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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
39,781 miles · Jan 12, 2005
Steering

THE VEHICLE TIE RODS MADE A NOISE WITH LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *BF *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10111100

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2005
Interior Lighting

ON FREQUENT OCCASIONS THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD CABIN LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND WILL STAY ON FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME ALONG WITH THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED. IF LEFT UNATTENDED WITH THE BULBS IN PLACE THIS WILL RUN YOUR BATTERY DOWN AND CAUSE YOUR VEHICLE NOT TO START.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105832

51,000 miles · Jan 4, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury

I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH AND AS I CAME TO THE CREST OF A DOWNHILL SECTION, I LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A SKID. I CORRECTED AND AGAIN LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK AGAIN VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AN…

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I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 35 - 40 MPH AND AS I CAME TO THE CREST OF A DOWNHILL SECTION, I LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES DUE TO SNOW ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND WENT INTO A SKID. I CORRECTED AND AGAIN LIGHTLY TOUCHED THE BRAKES AND THE TRUCK AGAIN VEERED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AND I WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BEFORE THE TRUCK LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A LARGE TREE STUMP. THE TRUCK IS AWAITING INSURANCE ADJUSTMENT DECISION ON REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10105739

38,500 miles · Nov 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

XLT 4X4 4.0L WITH ONLY 38,500 SAT FOR 2 DAYS. WHEN HEADING TO WORK (1.7 MILES AWAY) NOTICED NO HEAT OUT OF BLOWER..NOTICED TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEAR TOP. FINSIHED DRIVING TO WORK AND TEMPERATURE HIT MAXIMUM, JUST BEFORE SHUTTING OFF.FOUND STEAM COMING OUT OF OIL FILLER CAP.DIPSTICK WAS FOAMY. AFTER TOW TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THE …

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XLT 4X4 4.0L WITH ONLY 38,500 SAT FOR 2 DAYS. WHEN HEADING TO WORK (1.7 MILES AWAY) NOTICED NO HEAT OUT OF BLOWER..NOTICED TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEAR TOP. FINSIHED DRIVING TO WORK AND TEMPERATURE HIT MAXIMUM, JUST BEFORE SHUTTING OFF.FOUND STEAM COMING OUT OF OIL FILLER CAP.DIPSTICK WAS FOAMY. AFTER TOW TO DEALERSHIP, FOUND OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET HAD BLOWN! THE NEXT DAY, DEALERSHIP TOLD ME I NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO COOLANT IN OIL CONTAMINATION. FORD/DEALERSHIP IS PAYING FOR 75% AND I HAVE TO PAY 25% ($1000) OUT OF MY POCKET. THIS IS BECAUSE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY (4 YEAR/60,000) RAN OUT IN JULY. ONLY 38,500 ON ODOMETER AND THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED! I CANNOT AFFORD THIS! THE LOAN WAS FOR 5 YEARS ( JULY 2005). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10098563

50,000 miles · Oct 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING ON A SEMI ROUGH ROAD, STOPPED AT A SIGNAL TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, LIGHT TURNED AND I WENT. I PUSHED ON THE GAS IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT THERE WAS GAS POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE FUEL FILTER OUT AND THE HO…

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DRIVING ON A SEMI ROUGH ROAD, STOPPED AT A SIGNAL TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, LIGHT TURNED AND I WENT. I PUSHED ON THE GAS IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK. I STOPPED AND GOT OUT THERE WAS GAS POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE FUEL FILTER OUT AND THE HOSE ON THE TANK SIDE HAD POPPED OFF. I RECONNECTED IT AND IT BEEN FINE SINCE THEN. NOTHING WAS REPAIRED OR REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10096329

43,000 miles · Oct 20, 2004
Tires

THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN. THIS WOULD CAUSE A VIBRATION IN THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. GOODYEAR#. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10097235

33,775 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER FROZE UP. ALSO, PADS BROKE, AND DAMAGED THE DRUM. *AK WITH ONLY 33800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT STRANGE FOR THE NOTED FAILURE. BRAKES GOING BAD SO THE …

