IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HIT AT 40MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
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 reportsCONSUMER STATES SHE HAD A FRONT END COLLISION DOING ABOUT 45-50 MPH, AND HER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE 2 PERSONS INJURIED INCLUDING THE DRIVER. CONSUMER STATES SHE RECEIVED CHEST AND BACK INJURIED. THE PERSON IN THE OTHER AUTO RECEIVED A BROKEN ARM. TS
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HOT WIRE MELTED OFF OF THE ALTERNATOR AND MELTED ONTO OTHER WIRING AND HOSES. THE PART WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM REOCCURED. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. MR THE CONSUMER TALKED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THE WRONG SIZE ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED BY FORD WITH A…
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CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HOT WIRE MELTED OFF OF THE ALTERNATOR AND MELTED ONTO OTHER WIRING AND HOSES. THE PART WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM REOCCURED. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. MR THE CONSUMER TALKED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THE WRONG SIZE ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED BY FORD WITH A 95 AMP AND THE VEHICLE REQUIRES A 130 AMP. THER WAS NO SIGN THAT THE MELTING HAD OCCURED UNTIL THE BATTERY WENT DEAD. SCC
THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO MAKE A "PINGING" SOUND, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE NOISE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE WITH A COMPUTER FOR CALIBRATION. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THE TRUCK IS SLUGGISH, NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER …
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THE ENGINE IS STARTING TO MAKE A "PINGING" SOUND, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE NOISE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE ENGINE WITH A COMPUTER FOR CALIBRATION. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THE TRUCK IS SLUGGISH, NOT RESPONDING TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING PRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP IS NO LONGER PERFORMING ANY MAINTENANCE ON THE TRUCK. OWNER WOULD LIKE YOU TO REFERENCE HIS COMPLAINT TO A COMPLAINT FROM THE INTERNET 761703. *NLM *DT
TAILGATE OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. ONE SIDE OF HANDLE PULLS UP MORE AND KEEPS THE LATCH FROM OPENING. OFTEN HAVE TO PUSH ON THE TAILGATE WITH SHOULDER WHILE PULLING LATCH TO GET IT OPEN. ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND STEERING IS NOT PRECISE VERY WOBBLY. HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT YET BUT MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A COMM…
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TAILGATE OFTEN VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. ONE SIDE OF HANDLE PULLS UP MORE AND KEEPS THE LATCH FROM OPENING. OFTEN HAVE TO PUSH ON THE TAILGATE WITH SHOULDER WHILE PULLING LATCH TO GET IT OPEN. ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND STEERING IS NOT PRECISE VERY WOBBLY. HAVE NOT HAD IT LOOKED AT YET BUT MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2000 RANGERS AND THAT THE STEERING KNUCKLE CAN BE DEFECTIVE AND BE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AS IS.DT
ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF FOR WEEKS AND BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEN LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. AT INTERSECTIONS I WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD BARELY STOP THE TRUCK. ONCE IT WAS STOPPED THE TRUCK WOULD THEN SUDDENLY ROLL FORWARD AGAIN EVEN WITH BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR. FRONT AND B…
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ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN TURNING ON AND OFF FOR WEEKS AND BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THEN LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. AT INTERSECTIONS I WOULD APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY WOULD BARELY STOP THE TRUCK. ONCE IT WAS STOPPED THE TRUCK WOULD THEN SUDDENLY ROLL FORWARD AGAIN EVEN WITH BRAKE PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR. FRONT AND BACK PADS WERE REPLACED BY MY MECHANIC. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT WAS NOT THE BRAKE PADS AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. RUDE SERVICE REP AT DEALERSHIP WENT WITH ME FOR A TEST DRIVE, SAID HE COULD NOT VERIFY MY COMPLAINT EVEN THOUGH THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON FOR THE WHOLE RIDE. HE CLAIMED MY MECHANIC HAD SCREWED SOMETHING UP, SAID THE INTERMITTANT BRAKE FAILURE WAS ALL IN MY IMAGINATION, ETC. BUT SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE HE WOULD DO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS. TWO AND A HALF WEEKS LATER AFTER BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE THE TRUCK'S "NON-EXISTANT" BRAKE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE WATER COLLECTING UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT AND RUSTING OUT A SENSOR FOR THE ABS SYSTEM. ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM REPLACED. PROBLEMS SOLVED FOR NOW BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN IT RUSTS OUT AGAIN? WHY HAD WATER COLLECTED THERE? I DO NOT DRIVE IN RIVERS OR LAKES. IT WOULD HAVE COST ME $2500 IN PARTS AND LABOR IF IT HAD NOT BEEN UNDER WARRANTY. DT
THIS WAS A FRONT END COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE HAS A CABLE FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONSUMER STATES THE BRACKET THE CABLE IS ATTACHED TO BROKE AND NOW WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION IS RETARDED. NLM CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLDS THE BRACKET IN PLACE FADED, CAUSING BAD THROTTLE RESPONSE.PH 09-DEC-2002
CONSUMER STATES HAS PLASTIC FUEL TANK W/A PLASTIC "SCREW-ON" CAP THAT HOLDS THE FUEL GAUGE METERING SYSTEM. THE CAP BROKE. WHILE CONSUMER WAS FUELING VEHICLE, GAS PUMP OVERFLOWED. NLM CONSUMER STATES THEY WASN'T AWARE OF THE FAILURE UNTIL THEY WERE FUELING THE VEHICLE AND FUEL SPILLED ON THE GROUNG. PH 09-DEC-2002
CONSUMER WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT BEGAN IN OR UNDER THE BED OF THE PICKUP. CONSUMER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE AND IT'S CONTENTS WERE ENGULFED IN THE FIRE. *JG
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.