEVELOP PROBLEMS THAT CAN TOTAL THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH AND THE ENGINE STARTED RACING. RPM'S SHOT UP TO 6 ON THE GAUGE. VEHICLE ACCELERATION STOP, AND THERE WAS NO THROTTLE CONTROL. BRAKES WERE NOT AFFECTED. THE ABS, OVER DRIVE ,AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER GOT TO A LOCAL GAS STATION AND DIAGNOSTIC READING READ REAR SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTION…
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VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH AND THE ENGINE STARTED RACING. RPM'S SHOT UP TO 6 ON THE GAUGE. VEHICLE ACCELERATION STOP, AND THERE WAS NO THROTTLE CONTROL. BRAKES WERE NOT AFFECTED. THE ABS, OVER DRIVE ,AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER GOT TO A LOCAL GAS STATION AND DIAGNOSTIC READING READ REAR SENSOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMTION.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AT LOCAL FIRESTONE MERCHANT WITH BRIDGESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15 INCH TIRES. SOON AFTER, CONSUMER RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE STATING THAT THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES WERE ALSO INSUFFICIENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, DEALE…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. CONSUMER HAD TIRES REPLACED AT LOCAL FIRESTONE MERCHANT WITH BRIDGESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15 INCH TIRES. SOON AFTER, CONSUMER RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE STATING THAT THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES WERE ALSO INSUFFICIENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE BRIDGESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED BY FIRESTONE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PART OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL. CONSUMER IS SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FROM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED. *TT
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SWITCH WAS OFF. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THIS DEFECT IS INTERMITTENT. THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE SAME CONDITIONS AS THIS VEHICLE BUT IS NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE ISN'T EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. *JG
TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID WHICH IS CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SKIP AND CONTINUE TO NOT GO INTO GEAR. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
AIRBAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER'S SIDE STAYS ON AND AIRBAG IS TURNED OFF. *AK
WHEN TURNING ON LEFT TURN SIGNAL SMOKE CAME FROM STEERING COLUMN. SOMETIMES LIGHT WON'T TURN OFF. CONSUMER PLAYED TWICE WITH SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF LEASE THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE HUBS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT IN 3RD GEAR AND LOST OVERDRIVE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
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.