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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

670 reports
120,682 miles · Nov 4, 2013
Service BrakesCrash

BRAKES FAIL AT SLOW SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOME TIMES THEY START WORKING AND QUIT AND THE TRUCK SLIDES. NO ABS LIGHTS COMING ON AND THE ABS DOESN'T PUMP. SLID INTO PARKING CURB STOP, ALMOST STRUCK OREILLY AUTO PARTS BUILDING IN ATCHISON AND JAMMED MY NECK. HAD BRAKES CHECKED, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AND BRAKES WERE BLED W…

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BRAKES FAIL AT SLOW SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, SOME TIMES THEY START WORKING AND QUIT AND THE TRUCK SLIDES. NO ABS LIGHTS COMING ON AND THE ABS DOESN'T PUMP. SLID INTO PARKING CURB STOP, ALMOST STRUCK OREILLY AUTO PARTS BUILDING IN ATCHISON AND JAMMED MY NECK. HAD BRAKES CHECKED, MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED AND BRAKES WERE BLED WITH NEW FLUID. EVERY THING IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT BRAKES ARE STILL FAILING. MECHANIC IN ATCHISON SAID THIS IS THE SECOND RANGER HE SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM; ON THE OTHER RANGER THEY REMOVED THE ABS FUSE AND BRAKES FUNCTIONED FINE. WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES OR ABS LIGHTS ON VEHICLE UNTIL FUSE WAS PULLED. WITH NO CODES BEING SET, UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT THIS PROBLEM. FORD NOT WILLING TO INSTRUCT AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITHOUT CHARGING $80 AN HOUR FOR REPAIRS. HAVE LIMITED INCOME, CAN NOT AFFORD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO FORD. VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS IS GOING TO CAUSE A COLLISION. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550855

168,000 miles · Oct 13, 2013
StructureTires

NOT REALLY AN INCIDENT, MORE OF A COMPLAINT. WE BOUGHT A 2000 RANGER APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. THE SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AND WE FOUND OUT WHY. THE SPARE TIRE WINCH ASSEMBLY WAS A BLOCK OF RUST AND THE SHEET METAL THAT MADE UP THE HOLDER THAT THE CARRIER WAS ATTACHED TO IS SO SEVERELY ROTTED THAT IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY EVEN HOLD …

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NOT REALLY AN INCIDENT, MORE OF A COMPLAINT. WE BOUGHT A 2000 RANGER APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO. THE SPARE TIRE WAS MISSING AND WE FOUND OUT WHY. THE SPARE TIRE WINCH ASSEMBLY WAS A BLOCK OF RUST AND THE SHEET METAL THAT MADE UP THE HOLDER THAT THE CARRIER WAS ATTACHED TO IS SO SEVERELY ROTTED THAT IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY EVEN HOLD A TIRE. THE SHEET METAL MENTIONED IS A STRUCTURAL PART OF THE REAR FRAME AND IT HAS MAJOR ROT AND SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED. MY SON NEEDED A SPARE TIRE SO SINCE THERE WAS NO HOLDER HE PUT IT IN THE BED. WHEN HE PUT IT IN THE BED IN BOUNCED TO THE RIGHT AND PUT A LARGE HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE BED JUST BEHIND THE CAB. WE STARTED TO CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE BED ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT WAS LITERALLY STATING TO CRUMBLE IN SPOTS. WHILE CHECKING IT OUT WE PUT SEVERAL MORE HOLES IN THE FLOOR OF THE BED AND THE SIDES JUST BY POKING AROUND WITH A SCREWDRIVER. THE BED IS A STEPSIDE AND THERE IS NO METAL LEFT UNDER THE STEPS AT ALL, IF YOU WERE TO STEP ON EITHER SIDE YOU WOULD CRACK THE FIBERGLASS SIDES. WE ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING TO REPLACE THE BED. ALL OF THE BOLTS HAD TO BE CUT OUT DUE TO THE RUST. ONCE WE GOT THE BED OFF WE WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THE FRAME WAS COVERED TOP TO BOTTOM WITH RUST. I HAVE RESTORED OLDER TRUCKS IN THE PAST SOME FROM THE 40'S AND I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED RUST LIKE I HAVE SEEN ON THIS ONE, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS NO PAINT ON IT FROM THE FACTORY AT ALL. WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF WIRE BRUSHING THE FRAME SO WE CAN SPRAY A RUST CONVERTER AND TRY TO REPAINT THE FRAME. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE RUST ON THESE TRUCKS AND FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE JUST LIKE TOYOTA WAS WHEN THEY HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION INVOLVING RUSTED FRAMES ON THEIR TRUCKS. TRUST ME I AM A DIE HARD FORD FAN BUT I BOUGHT THIS FOR MY SON AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547784

140,230 miles · Sep 22, 2013
Seats

SAT DOWN IN TRUCK, SEAT BROKE AWAY AND I FELL BACKWARD, NOTED 2 BROKEN BOLTS IN FLOOR, ONE LEFT SIDE ONE RIGHT SIDE,BOTH BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE FRESHLY BROKEN. REMOVED SEAT TO SEE THE BOLTS WERE FROM THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY, REMOVED THE THREADED PART FROM THE FRAME, THE THREADS APPEARED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH, ORDERED BOLTS F…

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SAT DOWN IN TRUCK, SEAT BROKE AWAY AND I FELL BACKWARD, NOTED 2 BROKEN BOLTS IN FLOOR, ONE LEFT SIDE ONE RIGHT SIDE,BOTH BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE FRESHLY BROKEN. REMOVED SEAT TO SEE THE BOLTS WERE FROM THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY, REMOVED THE THREADED PART FROM THE FRAME, THE THREADS APPEARED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH, ORDERED BOLTS FROM FORD AND REPLACED THE BOLTS FORD PART NUMBER F87Z-1060108-BB, PRICE APPROXIMATELY $40.00, UPON PICKING UP BOLTS ADVISED NO CHARGE. I HAVE MILD BACK STRAIN FROM THE INITIAL FALL BACKWARD. PLEASE NOTE: I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOUT MY INCIDENT, MY CONCERN IS IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, AND THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE EXACT SEAT AND POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE BOLTS, IT APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW, SUCH SMALL BOLTS, I WILL GLADLY FORWARD THE BOLTS REMOVED UPON REQUEST

NHTSA ODI #10544824

99,603 miles · Sep 13, 2013
Structure

WELL THE FRAME LOOKS VERY CHEAP NOW AND IS REALLY FLAKING BADLY ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A HUGE HOLE IN THE FRAME THAT WENT UNNOTICED UNTIL NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543553

200,000 miles · Sep 10, 2013
EngineStructureFire

APPROX 10 MINUTES AFTER I HAD GOTTEN HOME I HEARD A NOISE AND LOOKED OUTSIDE.. IT WAS 1:20 A.M; I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. AN EXPLOSION COMPLETELY BLEW OFF THE HOOD. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE FIRE WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD MELTED OFF OF THE TRUCK ITSELF. NO…

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APPROX 10 MINUTES AFTER I HAD GOTTEN HOME I HEARD A NOISE AND LOOKED OUTSIDE.. IT WAS 1:20 A.M; I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. AN EXPLOSION COMPLETELY BLEW OFF THE HOOD. THE TEMPERATURE OF THE FIRE WAS HOT ENOUGH THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAD MELTED OFF OF THE TRUCK ITSELF. NO INJURIES OCCURRED FROM THE FIRE. FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10542846

10,423 miles · Aug 9, 2013
StructureSuspension

BOUGHT TRUCK FOR MY SON FOR 3,500 A MONTH LATER FRAME RUSTED THRU. STOPPED HIM FROM DRIVING IT DEATH TRAP ETT AUTO SALES GAVE ME 1000 DOLLARS BACK BURNED ME FOR 2500 . SPRINGS WERE COMING OFF .FRAME OTHER SIDE CRACKED. SPARETIRE RUSTING OFF.THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE CRUSHED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534474

117,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRAME RUST. RECENTLY REAR BUMPER FELL OFF DUE TO FRAME DETERIORATION. BUMPER BRACKETS HAD NOTHING TO SECURE TO. MORE RECENTLY, ONE OF THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE FRAME. I HAD TO IMPROVISE A RESTRAINT STRAP SINCE A REPLACEMENT WOULD DO NO GOOD …

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VEHICLE HAS SEVERE FRAME RUST. RECENTLY REAR BUMPER FELL OFF DUE TO FRAME DETERIORATION. BUMPER BRACKETS HAD NOTHING TO SECURE TO. MORE RECENTLY, ONE OF THE STRAPS HOLDING THE GAS TANK BROKE AWAY FROM THE FRAME DUE TO SEVERE DETERIORATION OF THE FRAME. I HAD TO IMPROVISE A RESTRAINT STRAP SINCE A REPLACEMENT WOULD DO NO GOOD SINCE THE FRAME CONNECTION AREA WAS ROTTED THRU. LEAF SPRING BRACKETS ARE ON THE VERGE OF SEPARATION FROM THE FRAME, AGAIN DUE TO SEVERE FRAME DETERIORATION. THE EXTERIOR BODY AND INTERIOR ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. FOR A 2000 VEHICLE TO HAVE THIS SERIOUS OF A FRAME PROBLEM HAS TO BE THE RESULT FOR POOR MATERIAL AND/OR MATERIAL RUST PROOFING. FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2000 RANGER OWNERS FOR SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522742

51,629 miles · Jun 24, 2013
StructureSuspension

TWO-THOUSAND FORD RANGER WITH THE FRAME ROTTED OUT ON RAILS AND CROSS MEMBER. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 51,000 MILES AND WILL NO LONGER PASS INSPECTION. THE ENGINE, BODY AND INTERIOR IS PERFECT. THESE TRUCKS SHOULD BE UNDER A MANDATORY RECALL JUST LIKE TOYOTA TRUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521486

58,000 miles · Jun 24, 2013
Suspension

WHILE USING ON RAMP AT APPX 40MPH HEARD LOUD BANG AND TRUCK SHIFTED APPX 5FT INTO NEXT LANE THK GOD LANE WAS VACENT. RECOVERED AND CAME TO STOP ON SHOULDER, NOTED REAR SPRING SHACKLE BROKE FROM FRAME, THIS TRUCK CAME FROM PA. NOW IN AZ. NEED TO FIND DONOR TO DO FRAME SWAPP LUCKILY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ONE IN AZ. OR SCRAPP TRUC…

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WHILE USING ON RAMP AT APPX 40MPH HEARD LOUD BANG AND TRUCK SHIFTED APPX 5FT INTO NEXT LANE THK GOD LANE WAS VACENT. RECOVERED AND CAME TO STOP ON SHOULDER, NOTED REAR SPRING SHACKLE BROKE FROM FRAME, THIS TRUCK CAME FROM PA. NOW IN AZ. NEED TO FIND DONOR TO DO FRAME SWAPP LUCKILY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND ONE IN AZ. OR SCRAPP TRUCK WITH ONLY 58K BOX A ACTUAL MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521354

162,000 miles · Jun 18, 2013
Structure

I HAVE A 2000 FORD RANGER AND THE FRAME IS BROKEN AT THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 160K MILES. AND TO REPAIR IT IT WILL COST OVER $1000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520455

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.