IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO HOLD . *AK
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.
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
180–25K
4725–50K
6250–75K
5175–100K
71100–150K
33150K+
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
Seat Belts complaints
23 reportsI WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I TRIED TO STOP BUT WAS UNABLE TO. I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON AT ABOUT 45 MPH. MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT DID ABOUT $5000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK AND I HAVE VERY SERIOUS PAIN IN MY CHEST, N…
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I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I TRIED TO STOP BUT WAS UNABLE TO. I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON AT ABOUT 45 MPH. MY SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IT DID ABOUT $5000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK AND I HAVE VERY SERIOUS PAIN IN MY CHEST, NECK, AND BACK BECAUSE OF THIS. MY VEHICLE HAS DEPREACIATED ABOUT TWO OR THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND I NOW HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT DRIVING THE TRUCK AND HAVING A WRECK AND KILLING MYSELF.*AK
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AND A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I HIT IT. IT WAS HEAD ON AND IT DID ABOUT $5000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT THE STEERING WHEELE AND IT HAS CAUSED VERY SERIOUS PAIN TO MY CHEST, BACK, AND NECK. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISON IN WHICH DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT WAS INOPERATIVE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS ESTIMATED AT TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *YD
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH RIGHT FRONT IMPACT. SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP, HE HIT HIS HEAD ON WINDSHIELD.ALSO, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH RIGHT FRONT IMPACT. CONSUMER SUFFERED SERIOUS HEAD INJURIES, HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. UPON IMPACT, DRIVEDR'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK DOWN AT ALL. *YH
BUCKLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT FASTEN DUE TO SOMETHING BREAKING INSIDE OF BUCKLE. DEALER HAS TO ORDER PART.*AK PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND PASSENGER'S BUCKLE WAS MOVED TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SO CONSUMER COULD DRIVE SAFELY. *SLC
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE TIME TO APPLY BRAKES, AND HAD A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SLIDE FOWARD, HITTING STEERING WHEEL, AND KNEES HIT DASHBOARD. *…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE TIME TO APPLY BRAKES, AND HAD A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SLIDE FOWARD, HITTING STEERING WHEEL, AND KNEES HIT DASHBOARD. *AK
SEATBELT WILL "LOCK UP" WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THIS PROPOSES A HAZARD AS THIS OCCURS AS MERGING INTO TRAFFRIC ONTO HIGHWAY. BRAKE IS APPLIED AND YOU LEAN FORWARD TO LOOK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFRIC AND HAVE TO HOLD SHOULDER PORTION AWAY MANUALLY FROM BODY IN ORDER TO LEAN FORWARD. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD…
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SEATBELT WILL "LOCK UP" WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING. THIS PROPOSES A HAZARD AS THIS OCCURS AS MERGING INTO TRAFFRIC ONTO HIGHWAY. BRAKE IS APPLIED AND YOU LEAN FORWARD TO LOOK FOR ONCOMING TRAFFRIC AND HAVE TO HOLD SHOULDER PORTION AWAY MANUALLY FROM BODY IN ORDER TO LEAN FORWARD. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A "COMMON COMPLAINT" BUT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS WAY. THIS IS A VERY INCONVIENANT SITUATION, AND AT TIMES I FEEL DANGEROUS, ALSO.*AK
TWO WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THE AIRCONDITIONER BROKE TWICE, THEN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON, THE SEATBELTS WERE RECALLED AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS I.E. THEM GIVE ME A NEW TRUCK OR MY MONEY BACK. ITS GETTING RIDICULOUS.
Official recalls
307V336000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.