IllustrationGOING OVER A BUMP ON CITY STREET LEAF SPRING BROKE. FRAME AROUND RADIATOR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. UNDER BODY FRAME RUSTED AS WELL.
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
Structure complaints
105 reportsLOWER CONTROL ARM BODY FRAME MOUNTS RUST ON BOTH SIDES ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................…
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LOWER CONTROL ARM BODY FRAME MOUNTS RUST ON BOTH SIDES .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
REAR FRAME RUSTED BADLY. WAS REPAIRED WAS COSTLY AS WELL AS REAR BUMPER.
THE FRAME AND BODY IS AT LEAST 50% RUSTED.
FRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH DISCOVERED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE SHOCKS. NO NEED FOR THAT UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH.
I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK. FIRST OWNER KEPT TRUCK PRISTINE, WASHED EVERY WEEKEND REGARDLESS OF WEATHER.IT WAS SPOTLESS EXCEPT FOR ROTTEN FRONT BUMPER. TEN MONTHS LATER A FOOT AND HALF OF FRAME BADLY ROTTEN. I WIRED UP REAR BUMPER AND KEPT IT THAT WAY UNTIL I HAD THE MONEY FOR A FRAME WELD. BOUGHT STEEL TO DO THIS. IT WAS …
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I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK. FIRST OWNER KEPT TRUCK PRISTINE, WASHED EVERY WEEKEND REGARDLESS OF WEATHER.IT WAS SPOTLESS EXCEPT FOR ROTTEN FRONT BUMPER. TEN MONTHS LATER A FOOT AND HALF OF FRAME BADLY ROTTEN. I WIRED UP REAR BUMPER AND KEPT IT THAT WAY UNTIL I HAD THE MONEY FOR A FRAME WELD. BOUGHT STEEL TO DO THIS. IT WAS LIKE THIS FOR A LONG WHILE AND ROT DID NOT SPREAD. LAST DECEMBER TRUCK WAS IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT THERE. A FRIEND WAS DRIVING. SHE WAS AT A FULL STOP WAITING AT A LIGHT AND WAS REAR-ENDED. I LATER LOOKED AT THE TRUCK AND IT SEEMED EASILY REPAIRABLE TO ME. ONLY PASSENGER FENDER WRINKLED. I WOULD MAKE A WOODEN BED. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THROUGH THE INSURANCE HASSLES AND MY MECHANIC RECEIVED MY TRUCK IN 2/ 2015. I HAD TO WAIT TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT. WHEN MY MECHANIC AND I LOOKED IT OVER THE FRAME WAS RUSTED BADLY AND CRACKED UP BY THE CAB. CRACK APPEARED TO PREDATE THE ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN HELP ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION NEAR THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE SUPPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR FRAME EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE RUST CORROSION NEAR THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE SUPPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE MAINFRAME BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED REPAIRS, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE MAINFRAME BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, NO SOLUTION WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,858.
I OWN A 2000 FORD RANGER WITH A BADLY RUSTED FRAME PROBLEM,FORD DENIES THE PROBLEM,IT STARTED WHEN I WENT TO GET MY FIRST INSPECTION AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2012,I NEVER NOTICED THAT IT HAD A BAD FRAME AS THE TRUCK WAS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION,I WENT TO SEARS FOR MY INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND A RUSTED FRAME PART WHICH I HAD TO H…
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I OWN A 2000 FORD RANGER WITH A BADLY RUSTED FRAME PROBLEM,FORD DENIES THE PROBLEM,IT STARTED WHEN I WENT TO GET MY FIRST INSPECTION AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED IN 2012,I NEVER NOTICED THAT IT HAD A BAD FRAME AS THE TRUCK WAS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION,I WENT TO SEARS FOR MY INSPECTION AND THEY FOUND A RUSTED FRAME PART WHICH I HAD TO HAVE WELDED BUT NOW AFTER GOIN INTO THE 4TH ROTTED FRAME PROBLEM (GAS TANK STRAPS) AND A REAR TIRE HOLDER RUSTED THROUGH I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED,THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AS I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES ALL MY LIFE AND NEVER RAN INTO A PROBLEM LIKE THIS,THAT GAS TANK COULD OF FALLEN OUT AND CAUSED MY LIFE AS WELL AS OTHERS.I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS FORD PROBLEM,THERE ARE MANY MANY FORD OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.TOYOTA RECALLED THERE FRAME PROBLEMS BUT WHO IS PAYIN OFF FORD TO KEEP THERE PROBLEMS QUIET,I AM ON DISABILITY AND NOW THIS DECEMBER ITS GONNA COST ME ANOTHER 800$ TO GET THIS FIXED AND I HAVE ALREADY PAID A HEFTY SUM TO GET THE OTHER FRAME REPAIRS DONE,LAST YEAR I NEEDED SHACKLES AND THE GARAGE COULD NOT DO IT UNTIL I HAD NEW BRACES WELDED BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS PAPER THIN SO THEY COULD NOT INSTALL SHACKLES,CAN YOU HELP,THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE THE FRAME COULD SPLIT WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,THANKS IN ADVANCE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.