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
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
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.
Suspension complaints
72 reportsFRAME HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
FRAME ROT RUSTED REAR FRAME
I RECENTLY REPLACED ROTTED PARTS OF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY FORD RANGE, SPRING SHACKLES, SCHOCKS AND SCHOCK MOUNT BRACKETS. I DID THIS REPAIR TO MAKE MU TRUCK SAFER, AFTER 3 WEEKS OF DRIVING WITH THE NEW REPAIRS THE FRAME BEGAN TO CRACK AND IS ABOUT TO SPLIT IN HALF... NOT SO SAFE. THE BODY IS IN GREAT SHAPE, BUT I CAN'T DRIVE THE T…
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I RECENTLY REPLACED ROTTED PARTS OF THE UNDERSIDE OF MY FORD RANGE, SPRING SHACKLES, SCHOCKS AND SCHOCK MOUNT BRACKETS. I DID THIS REPAIR TO MAKE MU TRUCK SAFER, AFTER 3 WEEKS OF DRIVING WITH THE NEW REPAIRS THE FRAME BEGAN TO CRACK AND IS ABOUT TO SPLIT IN HALF... NOT SO SAFE. THE BODY IS IN GREAT SHAPE, BUT I CAN'T DRIVE THE TRUCK WITH THE FRAME IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. BACK ROAD DRIVING 3 DAYS A WEEK.
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK DOWN A MAIN ROAD AND THERE WAS A SMALL POTHOLE.IT WAS ONLY ABOUT AN INCH DEEP BY ABOUT A FOOT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING VERY LOUD NOISES GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALMOST SEEMING LIKE THE TRUCK DIDN'T WANT TO GO STRAIGHT. I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I WANTED TO CHECK IT AND HERE WAS A MASSIVE CRAC…
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I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK DOWN A MAIN ROAD AND THERE WAS A SMALL POTHOLE.IT WAS ONLY ABOUT AN INCH DEEP BY ABOUT A FOOT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY TRUCK STARTED MAKING VERY LOUD NOISES GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALMOST SEEMING LIKE THE TRUCK DIDN'T WANT TO GO STRAIGHT. I PULLED OVER BECAUSE I WANTED TO CHECK IT AND HERE WAS A MASSIVE CRACK IN THE FRAME BEHIND THE SHACKLE MOUNT IN THE FRONT OF THE WHEEL WELL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS TANK MOUNT THAT THE STRAP CONNECTS DO HOLDING DIRT AND MOISTURE BEHIND IT AND ROTTED OUT A HOLE IN THE FRAME. ALSO THE GAS TANK MOUNT ROTTED COMPLEATLY OUT AND IS NO LONGER THERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE THE SAME PLACE THAT THE FRAME ROTTED OUT. THIS IS A BIG DEFECT BY FORD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAN IT OUT AND THE FRAME WILL JUST ROT EVEN THOUGH THE BODY OF THE TRUCK IS SPOTLESS AND RUST FREE BECAUSE I WASH THE UNDERCARRIAGE EVERY WEEK AS WELL AS THE WHOLE TRUCK. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE MOISTURE AND DIRT CONSISTAINTLY EAT AWAY AT THE FRAME. ALSO IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT I POSSIBLY NEED TO TAKE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD EVEN THOUGH THE REST OF THE TRUCK IS PERFECT. IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD COULD HAVE OVER LOOKED THIS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS D…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.
WAS PULLING LAWN MOWER TRAILOR ON I-81 & CAR PULLED UP BESIDE ME, THEY WERE HISTERICLY TELLING ME TO PULL OVER, THAT MY BUMPER WAS COMING OFF, ALONG WITH TRAILER, MOWER & ALL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MANY FATALITIES. THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IN 1/2 ON DRIVER SIDE. NOT FAR FROM IT ON PASSENGER SIDE. GAS TANK…
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WAS PULLING LAWN MOWER TRAILOR ON I-81 & CAR PULLED UP BESIDE ME, THEY WERE HISTERICLY TELLING ME TO PULL OVER, THAT MY BUMPER WAS COMING OFF, ALONG WITH TRAILER, MOWER & ALL. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MANY FATALITIES. THE FRAME OF MY TRUCK IS COMPLETELY RUSTED IN 1/2 ON DRIVER SIDE. NOT FAR FROM IT ON PASSENGER SIDE. GAS TANK STRAP RUSTED IN 1/2. NEEDLESS TO SAY, MY FORD TRUCK IS UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE, & RECALL MY TRUCK FOR NEW FRAME. THANK U VERY MUCH....STILL A FORD MAN FOR NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A RATTLING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE CONNECTED TO THE SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A RATTLING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLE CONNECTED TO THE SUBFRAME FAILED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
GOING OVER A BUMP ON CITY STREET LEAF SPRING BROKE. FRAME AROUND RADIATOR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. UNDER BODY FRAME RUSTED AS WELL.
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.
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.
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