TRANSMISSION LOSES POWER AND CAUSES DAMAGE TO MOTOR. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE, AND COULDN'T FIX IT. *AK
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.
What owners actually said
670 reportsALL 4 TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN THE TREAD, WHERE THE SIDE WALL MEETS THE TREAD. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VD70IRF030 TIRE SIZE: P24575R16 )
FORD AND FIRESTONE WANT ME TO PAY THEM TO REPLACE RECALLED TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. CANNOT TRUST THE TRUCK TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC. *AK
FIRESTONE TIRES P245 75 R16 EXPERIENCED BLOW OUT. *SLC
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. REAR PASSENGER'S TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK
I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY WITH MY INFANT DAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE. WE WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AN HOUR MAX. THE TRUCK MADE A HORRIBLE WINDING NOISE THAN A CRASHING NOISE. IT WAS SO LOUD PEOPLE CAME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES THINKING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. RIGHT…
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I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE RIGHT BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY WITH MY INFANT DAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE. WE WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AN HOUR MAX. THE TRUCK MADE A HORRIBLE WINDING NOISE THAN A CRASHING NOISE. IT WAS SO LOUD PEOPLE CAME OUT OF THEIR HOUSES THINKING IT WAS AN ACCIDENT. RIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENED THE TRUCK JUST ABRUPTLY STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING. I LOOKED AT THE DASH AND THE 4 WHEEL HIGH LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE 4 WHEEL LOW LIGHT AND THEN NO LIGHTS. IT WAS TOWED. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN ME CONFLICTING STORIES ON THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE THEY KNEW THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME IF IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ME AND MY BABY. THEN ONCE THEY FOUND IT WAS THE TRANSFER CASE THAT CRACKED WHEN THE TRUCK SUPPOSIDLY SHIFTED INTO FOUR WHEEL LOW ON IT S OWN, THEY THEN DECIDED THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE IF THEY FIX THE TRANSFER CASE AND THAT IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. WELL, IT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO BELIEVE.
TWO OF THE FIRESTONE AT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. *MJS
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, PULLED FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON BRAKES. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. AS SOON AS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED THE TRUCK SPRUNG FORWARD AND CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED WITH OUT ME STEPPING ON THE ACCELER…
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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, PULLED FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND STEPPED ON BRAKES. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AT A VERY HIGH RPM AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. AS SOON AS THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED THE TRUCK SPRUNG FORWARD AND CONTINUED TO GAIN SPEED WITH OUT ME STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. AT HOME MY FATHER ADVICED ME TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN VERY FAST. I HIT THE ACCELERATOR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WENT TO A NORMAL IDLE. I WILL TAKE THE TRUCK TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TODAY AS I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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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