Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Ranger submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 89 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 89, in the owner's own words
GAS PETAL IS TOO CLOSE TO BRAKES...AND IF NOT CAREFUL RIGHT FOOT HITS BOTH.CAUSING A ROARING OF ACCELERATION , WHILE TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE.VERY DANGEROUS!
ON 20 JANUARY 2015, APPROX 11:30PM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE SINCE THE PREVIOUS EVENING, THE VEHICLE ALARM WENT ON IT'S OWN. I WENT AND TURNED IT OF F AND WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WENT INTO ACTION AND GOT THE HOOD OPEN, I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE SWITCH AT THE END OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I'VE NOTICED THE SWITCH BEFORE, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT DID, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AT THAT POINT. THE SWITCH WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT, THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS BADLY CHARRED BUT DID NOT BURN THROUGH (THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS). THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT SWITCH (F3TA-9F924-CA) AND FOUND OUT IT WAS CALLED: SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. I FURTHER FOUND OUT THAT THE SWITCH IN QUESTION HAD BEEN THE CAUSE OR REPORTED TO BE THE CAUSE OF NUMEROUS VEHICLE FIRES WHILE PARKED AND NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CAMPAIGN MESSAGES IN THE OASIS REPORTING (WHATEVER THAT IS). ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE SWITCH CAUGHT FIRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE WEB INDICATES THAT THE SWITCH APPEARS TO BE THE CAUSE OF NUMEROUS VEHICLE FIRES. I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I DECIDED TO FIND OUT WHY THE VEHICLE ALARM WENT ON, HAD I JUST TURNED IT OFF, AND GONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE SWITCH SITUATION, IT APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. YOUR ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED. *TR
TRUCK LOST BRAKES WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. FRAME CORROSION HAD CAUSED RIGHT SPRING HANGER TO FAIL, AND CORRODED BRAKE LINE BURST. I WAS ABLE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE INCIDENT. MECHANIC PUT THE TRUCK ON A LIFT, AND IDENTIFIED SEVERE CORROSION TO THE BRAKE LINES, DIFFERENTIAL, FRAME, AND SEVERAL OTHER UNDERCARRIAGE COMPONENTS. TRUCK HAD BEEN UNDERCOATED AND WASHED REGULARLY, AND HAS LESS THAN 105,000 MILES. MECHANIC SUGGESTED ALL NEW BRAKE LINES, TOTAL FRAME, AND REAR END REPLACEMENT. *TR
I WAS DRIVEN AND GOING ABOUT 20MPH. AND COME TO A STOP LIGHT I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKES THEY WORKED A LITTLE THEN I COULDN'T PRESS DOWN ANYMORE ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. I CALLED FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THE TECH. SAID THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE HE TOLD ME THIS ITEM SHOULD NEVER WENT BAD. I ASKED A COUPLE OF FRIENDS ABOUT THIS THEY TOLD ME PARTS LIKE THIS SHOULD NEVER GO BAD? I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS ON THE RECALL LIST BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! *TR
LOSS OF BRAKES AT LOW SPEED ANTI-LOCK NO ERROR CODES. *TR
1999 FORD RANGER....LEFT REAR TIRE BLOW OUT ON FREEWAY...WHEN TIRE EXPLODED IT LIFTED THE REAR OF THE TRUCK UP AND IT STARTED TO SPIN COUNTER CLOCKWISE WHEN I TRIED TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT BY TURNING TO THE RIGHT IT CHANGED LANES IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS IN FRONT OF 2 SEMI TRUCKS I WENT UNDER ONE OF THEM WITH THE BED/REAR OF TRUCK. I LATER LEARNED THE TIRE HAD ALSO PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE OUT OF THE BACKING PLATE CAUSING THE LEFT WHEEL TO LOCK COMPLETELY...THE PARK BRAKE CABLES NEED ENCLOSED SOMEHOW SO THE TIRE CANNOT APPLY THE BRAKES.....THE REAR OF THE TRUCK ISN'T HEAVY ENOUGH DURING A BLOW OUT TO KEEP THE REAR END DOWN..........I HAD SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO A FORD EXPLORER WHERE THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW AND IT LIFTED UP 1 TO 2 FEET TURNED SIDEWAYS CHANGED LANES AND WAS HIT BY A CAR T-BONING IT HARD.......IF NITROGEN WAS USED INSTEAD OF AIR THEY MAY NOT EXPLODE LIKE THEY DO......MY TIRES WERE GOOD CONDITION FROM PEP BOYS BOUGHT BY MYSELF..........I DIDN'T EXPECT TO SURVIVE THIS ACCIDENT.....SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT!!!!!!!!! *TR
I HAVE A 1999 FORD RANGER AND THE ABS BRAKES SEEM TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. IT ONLY HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEED LIKE IN A PARKINGLOT OR TURNING A CORNER. MY ABS LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON BUT THE TRUCK WILL NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IT SEEMS TO COAST FORWARD ABOUT 5 - 7 FEET PAST WHERE I WANT TO STOP. MECHANIC CHECKED IT AND SAYS MAY BE A FAULTY ABS CONTROL MODULE AND HE PULLED THE ABS FUSE UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. UPON SEARCHING WEB THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, ALSO KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS A 2000 RANGER AND HAS SAME ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE AND AI FEEL FORD SHOULD BE RECALLING THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR MAYBE THEY ALREADY HAVE AND WE DON'T KNOW IT WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE SYSTEMS. *TR
