Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 413 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford Ranger. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 413 · page 1 of 17
Drivers side seat belt buckle does not work. The tongue on the long strap does not lock into the buckle at the seat. I think this may be a recall problem with other models and/or years, but not 1996 Ford Rangers.
heading back from picking up meal at pizza hut when "POP" sound from front of truck and then cabin filled with smoke. within 20-30 seconds of exiting the car it was in flames (See attached photos) recall notification was never sent to current owner and current owner didnt own in 2009 when it was first recalled. Ford customer service informed that auto insurnace would be required to handle loss of vehicle, but current owner doesnt have comprehensive coverage so insurance company is unable to payout for loss due to fire. This recall should have been communicated to titled owner after purchase.
Drivers side seat belt buckle does not release. Broken about ten years. Currently using middle seat belt buckle.
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.
NANO AND MICRO PARTICULATES/CONTAMINANTS HAVE BEEN SPRAYED FROM AN AIRLINER AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY BODY AND MY VEHICLE; IT INCLUDES FLAKES, TUBULES AND HIGHLY REFLECTIVE PARTICLES AND METALS. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND LOST TWO GEARS AS A RESULT. IT HAS A GAS LEAKING ISSUE CAUSED BY THE TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED, DAMAGED AND SABATAGED AS WELL AS MY FAMILY MEMBERS VEHICLES, PERSONS AND PROPERTY. IT'S OCCURING ON AND OFF HIGHWAY. IT'S HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. OIL AND BATTERY INTERIOR AND EXTERIORS AS WELL AS BODILY HARM, RISK AND INJURY. THE TECH AND PARTICULATES ARE HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE. [XXX] IS THE OFFENDING PARTY THAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TAKATA RECALL. I CRASHED MY 1996 FORD RANGER IN 2010. BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MY COLLISION SHOP REPLACED THE AIRBAGS WITH UNKNOWN YEAR FORD RANGER AIRBAGS, BUYING SOME NEW PARTS FROM FORD TO COMPLETE THE INSTALL. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW IF THESE ARE RECALLED TAKATA AIRBAGS WITHOUT AN INSPECTION. MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, VARSITY FORD IN ANN ARBOR MI, IS REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT A RECALL NOTICE. ANY INSPECTION, EVEN IF THESE ARE RECALLED AIRBAGS, WILL BE AT MY COST BECAUSE THIS IS A 1996 TRUCK. I CALLED FORD'S RECALL LINE AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PLAN TO TRACK DOWN DANGEROUS TAKATA AIRBAGS INSTALLED AFTER MANUFACTURE, EVEN IF THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED IN ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED, BUT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000. *TR *JS *BF CONSUMER STATED BOTH ODI 11173289 AND 11173291 HAD MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE FIRE.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT LESS THAN APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
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.
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED INTO LATCHING MECHANISM
THE WHOLE UNDERBODY AND FRAME IS RUSTED AND ROTTED. THE LEAF SPRING SHACKLES HAVE RUSTED AND ROTTED AWAY.
TRUCK WAS PARKED ON THE GARAGE PAD FOR A WEEK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED ALL FLUID LEVELS, AND FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID A LITTLE LOW. TOPPED OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND GOT BACK INTO THE TRUCK. STARTED ENGINE, AND PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND HEARD FLUID DRIPPING. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW A PUDDLE OF BRAKE FLUID NEAR THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. I ASKED MY WIFE TO PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN AND I SAW BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING FROM THE MAIN STEEL BRAKE LINE. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THE TRUCK WAS USED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT TO HAUL A FULL LOAD OF FIRE WOOD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND BECAME PERMANENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILALBE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE.
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.
THE FRAME HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT, CROSS MEMBERS, REAR BUMPER, LEAF SPRING SHACKLES, AND PERFORATIONS/RUST THROUGH OF THE MAIN FRAME RAILS.
THE REAR BUMPER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DUE TO RUSTED FRAME RAILS THAT IT WAS ATTACHED TO.
I HAVE A 1996 FORD RANGER AND WHEN I WAS FILLING UP THE GAS TANK I STARTED NOTICING A STRONG SMELL OF GAS THEN LATER CAME TO FIND OUT IT WAS LEAKING GAS. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECTED WITH THESE VEHICLES. I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF SOMEONE HAS NOT GOTTEN KILLED YET. *TR
THE CONTROL CLUSTERS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE BEEN AT A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TEMPERATURE THAT THE PLASTIC COVERING OVER THE MICRO SWITCHES HAS DEFORMED AND ON OCCASION IT WILL STICK TO YOUR FINGERS. THE CENTER BUTTON ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS DISINTEGRATED TO THE POINT THAT THE ACTUAL MICRO BUTTON IS NOW OPERATED DIRECTLY THROUGH THE MISSING PORTION OF THE ORIGINAL COVERING. ONE OF THE MICRO BUTTONS ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS IN THE SAME CONDITION AND BOTH CONTROL CLUSTERS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH THE PROBLEMS FORD HAS HAD WITH FIRES I THOUGHT THEY WOULD OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THIS DEFECT BUT BOTH THE LOCAL DEALERS I HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE INDICATED NO ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, I GUESS WE WILL WAIT FOR THE FIRE THAT SPREADS THROUGH THE GARAGE AND TAKES DOWN THE WHOLE HOUSE. DEALERS THAT TURNED ME DOWN ARE BLUE BONNET IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX AND GRIFFITH IN THE KYLE, TX AREA. THE CONTROL STILL ACTUALLY FUNCTIONS IF YOU CAN HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER LONG ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE MICRO SWITCHES AND YOU DON'T MIND GETTING STICKY BLACK GOOP ON YOUR FINGERS. *TR
IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT TO LATCH. SHORTLY AFTER THE SEAT BELT CAME UNLATCHED AS I WAS DRIVING. AFTER THAT THE BELT WON'T STAY LATCHED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN GOODRICH RADIAL TIRES, SIZE P225/70/R14. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ROTATING THE TIRES, A CRACK WAS DISCOVERED ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE CRACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
RUBBER FUEL VAPOR HOSE BETWEEN FUEL VAPOR PURGE VALVE AND CHARCOAL CANISTER CAN'T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE FORD HAS MADE PART OBSOLETE. THIS HOSE IS NOT A NORMAL OFF THE SHELF BULK HOSE. IT IS RUBBER PERFORMED WITH A DIFFERENT INSIDE DIAMETER ON BOTH ENDS. FORD WON'T EVEN GIVE ME PART NUMBER! THREE PARTS VENDORS WERE RECOMMENDED TO MAYBE FIND PART. THE VENDORS ALL WANT PART NUMBER THOUGH-SO THAT DOESN'T HELP ME. THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY LEAKS GASOLINE FUMES. I'M NOT EXPECTING FORD TO FIX IT BECAUSE OF AGE OF TRUCK. SOMETHING OUGHT TO DONE BY FORD TO MAKE PART AVAILABLE TO CONSUMER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRUCK COULD EASILY CATCH ON FIRE! *TR
TURNS OVER BUT WON'T START. *TR
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. *TR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILS TO HOLD. *TR
THE TWO BUTTONS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HORN, ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THAT CONTROL THE CRUISE CONTROL MELT IN THE HEAT AND EXPOSE THE CIRCUIT BOARDS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS AND I FINALLY NEED TO REPORT THIS. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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