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WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY FAILED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT REAR BRAKE WHEEL CYLINDER FROZE UP. ALSO, PADS BROKE, AND DAMAGED THE DRUM. *AK WITH ONLY 33800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE CONSUMER THOUGHT IT STRANGE FOR THE NOTED FAILURE. BRAKES GOING BAD SO THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10089405

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2004
TiresInjury

I WAS DRIVING ON HWY. 40 GOING 68 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE JUST POPPED OFF. I GOT CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY. BECAUSE THERE WERE CARS ALL AROUND ME WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURED I COULD NOT GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY ENOUGH AND THUS SO CAUSING THE ENTIRE RIM TO BE DESTROYED. THE TIRE CAME O…

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I WAS DRIVING ON HWY. 40 GOING 68 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE JUST POPPED OFF. I GOT CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HWY. BECAUSE THERE WERE CARS ALL AROUND ME WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURED I COULD NOT GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY ENOUGH AND THUS SO CAUSING THE ENTIRE RIM TO BE DESTROYED. THE TIRE CAME OFF IN ONE BIG RING AND FLEW INTO THE HIGHWAY CAUSING TRAFFIC TO HAVE TO GO AROUND IT AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I HAD TO DODGE TRAFFIC THAT WAS ALREADY HAVING TO GO AROUND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I HAD TO BE ON TO GET THE TIRE OUT OF THE PATH OF ON COMMING CARS. I RETREIVED THE TIRE AND KEPT IT TO INVESTAGATE IF IT WAS A RECALL OR NOT. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 5-12-04 WHEN ONE OF THE OTHER TIRES JUST LIKE THAT ONE HAD BLOWN OUT AND CAUSED MY TRUCK TO ROLL AND SKID DOWN THE HWY. ENDING UPSIDE DOWN. I HAD TO GO TO THE EMEGENCY ROOM AND BE CHECKED OUT. I SUSTAINED SCRAPES AND BRUSIES AND BROKEN RIBS. I DIDNT THINK IT WOULD BE THE TIRES SINCE THESE WERE NOT THE TIRES THAT HAD THE RECALL ON THEM. BUT AFTER THE OTHER TIRE BLEW I FIGURED IT NEEDED LOOKING INTO.I HAD TO HAVE MY TRUCK REPAIRED THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND PAY THE DEDUCTABLES FOR IT TO BE DONE. I PAID FOR TWO TIRES AND A RIM REPLACEMENT. THE INTERNET SAID THAT THERE WAS A VOLENTARY RECALL ON THE TIRES THAT I HAD AND GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CONTACT THEM ABOUT IT BUT WHEN I CALLED THE LADY SAID IT WAS NOT ONE THAT IS ONE THE LIST. I WANTED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT IF THERE WERE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM MAYBE THEY WILL RECALL THESE ALSO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT REAL BAD OR LOSSES A LIFE. THERE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE ROADS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091359

36,000 miles · Sep 15, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

12/16/02 (36,635 MILES) FIRST NOTIFIED DEALER THAT BRAKES SEEMED TO TAKE FARTHER DISTANCE FOR STOP AND THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE WHOLE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. THEY DETERMINED THE FRONT ROTORS WERE FAULTY AND FIXED THEM. 5/5/03 (40,771 MILES) TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BOTH FRONT ROTORS, CALIPER…

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12/16/02 (36,635 MILES) FIRST NOTIFIED DEALER THAT BRAKES SEEMED TO TAKE FARTHER DISTANCE FOR STOP AND THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE WHOLE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKING. THEY DETERMINED THE FRONT ROTORS WERE FAULTY AND FIXED THEM. 5/5/03 (40,771 MILES) TRUCK WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BOTH FRONT ROTORS, CALIPERS, AND PADS WERE REPLACED. 9/13/04 (55,637 MILES) TRUCK WAS RETURNED AGAIN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOW THE REAR DRUMS BEING OUT OF ROUND AND THAT THEY WOULD FIX FOR 300 DOLLARS. CONSUMER PLANS TO GET A SECOND OPINION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10091022

50,000 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 40 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10092052

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.