I WAS STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AND MY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES QUIT WORKING. I HIT THE CAR CAUSING APPROX. $1500 DAMAGE AND BENDING MY FRONT BUMPER. I ALSO GOT A TICKET BECAUSE THE OFFICER SAID THE CRASH WAS DUE TO DRIVER FAILING TO STOP, HE DIDN'T EVEN CHECK THE BRAKES. I TOWED IT TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS BEFORE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A BRAKE PROBLEM (THE FIRST SHOP CRASHED IT INTO A CAR JACK BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING) AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER. THE FORD MECHANIC TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THE BRAKES GAVE OUT AGAIN CAUSING HIM TO RUN SOMEONE OFF THE ROAD. IT IS STILL AT THE FORD DEALER AND EVEN THOUGH FORD DOESN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT THEY QUOTED $800 TO FIX IT. THEY THINK THE ABS MODULE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD MY MODEL TRUCK. I THINK THAT IT IS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THAT IT SHOULD BE RECALLED SO IT WON'T CAUSE ANYMORE ACCIDENTS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND I CAME TO A HILL AND AT THE BOTTOM WAS A STOP SIGN. I GOT ALLMOST STOPPED BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND MY BRAKES GAVE OUT CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HEARD OF AT LEAST 25 DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME MODEL TRUCK THAT I HAVE THAT HAVE EITHER WRECKED OR ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES OR SO. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR. I HAVE REPLACED THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS TOO, THIS HAS NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
1999 FORD RANGER EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT RELEASE IN COLD WEATHER; HARD TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEELS AT OTHER TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN FEB 2004. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS REPLACED AS WAS THE REAR BRAKE DRUM AND PADS. THE HEAT CAUSED A BREAKDOWN OF THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSING THE REPAIR FACILITY TO REPLACE THE FLUID, ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD DONE THIS. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2004. *NM
I HAVE A 99 FORD RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCK. IT HAS A 4.0L ENGINE WITH AC. I JUST WENT OVER 58,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK 3 TIMES ALREADY. A COMMENT MADE BY MORE THAN ONE BRAKE TECHNICIAN WAS THAT THE BRAKES ON THIS TRUCK SEAM VERY UNDER CAPACITY FOR THIS SIZE VEHICLE. THEY ARE LIKE THOSE ON A SMALL COMPACT CAR. I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER. I DON'T RUN UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND SLAM ON THE BRAKES. WHEN I SEE A LIGHT THAT IS RED AHEAD OF ME I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND LET THE ENGINE SLOW THE TRUCK DOWN. I APPLY THE BRAKES ONLY WHEN I HAVE TO COME TO A FULL STOP. I HAD A PREVIOUS RANGER THAT THE 1ST TIME I HAD TO REPLACE THE BREAKS AT 70,000 MILES. I DON'T THINK BRAKES SHOULD BE WEARING OUT SO FAST. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 22 MPH IN THE RAIN THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL BRAKING. THE SEATBELTS WERE IN USE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
1. SEEMS LIKE ABS SYSTEM COMES ON WHEN BRAKING AND CAR ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED. 2. THUD COMES UP THROUGH BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES RELEASE CAR TO ROLL AN ADDITIONAL SEVERAL FEET BEFORE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP. 3. DEALER REPLACED LEFT FRONT WHEEL HUB AND SENSOR. *JB
I HAVE TAKEN MY 1999 FORD RANGER TO BOTH MULLINAX FORD IN WICKLIFFE, OHIO AND CLASSIC FORD IN MENTOR, OHIO COMPLAINING ABOUT ABNORMAL ABS ACTIVITY, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND BOTH DEALERS GAVE ME A PRINT OUT STATING THAT THAT IS NORMAL ABS ACTIVITY( THE TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY DURING THIS TIME) I RECENTLY TOOK THE TRUCK TO A NON DEALER SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS IN FACT BAD AND WAS READING 255 MPH AT SPEEDS BELOW 50 MPH, I TOOK THIS INFORMATION TO THE DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS THE PROBLEM WHEN THE TRUCK WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ABS MODULES WITH FORD TRUCKS AS WELL AS CHEVYS AND SHOULD BE PART OF A SAFETY RECALL, IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF FORD NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE, I KNOW YOU HAVE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS ISSUE WHO HAVE RUN INTO FENCES OR GARAGE DOORS AS A RESULT OF THE ABS MODULE FAILING, IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF FORD'S NEGLIGENCE. *NM
BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WORK SOME OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALL OF THE TIME, EVEN WHEN PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *JB
