Your vehicle report
1996 Ford Ranger
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 413
- Received Mar 1996 to Feb 2023
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Tires blow out or tread separates39 complaints · 9.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail35 complaints · 8.5% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Seat belt fails to latch or retract25 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #09V399000Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-250 sd through F-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 E-150 through E-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 F53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Recall #96V161000The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 41 crashes, 18 fires, 34 people injured, 10 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
- Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up
- Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines
- Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly
1 more problem
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
- Tires blow out or tread separates
- Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed
- Coil springs break and puncture tires
1 more problem
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 35 |
| 1997 | 88 |
| 1998 | 36 |
| 1999 | 52 |
| 2000 | 59 |
| 2001 | 28 |
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 0 |
| Total | 413 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 39 | 9.4% | – | |
| Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail | 35 | 8.5% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 25 | 6.0% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 24 | 5.8% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 22 | 5.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 22 | 5.3% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 19 | 4.6% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 16 | 3.9% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 13 | 3.1% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 13 | 3.1% | – | |
| Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly | 9 | 2.2% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 8 | 1.9% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 8 | 1.9% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 8 | 1.9% | – | |
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 7 | 1.7% | – | |
| Air conditioner blows hot air or fails | 7 | 1.7% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 6 | 1.5% | – | |
| Coil springs break and puncture tires | 5 | 1.2% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 5 | 1.2% | – | |
| Suspension clunking or rattling noise over bumps | 5 | 1.2% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #09V399000October 13, 20094,500,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 F-250 sd through F-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 E-150 through E-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 Ranger, and 1994 F53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact Ford at 1-888-222-2751.
NHTSA recall #96V161000August 29, 1996134,770 vehicles affected
equipment: other: labels
The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .
Remedy
Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers Can install this label if the owner so desires.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1996 Ford Ranger.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN