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2000 Ford Ranger

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Ranger years

Owner complaints for the 2000 Ford Ranger are substantially higher than the model-year median of 144.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

282 reports with mileage · 388 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 139 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

86 crash reports12 fire reports64 injury reports

Power Train complaints

69 reports
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91,264 miles · Jun 2, 2021
Power Train

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the gear shifter had to be shifted into neutral to start the vehicle. The gear shifter was not matching with the actual gear that was selected. While the vehicle was in park, the vehicle would roll backward before the park was engaged. The vehicle was taken to an indep…

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The contact owns a 2000 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that the gear shifter had to be shifted into neutral to start the vehicle. The gear shifter was not matching with the actual gear that was selected. While the vehicle was in park, the vehicle would roll backward before the park was engaged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the shift range bracket and ignition lock cylinder were replaced however, the failure recurred. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V062000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 91,264.

NHTSA ODI #11419341

136,000 miles · Apr 9, 2021
Power TrainSuspensionUnknown Or Other

THE FRAME RAILS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE SHOCKS BOLT UP HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGH THE METAL ON PASSENGER SIDE & THE DRIVER SIDE HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND FRAME CRACKED

NHTSA ODI #11407325

109,712 miles · Mar 9, 2020
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL LEAKED OUT GOOD THING I WASN'T DRIVING HAD TO REPLACE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AT THAT TIME

NHTSA ODI #11317071

132,588 miles · Dec 30, 2017
Power Train

VEHICLE BOGGED AND STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARALLEL PARK, TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT END POINTS. AFTER ENGINE DIED, IT DID NOT START AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO MY HOME. HAPPENED ON HILO TOWN ON HOLOMUA STREET.

NHTSA ODI #11057700

104,000 miles · Oct 25, 2015
Power TrainService BrakesSuspensionCrash

MY FRAME IS RUSTED OUT, 110,000, MILES, REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BRAKE LINES, GAS LINES, AND A # OF OTHER THINGS, DUE TO A RUSTED OUT UNDER CARRIAGE, THE MOTOR IS GREAT, THINGS ON THE FRAME ARE BREAKING OFF ALL THE TIME, SO MUCH RUST CANT EVEN SEE A BOLT.

NHTSA ODI #10785831

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2015
Power TrainCrashInjury

2000 FORD RANGER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY WENT INTO LOW 4 WHEEL DRIVE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT INTO LOW 4 WHEEL DRIVE IT RESULTED IN HIM CAREENING OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT AND TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10692465

159,000 miles · Jan 13, 2015
EnginePower Train

WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 05 [AKA] GOLDEN STATE HIGHWAY WHEN TRUCK MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND ENGINE FROZE ? NO ENGINE PROBLEM LIGHT,S CAME ON NO WARNING LIGHT OFF ANY KIND CAME ON WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY ID WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE SINCE THIS IS A STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION WHEN ID TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE START…

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WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 05 [AKA] GOLDEN STATE HIGHWAY WHEN TRUCK MADE A FUNNY NOISE AND ENGINE FROZE ? NO ENGINE PROBLEM LIGHT,S CAME ON NO WARNING LIGHT OFF ANY KIND CAME ON WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY ID WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE SINCE THIS IS A STICK SHIFT TRANSMISSION WHEN ID TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE THE STARTER WOULD NOT TURN .HAD THIS BEEN A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WE WOULD SURLY WITH NO DOUBT BEEN INVOLVED IN A DEATH ACCIDENT STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT FAILED IN MY TRUCK BUTT ENGINE IS COMPLETELY FROZEN [CAN YOU HELP ME LOCATE THE SOURCE OFF THE FAILURE SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS A MUST KEEP VEHICLE I9T,S A FAMILY MEMORIAL MUST KEEP VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672301

90,000 miles · Apr 9, 2012
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BECOMES LOOSE DUE TO NO LOCKWASHERS IN MOUNTING PLATE ON STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE DASHBOARD. LINKAGE CAME LOOSE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRANSMISSION GEARING. CAUSES SPONTANEOUS GEAR SHIFTING UNDER VARIOUS OPERATING CONDITIONS AND PREVENTS PROPER GEAR SETTING. FAILURE COULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF C…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BECOMES LOOSE DUE TO NO LOCKWASHERS IN MOUNTING PLATE ON STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE DASHBOARD. LINKAGE CAME LOOSE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRANSMISSION GEARING. CAUSES SPONTANEOUS GEAR SHIFTING UNDER VARIOUS OPERATING CONDITIONS AND PREVENTS PROPER GEAR SETTING. FAILURE COULD CAUSE TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF TRANSMISSION. LOCK WASHERS WERE USED IN ALL PRODUCTS UNTIL RECENTLY. COMPUTERS WERE FIRST TO DISPENSE WITH THEM. NOW MANY ENGINEERS NO LONGER SPECIFY THEM. SCARY TO THINK THAT MAYBE AVIATION HAS GONE THE SAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454575

114,000 miles · Feb 2, 2012
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND EMITTED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BOOTS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AND EMITTED A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BOOTS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND THE DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,000.

NHTSA ODI #10446329

218,251 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Power TrainCrash

WHILE PARKED THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION JUMPED FROM PARK INTO REVERSE MAKING A PEDESTRIAN JUMP OUT OF THE WAY. AND HITTING A CONCRETE BARRIER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439873

Official recalls

3

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.

00V228001 · Seat Belts

Aug 18, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V094000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

Mar 28, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L OHC ENGINES. ENGINE COOLANT CIRCULATION THROUGH THE HEATER CIRCUIT IS PREVENTED BECAUSE OF A PLUGGED HEATER RETURN TUBE (WATER PUMP INLET TUBE) AT THE WATER PUMP. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE INTENT OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT OF NO HEAT IN THE HEATER CIRCUIT, DEFROST PERFORMANCE IS COMPROMISED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PLUGGED HEATER WATER RETURN TUBES.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.