I PURCHASED NEW, A 1999, FORD RANGER, 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK ON NOVEMBER 16, 1998, [XXX]. TODAY, I ONLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH I WILL BE REPLACING THE REAR BRAKES A SECOND TIME IN NEARLY 3 YEARS. IN JANUARY OF 2003, IN RUSH-HOUR TRAFFIC ON A SNOWY MORNING, I APPLIED MY BRAKES AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I DIDN'T FEEL THE BRAKES CATCH AND HOLD THE WAY THEY SHOULD. CONSEQUENTLY, IT TOOK A LONGER DISTANCE FOR ME TO STOP. BRAKES ARE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT COMPONENT TO MY SAFETY AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF ALL OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO HANKS GARAGE, INC. (5928 ACKLEY ROAD, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44105, 216-883-0345). I WAS TOLD THAT MY REAR DRUM BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN WORKING AT ALL. IN FACT, THE REAR BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN WORKING AT ALL FOR SOME TIME AS WAS EVIDENT BY THEM BEING COMPLETELY FROZEN AND RUSTED THROUGH. ALSO, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE NOT WORKING. MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME HOW THE SPRINGS AND SHOES WERE RUSTED AND CRUMBLED, FELLING IN TO PIECES. THAT DISCOVERY WAS UNSETTLING TO SAY THE LEAST FOR A VEHICLE THAT ONLY HAD 29,611 MILES AT THAT TIME. I AM LUCKY THAT NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING REAR BRAKES ON THESE VEHICLES. AT THAT TIME THE TRUCKS ODOMETER READ ONLY 29,611 MILES. CLEARLY THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLES REAR DRUM BRAKING SYSTEM. THAT DEFECT IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. SAFETY FOR THE DRIVER, PASSENGER AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS SHOULD BE A PRIORITY. FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR DESIGNS AND SAFETY QUALITY. TODAY, AGAIN, I AM HAVING A TROUBLE WITH THE REAR BRAKES. IT SEEMS TO BE TAKING ME A LONGER DISTANCE TO STOP SAFELY. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT LED ME TO TAKE THE TRUCK INTO THE REPAIR SHOP IN 2003. I HAVE ONLY PUT SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 10,000 ADDITIONAL MILES ON MY TRUCK. MY CURRENT MILEAGE IS 39,973. IT IS LOW MILEAGE TO HAVE ALL THE COMPONENTS RUST AND DETERIORATE A SECOND TIME. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDO
WHILE BRAKING ANY SPEED THE BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH BOTH A 1999 AND 2001 RANGER, BOTH ON THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL. THE RIGHT REAR BLEEDER SCREW ON BOTH VEHICLES WAS SEALED SHUT. THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND THE AIR WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE LINES BUT THE BRAKES STILL PERFORMED POORLY. *BF *NM
I LOST AIR PRESSURE IN AIR SHOCKS I HAD INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE FLUID LINES HAD RUBBED A HOLE IN THE BLADDER ON THE AIR SHOCKS. THE BRAKE LINE WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND HAD WORN ALMOST THROUGH, WITH ABOUT 75 PERCENT OF THE THICKNESS GONE. I THEN INSPECTED ALL REAR BRAKE LINES, AND DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED FROM RUBBING ON THE SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND IN ONE SPOT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE LINE PASSES THROUGH A HOLE IN THE FRAME, THE LINE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY CUT THROUGH. I PULLED THE AFFECTED LINES AWAY FROM THE SHOCK ABSORBERS, AND SECURED THEM WITH PLASTIC HARNESSES. I ALSO PUT A 2 INCH LONG PIECE OF ONE HALF INCH I.D. PVC PIPE ON THE LINE THAT PASSED THROUGH THE FRAME. I HAVE SEEN OTHER TRUCKS LIKE MINE, AND ALL OF THE TRUCKS I HAVE SEEN HAVE THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY, IF UN- REPAIRED, THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO THE DAMAGE TO THE SHOCK ABSORBERS WAS SEVERE, AND THEY NEED REPLACEMENT
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FIRE STARTED IN THE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FORD CORPORATION WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS ON. IT DID IT WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN PULLING OFF AFTER A STOP. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE AIR SENSOR AND THE COMPUTER AT A COST TO CONSUMER. *AK
THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS WERE CORRODED AND OVERHEATED. DEALERSHIPS WOULD NOT REPAIR, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH RECALL 98V005000. *AK
BRAKING SYSTEM PROBLEMS....BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FRONT AND REAR 4 TIMES IN LESS THAN 2 YRS...BLOWN WHEEL CYLINDER DRIVERS REAR 2 X....SPRINGS RUSTED DRIVERS REAR 4 TIMES.... ROTORS AND DRUMS REPLACED TWICE, PAD AND/OR SHOES REPLACED 4 TIMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE WAS COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED HAD A PLENTY OF TIME TO MENTAL THINK HOW TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER DROVE THE PASSENGER SIDE IN A NARROW ALLEY, SCRAPE AGAINST THE WALL OF BRICK HOUSE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER COULD NO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO A WOOD FENCE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *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
Data on this page last refreshed .