Your vehicle report
2001 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
- 515
- Received Dec 2000 to Apr 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Frame rusts and corrodes through107 complaints · 21% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Airbags fail to deploy in crashes42 complaints · 8.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Seat belt fails to latch or retract39 complaints · 7.6% 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 #07V336000On 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.
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: 62 crashes, 9 fires, 49 people injured, 4 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
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
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
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 59 |
| 2002 | 57 |
| 2003 | 47 |
| 2004 | 47 |
| 2005 | 21 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 29 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 21 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 2 |
| Total | 515 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame rusts and corrodes through | 107 | 21% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 42 | 8.2% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 39 | 7.6% | – | NHTSA recall #01V227001 |
| Tires blow out or tread separates | 30 | 5.8% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 16 | 3.1% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 13 | 2.5% | – | |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 12 | 2.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel shakes violently at highway speed | 11 | 2.1% | – | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 11 | 2.1% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 10 | 1.9% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 10 | 1.9% | – | |
| Coil springs break and puncture tires | 9 | 1.8% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Front brake rotors warp and wear early | 7 | 1.4% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 6 | 1.2% | – | |
| Manual clutch wears out or fails early | 6 | 1.2% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 5 | 1.0% | – | |
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 5 | 1.0% | – |
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 #07V336000August 3, 20073,600,000 vehicles affected
vehicle speed control
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #01V227001July 16, 20011,400,000 vehicles affected
seat belts: front: buckle assembly
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 mercury grand marquis built at st. Thomas assembly plant from 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. Lincoln town cars built at wixom assembly plant from 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. Lincoln navigators built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. Ford windstars built at oakville assembly plant from 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. Ford rangers built at twin cities plant from 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, and also at the edison plant from 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. Ford F-150 truck built at norfolk plant from 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; at ontario plant from 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; at kansas city plant from 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. Ford super duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 trucks built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; and at cuautitlan plant from 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. Ford excursions built at kentucky plant from 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. Ford expeditions built at michigan truck plant from 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. 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 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA recall #00V394000November 28, 2000137,700 vehicles affected
structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles with steel hoods and certain pickup trucks equipped with sheet molding compound hoods. A wire formed hood striker could be susceptible to fatigue fractures. If the hood striker fractures, the hood could fly open while the vehicle is being driven.
A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the hood striker.
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 2001 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