IllustrationTRANSMISSION FLUID ALL LEAKED OUT GOOD THING I WASN'T DRIVING HAD TO REPLACE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AT THAT TIME
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
What owners actually said
670 reportsFRAME IS ROTTED WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. SEEMS AS TRUCK WILL BREAK IN HALF
WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLTS FAILED CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK UNTIL STOPPED BY REAR WALL OF VEHICLE. SINCE THIS WAS A SUPER CAB XLT, THE FALL BACKWARDS WAS SIGNIFICANT CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO BOLTS HAD FAILED QUITE AWHILE AGO SINCE THE HEAD SHOWED S…
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WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS SEAT BACK RECLINER BOLTS FAILED CAUSING SEAT TO FALL BACK UNTIL STOPPED BY REAR WALL OF VEHICLE. SINCE THIS WAS A SUPER CAB XLT, THE FALL BACKWARDS WAS SIGNIFICANT CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO BOLTS HAD FAILED QUITE AWHILE AGO SINCE THE HEAD SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED PLANET FORD (20403 I-45, SPRING, TX 77388, (281) 719-3700) AND SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED PLANET FORD (20403 I-45, SPRING, TX 77388, (281) 719-3700) AND SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,900.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, A THUMPING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BED OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND MISALIGNED. ALSO, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME BEHIND THE CAB WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING, A THUMPING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTER PARKING, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BED OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND MISALIGNED. ALSO, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRAME BEHIND THE CAB WAS FRACTURED DUE TO RUST AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. TODD JUDY FORD (7891 MACCORKLE AVE, CHARLESTON, WV) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000. *TT*JB Broken frame
THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOOSE. SOMETIMES HAVE TO MOVE AROUND BIT TO GET INTO PARK OR DRIVE. THE OTHER DAY I HAD IT IN PARK, WITH THE TRUCK RUNNING AND AFTER I WAS OUT OF IT, IT STARTED MOVING. I HAD TO RUN AROUND AND GET BACK IN TO STOP IT. LUCKILY HAD THE DOOR OPEN. NO MORE LEAVING IT RUNNING WHEN NOT IN THE TRUCK.
RUST ON FRAME, RADIATOR SUPPORT AND UNDER CARRIAGE.
MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF RUST ON FRAME, FRONT AND REAR BUMPER, LEAF SPRING SHACKLE BRACKETS, BRACKET HOLDING BODY TO FRAME., AND RADIATOR SUPPORT.
TAMARA RECALL MY PAINT IS BUBBLING AND CHIPPING
FRAME ROT RUSTED REAR FRAME
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.