RoadVitals

1996 Ford Ranger Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
22
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.
5%
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.
0
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 suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 22 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 suspension

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 & 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
Suspension
Filed Sep 25, 2011

RIGHT REAR SPRING SHACKLE RUSTED OUT AND BROKE, PUSHING THE SPRING UP AGAINST THE BED. THE WHOLE BACK END OF THE FRAME IS RUSTING OUT, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10427107
Incident
Sep 25, 2011
Mileage
95,877 mi
Suspension
Filed May 22, 2007

THE FRAME MOUNTS ON THE REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES RUSTED OFF ALLOWING THE SPRINGS TO RIDE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BED.

NHTSA ID
10191477
Incident
Mar 9, 2007
Suspension
Filed Sep 27, 2002

THE CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AXLE FELL OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *MR THE CONSUMER'S FATHER, A MECAHNIC, STATED THAT AT THE ARROW, THE PIN BROKE, ALLOWING THE SPIDER GEAR SHAFT TO TURN ABOUT 1/4 RD AND ALLOWING THE AXLE TO MOVE IN AND THE KEEPER TO FALL OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEEL AND 3 FT. AXEL TO COME OUT . *SCC

NHTSA ID
8019700
Incident
Aug 3, 2002
Suspension
Filed Aug 20, 2002

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 25MPH AND WITH NO WARNING CONSUMER CAN HEAR A POPPING NOISE. IT COULD CAUSE FUTURE STEERING PROBLEMS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016764
Incident
Aug 16, 2002
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jan 24, 2002

THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS BROKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR A SOLID PIECE OF STEEL TO JUST BREAK. *YH

NHTSA ID
564089
Incident
Oct 10, 2001
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
Suspension
Filed Jan 8, 2001

CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT DEALER'S TO REPAIR COIL SPRING THAT HAD TO BE ALIGNED. BUT, COULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WHERE CONSUMER HAD TO USE CUPS TO RAISE SPRING AND TRY TO FIX PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
877655
Incident
Nov 8, 2000
Suspension
Filed Dec 1, 2000

LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF EXTERIOR DAMAGE. LOOKS LIKE METAL DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID
737125
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Suspension
Filed Sep 22, 2000

REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE, CAUSING REAR END TO DROP.*AK

NHTSA ID
871240
Incident
Sep 21, 2000
Suspension
Filed Mar 30, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
720802
Incident
Mar 30, 2000
Suspension
Filed Aug 10, 1999

FAULTY COILS SPRINGS PREVENTED THE FRONT END FROM BEING PROPERLY ALIGNED AND CAUSED THE INSIDE TIRE TREAD TO BECOME WORN. NLM

NHTSA ID
547861
BrakesInterior & seatsOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Jun 3, 1999

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A GRINDING / DRAGGING NOISE, DUE TO FRONT SUSPENSION FAILURE. HOWEVER THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, DUE TO LEAKING. ALSO THE SWAY BAR EXPERIENCED FAILURE, WHICH WAS REPLACED. *YC

NHTSA ID
545929
Incident
May 27, 1997
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 26, 1997

FRONT END SHOCKS FAILED.

NHTSA ID
525466
Incident
Dec 1, 1996
Suspension
Filed Oct 27, 1997

REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604762
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Suspension
Filed Oct 7, 1997

LEFT FRONT STABILIZER LINK WAS LOOSE AND MAKING RQPPING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
519152
Incident
Apr 9, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jul 10, 1997

A PROBLEM IN THE FRONT END IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, RESULTING IN PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
814037
Suspension
Filed Jun 23, 1997

REAR END SWINGS AFTER HITTING POTHOLES.

NHTSA ID
518903
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
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Feb 18, 1997

ENGINE IDLES TO HIGH.

NHTSA ID
602550
Suspension
Filed Feb 12, 1997

WHEEL BEARING FAILED.

NHTSA ID
602531
Incident
Apr 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 .