RoadVitals

1996 Ford Ranger Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
33
Latest Jan 20, 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.
8%
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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 33 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 engine

The 25 most recent of 33, in the owner's own words

EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 20, 2020
1 injury reported

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

NHTSA ID
11300548
Incident
Jan 19, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 2019
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
11173291
Incident
Dec 15, 2018
Mileage
300,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 6, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
755374
Incident
Dec 3, 2001
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2001

ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS / TEMPERATURES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
898755
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 2001

I WENT IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS ABOUT TO BLOW OUT. I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3000 MILES AGOE AND WENT ON A TRIP WHIT A NEW OIL CHANGE. I RETURNED HOME AND WENT TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE OIL GASKET COMMING OUT. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BLOW WHILE I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME DURING THE LONG TRIP I HAD GONE ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
747404
Incident
Jun 25, 2001
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 11, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLUTCH, AND HAS STATED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FIRST GEAR SYNCRO, BLOCKER RING, AND THIRD GEAR BLOCKER RING. HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT. TAIL PIPE WAS HITTING SPARE TIRE CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPOSITIONED TAIL PIPE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
885719
Incident
May 9, 1996
EngineSuspension
Filed Mar 5, 2001

THE FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN DEFECT PREVENTS THE CROSS CAMBER FROM BEING ADJUSTED WITHIN MANUFACTURERS SPECIFIED TOLERENCE DURING FRONT END ALIGNMENT RESULTING IN RAPID WEAR TO THE OUTSIDE EDGE AND SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT TIRES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING ROARING NOISE AND UNSTABLE STEERING WHEEL, ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND A FRONT ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN PERFORMED BUT BOTH HAVE FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID
560206
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Dec 27, 2000

ENGINE. KNOCKING ROD AT ONLY 56,000 MI. OVER $3,000 FOR NEW ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO TURN ON BEFORE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. CAME ON AFTER TURNING ON HIGH BEAMS AND TURN SIGNALS. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'M ABOUT TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NEARLY LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
738332
Incident
Sep 9, 2000
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 24, 2000

ABNORMALLY HIGH COLD IDLE MADE WORSE BY ATTEMPTING TO 'KICK IT DOWN' WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL; PEDAL STICKS TO KICKED POSITION CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE EVEN HIGHER. MUST SHUT OFF ENGINE TO AVOID DAMAGE. WITH ENGINE OFF, MUST REPEATEDLY STOMP PEDAL TO ATTEMPT RELEASE. PARTIAL RELEASE STILL LEAVES VERY HIGH ENGINE SPEED, UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM; FOUND CORROSION AT END OF THROTTLE CABLE, CLEANED AND LUBRICATED. NOT SURE IF PROBLEM IS FIXED, SINCE ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAD SAT FOR ONE WEEK OF NONUSE BEFORE PROBLEM OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
725873
Incident
Jul 21, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 21, 2000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
858914
Incident
Mar 20, 2000
Engine
Filed Feb 6, 2000
Fire reported

I WAS WONERING ABOUT MY VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE IN AN ACCIDENT I HAD GOTTIN INTO. *AK

NHTSA ID
718386
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Dec 30, 1999

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LOSE SPEED WHEN GOING UP HILL. WITH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR, THE SPEED DECREASES AND THE ENGINE AND OVER DRIVE LIGHTS BLINK.

NHTSA ID
511946
BrakesEngineTransmission+1 more
Filed Mar 27, 1999
Crash reported

AT LEAST 12 SETS OF BRAKES PUT ON VEHICLE"4 IN UDER 9000 MILES, RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS" 3 TIMES AT TURNING ROTORS/ENGINE REBUILT AT 52000 MILES STILL WITH LOSS OF PORWER. 2 EGR VALVES/2 WIPER SWITCHES/SYNCRONIZERS/2 SLAVE CYLINDERS ON TRANSMISSION AND OIL LEAK. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. ENGINE IDLES HIGH ENOUGH THAT THE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT NEEDED FOR INTOWN DRIVING. SPEEDS OF 45MPH CAN BE OBTAINED BEFORE HITTING PEDAL.

NHTSA ID
705009
Engine
Filed Oct 20, 1998

ENGINE IDLES VERY ERRATIC.

NHTSA ID
525849
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 1998

ENGINE CONNECTING ROD FAILED.

NHTSA ID
781321
Incident
Dec 24, 1997
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 1998

VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
540429
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 1998

ENGINE LOCKED AT 42,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
780484
Engine
Filed Aug 5, 1998

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS OUT, INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER'S SPEED VARIES BETWEEN 25-65MPH WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
825551
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
AirbagsEngine
Filed Jul 8, 1998
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AT 20 MPH IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE IN LOW SPEED CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
825173
Engine
Filed Jan 19, 1998

IN WET WEATHER VEHICLE STALLS WHEN TRAVELING OVER SMALL PUDDLES.

NHTSA ID
529178
Incident
Oct 8, 1997
Engine
Filed Nov 30, 1997

ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS/STALLS.

NHTSA ID
526932
Heating & air conditioningEngineVisibility
Filed Oct 27, 1997

OIL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604931
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 1997

TAIL PIPE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
603858
Incident
Oct 22, 1995
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 1997

CRANK SENSOR SHORTED OUT.

NHTSA ID
603502
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 1997

DURING FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEED THE MOTOR RUNS BETWEEN 3/4 TO 1/2 WIDE OPEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
813720
Incident
Jan 9, 1997

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 .