Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 1998 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 54 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.
The 25 most recent of 54, in the owner's own words
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE TRUCK STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES. *TR
WHILE IN BED AT 2:00 AM TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE WATER RESERVOIR WAS ABNORMALLY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE NUMBER FOUR SPARK PLUG WAS BURNED. THE HATCH HAD CRACKED AND LEAKED WATER TO THE NUMBER FOUR SPARK PLUG. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY AND HAD TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 146,329.
I STARTED THE TRUCK, ALL GAUGES READ OK, BACKED IT OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED T DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. I SHIFTED INTO 3RD AND IT FELT SLUGGISH, (LIKE BRAKE DRAG) I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR INFORMATION, AND FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE. I PROCEEDED TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, BUT BY THE TIME I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T PROCEED TO RUN. I CHECKED THE OIL DIP STICK TO FIND THE OIL LEVEL IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE MOTOR REFUSES TO TURN OVER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS TO THIS DAY. *TR
EVERY 4 MONTHS I HAVE TO CHANGE MY SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THE CERAMIC PART KEEPS BREAKING. *TR
CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKAGE INTO CAB OF 1998 FORD RANGER CAUSED SEVERE SLEEPINESS WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK AND WHILE AT HOME. EACH DAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH I WAS EXPERIENCING DIZZINESS, SLEEPINESS AND NAUSEA. I HAD A SMALL ACCIDENT WHEN I FEEL ASLEEP WHILE STOPPING FOR A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I REPORTED MY DIZZINESS AND SLEEPINESS TO MY SUPERVISOR WHO NOTIFIED OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AND THEY SENT ME HOME. I HAD A MEDICAL STRESS TEST PERFORMED; IT WAS OK', A SLEEP STUDY PERFORMED AND THE CARDIOLOGIST INCREASED MY DOSAGE OF A BETA BLOCKER. I WAS FINALLY RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK TWO MONTHS LATER. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER SHORTLY AFTER I WAS SENT HOME AND THEY REPORTED THERE WAS NO CO LEAKING INTO MY CAB. I TRIED DISCUSSING MY PROBLEM WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THEY SAID THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT'S ALL THEY COULD DO FOR THE CARBON MONOXIDE WAS ENTERING INTO MY CAB FROM THE EXHAUST OF OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I FINALLY FOUND AND BOUGHT A DIGITAL CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WHICH WOULD READ ANY LEVEL OF CO DETECTED. THE FIRST DAY I DROVE TO WORK IT INDICATED 18 PPM CO POISON AND ANOTHER 16 PPM CO POISON ON THE DRIVE HOME AFTER WORK WHICH TOTALED AROUND 34 PPM PER DAY FOR OVER A MONTH. I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO MY DOCTOR AND REQUESTED A BLOOD GAS TEST WHICH INDICATED A HIGH LEVEL OF CO IN MY BLOOD. IT WAS CONFIRMED BY THE PULMONARY DOCTOR THAT THE SLEEPINESS WAS CAUSED BY CO POISONING ENTERING THE CAB OF MY TRUCK. MY TRUCK IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR OVER THREE MONTHS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUTTER RAPIDLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MINUTES TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR BECAME LOOSE. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE CLAPPING SCREW ON THE SHAFT SENSOR AS A TEMPORARY REPAIR. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR HIS VEHICLE (ITEM NUMBER 10000592). HE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,300. UPDATED 04-09-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOOSE CAM SHAFT SENSOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. SHE STATED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY SNAPPED, WHICH SHE BELIEVED WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
PULLED MY 1998 FORD RANGER INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. I WAS GETTING READY TO PARK WHEN I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. STOPPED THE TRUCK. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW AN ELECTRICAL PLUG BURNING WITH FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THE FLAMES OUT BEFORE MUCH ELSE WAS DAMAGED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG IS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. IT ALSO DAMAGED MY RESERVOIR FOR THE BRAKE FLUID. THEY ARE REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG. OF COURSE, THIS IS AT MY OWN EXPENSE, NOT FORDS. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AN ANTIFREEZE LEAK WAS NOTICED UNDER THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE ANTIFREEZE ATE THROUGH THE SOFT PLUGS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SOFT PLUGS AND HOSES OF THE WATER PASSAGE.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998 FORD RANGER ENGINE WAS MAKING NOISE AND THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD CONSIDERABLY LESS POWER AFTER THE LOSS OF THE SPARK PLUG. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG EARLIER TODAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG FAILED IT WAS HANGING BY ITS WIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT CONTACTED FORD AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT THIS POINT. *AK (11/15/05) *SC
THE ENGINE FAILED. *DT *JB
THE HARMONIC BALANCER SEPARATED, WHICH MADE CONTACT WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND FRONT U-JOINT. THE REAR END OF VEHICLE TORE APART WHEN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE DRIVE SHAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. PH *TT *JB
THE OIL WAS LEAKING DUE TO A CRACKED OIL PAN. *YH
HAD OIL CHANGED AT CLEAN LUBE-NO OIL LEAKAGE BEFORE VISIT WITH THEM-THEY TOLD ME MY OIL PAN WAS CRACKED AND WHEN I LEFT IT WAS POURING OUT OIL. THEY KEPT MY OIL PAN AND SAID THEY HAD TO SEND IT TO A LAB TO SEE IF THEY CRACKED IT....I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM SINCE. THE COST OF THE NEW OIL PAN WAS 404.00 AND THEY SAID IT WAS A STRESS CRACK AND IT SHOULD HACE BEEN A RECALL. THEY SEE THIS IN THESE LITTLE TRUCKS.....PLEASE HELP ME......THEY NEED TO PAY FOR MY OIL PAN PER MECHANIC.THANK YOU TRISH HULL. *AK
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE INSIDE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT, THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF, WHEN THE KEYS ARE LEFT INSIDE THE IGNITION WITH THE DOOR CLOSED, THE CHIMER WILL KEEP DINGING UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED, THE DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS THE JEWEL MODULAR, HOWEVER THE BULBS INSIDE THE DASH KEEP BLOWING, WHEN THE BLINKERS ARE TURNED ON THERE IS A CRACKLING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A WIRE SHORTING OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACT ERRACTICALLY WHEN IN DELAY MODE, THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, CONSUMER HAS CONCERNS WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT, WHEN HE TURNS THE SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION, THE LIGHT GOES OFF AND WHEN CONSUMER TURNS THE SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION, THE LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF.*JB
AT 30000, THE FIRST SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE BELT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE MORE SINCE THEN, AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 52000 MILES. AROUND 40000 MILES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION STARTED CLUNKING EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP. THE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FRONT END STATED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION BUSHINGS ARE WHAT IS CAUSING THE CLUNK.*AK
AS I WAS TURNING A CORNER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY APPEARED TO LOSE POWER. I THOUGHT INITIALLY THE ENGINE HAD STALLED AND I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING HOWEVER IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OUT OF IDLE AND WOULD STALL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ILDE ALONG AND I WAS FORCED TO RUN ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD IN IDLE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND TWO AIR SENSORS WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *AK
THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEAK NOISE IN THE FRONT END DUE TO LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILURE. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35-40MPHAND /AFTER CROSSING A BRIDGE FRONT BODY MOUNTS BROKE OFF. DRIVER HAD TO JUMP FROM VEHICLE TO AVOID INJURY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, AND HAS BEEN IN STORAGE FOR SIX MONTHS. *AK
VEHICLE IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. THEN IDLE WILL GO AWAY FOR AWHILE. VEHICLE TURNED OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER ROUGH IDLE GOES AWAY, VEHICLE WILL HESITATE OR STALL, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. GAS PEDAL GETS STUCK. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM WAS LOOSE. PWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED DUE TO WHEN TURNING WHEEL IT WOULD MAKE ANOISE. *SLC
MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR HAS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 9,000 AND 31,000 MILES. WHEN IT FAILS, THE ENGINE STALLS, AND IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RESTART AND KEEP RUNNING. WITHOUT ENGINE POWER, THERE IS LIMITED BRAKE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTIONING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD IF IT OCCURS IN A MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATION. FORD IS UNABLE (UNWILLING?) TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE FAILURE RATE.*AK
BOUGHT THIS TRUCK WITH 16,000 MILES ON IT FROM EARNHEART DODGE. DEC . 11,1999.ON JAN 24,2000 TOOK IT TO BERGE FORD SERVICE DEPT. FOR NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE (LIKE MARBLES RUNNNING AROUND IN IT) TRUCK STAYED THERE TO HAVE ENGINE LOOKED AT FOR 5 DAYS. IN THE MEANTIME I HAD TO PAY FOR RENTAL.GOT TIRED WAITNG FOR TRUCK TO BE LOOKED AT AND CALLED EARNHEART FORD SERVICE TO COME PICK UP AND TAKE TO THEIRS. SERVICE REP SAID COULD BE JUST CARBON IN IT. SO THEY DECARBONED IT.THE NOISE STILL WAS THERE. AFTER 20,000MILES ON THE TRUCK TOTAL ,THEY PUT IN FORD FACTORY REBUILT ENGINE IN IT. OKAY FOR ABOUT 1,000 MILES , NOISE CAME BACK.TOOK BACK TO FORD SAID IT WAS PROBABLY CARBON AGAIN.HOW COME SAME PROBLEM WITH NEW REBUILT ENGINE ? THEY DECARBONED IT.WHEN TRUCK PICKED UP THERE WAS STILL NOISE. SERVICE SAID DECARBON STUFF STILL HAD TO WORK MORE. NOISE GOT LOUDER. GOT IN TOUCH TO SEE WHAT NOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO.SERVICE MANAGER SAID WOULD BE IN TOUCH.NO CALLS. TRIED CALLING AND LEAVE MESSAGES NUMBER OF TIMES NO ANSWER. FINALLY ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF SERVICE MANGER AND HE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING MORE FOR ME EVEN THOUGH STILL UNDER WARRENTY.SAID HIS MECHANIC CALLED THE FORD HOTLINE AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF SOME OF THE RANGERS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE ,BUT IT WOULD NOT HURT THE ENGINE . IT HAD TO DO WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE VALVES IN SOME OF THE ENGINES. I SAID WAIT A MINUTE NOT ONLY I FEEL MY TRUCK IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE MAKING THIS RACKET AS I DRIVE THE FREEWAYU TO WORK 4-5 TIMES A WEEK 40 MILES 1 WAY,BUT WHY SHOULD I BE STUCK WITH A NOISY ,UNSAFE VEHICLE AFTER PAYING ALL THE MONEY I HAVE FOR IT AND TO BE UNHAPPY WITH IT? QUESTION.. IF THIS ONLY A NOISE PROBLEM WHY WAS THE CONSUMERS NOT WARNED ABOUT IT WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT.AND WHY DID THEY CHANGE THE FIRST ENGINE?I THINK THESE ENGINES SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED TO FIND OUT THE TRUE PROBLEM BEFORE IT BECOMES ANOTHER "FIRESTONE" DISASTER. PLEASE RESPOND.
RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE. ENGINE REPLACED STILL RATTLES. CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR.
CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER BOLTS CAME OUT KNOCKING HOLE THROUGH TRANSMITION CASE.TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER HAD TO BE CUT OUT AFTER SPEED NUTS BROKE LOOSE.HEATER FAILED THREE TIMES.THERMOSTAT REPLACED TWICE DIDN'T HELP.BOLTS HOLDING COOLING FAN ON CAME OUT.SWITCH FOR DOME LIGHT FAILED, AND BRAKE ROTORS WARPED.*AK
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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