RoadVitals

1996 Ford Ranger Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Oct 25, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 413 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSuspension
Filed Oct 25, 2020

MY 96 FORD RANGER HAS TREMENDOUS FRAME ROT ON THE DRIVE SIDE AT THE FRONT OF THE SPRING SHACKLES. SOMEONE HAD SPRAYED RHINO LINER LIKE MATERIAL ON THE ROT TO COVER IT UP OR TO TRY TO MAKE IT HOLD. THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION EXCEPT FOR IT BEING ALMOST BROKEN INTO AT THE GAS TANK STRAP AND FRONT SHACKLES. I HAVE REPLACED EVERY FRONT END PART ON THIS TRUCK THINKING IT WAS IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. WHEN DRIVING IT RUNS OUT OF LINE FROM THE REAR AND THE FRAME IS STARTING TO BEND.

NHTSA ID
11366255
Incident
Oct 15, 2020
Mileage
200,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 2, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

NHTSA ID
11012292
Incident
Jul 31, 2017
Mileage
124,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Sep 20, 2016

THE WHOLE UNDERBODY AND FRAME IS RUSTED AND ROTTED. THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLES HAVE RUSTED AND ROTTED AWAY.

NHTSA ID
10908184
Incident
Sep 15, 2016
Mileage
219,200 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 4, 2016

EXTENSIVE RUST DETERIORATION ON STRUCTURAL FRAME MEMBERS WHICH IS SPREADING RAPIDLY. VARIOUS LOCATIONS. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RIGHT SIDE REAR LEAF SPRING MOUNT BREAKING LOOSE WHILE IN MOTION. THE REMAINDER OF THE TRUCK IS IN GENERALLY GOOD CONDITION. WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER 7/11, SOME FRAME BRACKETS HAD BEEN REPLACED, BUT THE FRAME APPEARED SOUND. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID
10863143
Incident
Jul 18, 2011
Mileage
129,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 21, 2011

1. EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY CORROSION 2. SUSPENSION FAILURE DUE TO BREAKS IN SPRING TO FRAME MOUNTS AND SHACKLES; THREE TIMES IN TWO YEARS. LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHEN BODY DROPPED ONTO WHEEL 3. NEW SPRING MOUNTS HAD TO BE WELDED ONTO FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10383474
Incident
Dec 16, 2010
Mileage
97,000 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Oct 14, 2005
Crash reported

DT: ON JULY 10, 2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE BAKES WERE NOT PRESSED. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CONTACT FELT THAT VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE LIGHTS THAT SHOULD STAY ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING. THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT IN ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND DECK. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT TAKEN. THE TWO VEHICLE OPERATORS ONLY EXCHANGED PHONE NUMBERS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER OR THE OPERATOR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

NHTSA ID
10139675
Incident
Jul 11, 2005
Mileage
133,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 16, 2003

1996 FORD RANGER, 4.0, STANDARD CAB, STANDARD SHIFT, 2WHL DRIVE. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MOUNTING BRACKET, WHICH IS SPOT WELDED TO THE FIREWALL, BROKE THE WELDS. THIS LEFT THE VEHICAL WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO INCREASE SPEED ABOVE IDLE. ALTHOUGH THE BRACKET HAD POTENTIAL FASTENER HOLES THAT LINED UP WITH HOLES IN THE FIREWALL, THE BRACKET DOES NOT BOLT ON. REFER TO FORD CPD 2000 VERSION 15.04--JANUARY 2003, P-29097 ITEM 9A762 FOR A "BLOW UP" OF THE ITEM. NO ACCIDENT OCCURED AND SINCE I AM A MECHANIC, I DROVE THE VEHICAL HOME AND REPAIRED IT MYSELF.

NHTSA ID
10002803
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Mileage
87,000 mi
Body & structureSeat belts
Filed Apr 2, 1999

DOOR PROBLEM; IT IS HARD TO GET INTO VEHICLE ALSO, BELT WARNING SYSTEM B UZZER KEEPS RINGING/ LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE. WHEN THE BELL RINGS ALOT, IT KILLS THE BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ID
836424
Incident
May 1, 1996
Body & structureBrakesInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Apr 19, 1997

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE.

NHTSA ID
516585
Incident
Jul 9, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Feb 12, 1997

BUMPER MISALIGNED.

NHTSA ID
602715
Incident
Jul 1, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .