2001 Ford Ranger Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The brakes and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 226,000.

NHTSA ID

11729501

Incident

Mar 23, 2026

Mileage

226,000 mi

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's family member's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11505442

Incident

Jan 18, 2023

MY 2001 FORD RANGER 3.0 HAS A IDLE WHEN IM DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH IDLE WOULD STAY AROUND 1,300 RPM. HAPPENS USUALLY MORE WHEN AC IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328253

Incident

Jun 10, 2020

INTERMITTENT STARTING AS IF THERE IS NO FUEL GOING TO THE ENGINE. SHUT OFF VALVE CHECKED, BASIC TROUBLE SHOOTING DONE, AS I UNDERSTAND DOING RESEARCH, THIS HAS BEEN ON-GOING ISSUES WITH FORD RANGERS DOING THIS. IS THERE A FIX FOR SUCH?

NHTSA ID

11022257

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 40 MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY SPED UP AND THE RPM WENT FROM 1.5 TO 4.0 WITHOUT MY PUSHING HARDER ON THE GAS. I TAPPED MY BRAKES AND IT TOOK A FEW MOMENTS TO DISENGAGE. IN THE COURSE OF 40 MINUTES IT DID THIS 5 TIMES. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE FLOOR MAT HAD NOT GOTTEN PUSHED UNDER AND IT WAS NOT. THE VEHICLE JUST SPED UP ON ITS OWN. *JS

NHTSA ID

10681822

Incident

Feb 6, 2015

Mileage

133,421 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROADWAY WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO A FRACTURE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10556836

Incident

Dec 27, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

TRUCK VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AND A BRAKE FAILURE PROMPT THE DRIVER TO SWITCH INTO DRIVE AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SPUN OFF OUT OF CONTROL(BURNING TIRE) AND IT TOOK OFF VERY FAST WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. DRIVER TRIED TO STOP IT BUT NOTHING WORKED. *KB

NHTSA ID

10437685

Incident

Nov 29, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER XLT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE SITTING LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS REPAIRED. A FEW YEARS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY TO BE INSPECTED WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE UNDERCARRIAGE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. IN ADDITION, THE HINGES WHICH HELD THE FUEL TANK TO THE FRAME WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 01/25/11*LJ THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN EVAP LEAK.

NHTSA ID

10368651

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VIOLENTLY AND ACT AS IF IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON BEHIND THE FAILURE. SEVERAL REPAIRS, UNKNOWN TO THE CONTACT WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, TO DATE, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 02/23/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. UPDATED 08/12/10

NHTSA ID

10302334

Incident

Jan 10, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 FORD RANGER EDGE. IT HAS A 3.0L V6 ENGINE, A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT HAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000 MILE ON IT. I RECENTLY HAD A COMPONENT FAIL IN THE INTERNAL ENGINE. IT WAS A CAM SYNCROZINER. IT COST $467.08 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM BY MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF THIS COMPONENT IS NOT FIXED IMMEDIATELY, THAT IT COULD CAUSE THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE TO FAIL, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE LOSING POWER. THIS COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF BRAKES, AND STEERING. I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL OTHER RANGER OWNERS TO RECOMMEND THIS TO THE NHTSA. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ALL 3.0L RANGER'S SHOULD HAVE THERE SYNCHRONIZER REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THIS COMPONENT FAILING COULD RESULT IN MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE, INJURY AND DEATH. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID

10248212

Incident

Oct 25, 2008

Mileage

108,000 mi

THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST A HALF A DOZEN TIMES, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING AND IN GEAR WITH THE VEHICLE AT OR NEAR STOPPED, THE ENGINE RPM INCREASES DRAMATICALLY, IF THE DRIVER IS NOT ON THE BALL, THE TRUCK WILL SURGE FORWARD, SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND THERE HAS BEEN NOTING IN FRONT OF ME OR I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. TODAY THE REAR TIRES STARTED SQUEALING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240183

Incident

Aug 29, 2008

I WAS DRIVING IN THE SNOW IN 2006, WHEN A LOUD SQUEAK COULD BE HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD THE TRUCK SERVICE FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THEY CHANGED THE BELT TENSIONER. THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO SQUEAK AT ALL SPEEDS AND ALL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. SINCE THEN, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO 3 DIFFERENT FORD MOTOR MECHANICS AND 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. NO OF THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE NOISE IS COMING FROM. IT WAS THOUGHT HE BE THE BELT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, BELT TENSIONER, NEW PULLEYS, AND 3 DIFFERENT BELTS. AND QUESS WHAT, THE TRUCK STILL SQUEAKS. I HAVE TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF WD-40 ON THE BELT. BUT WHY CAN'T ANYONE TELL ME WHAT IS MAKING THE SQUEAK AND FIX IT. I'VE SUCK ABOUT $3000 INTO THE TRUCK. I REFUSE TO SPEND ANYMORE ON OTHER MECHANICS IDEAS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236446

Incident

Dec 20, 2006

Mileage

120,000 mi

HEARD LOUD RATTLE UNDER ACCELERATION. HAVE A HEARING LOSS SO I COULD NOT HEAR THE SOUND. MY SON BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HE DIAGNOSED IT AS PRIMARY TIMING CHAIN RATTLE. ATTEMPTED TO GET FORD TO FIX IT. NO LUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233480

Incident

Apr 10, 2008

Mileage

71,800 mi

FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR GEAR. THE GEAR STRIPPED ON THE CAMSHAFT AND CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE MAIN AND ROD BEARINGS TO SEIZE UP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205555

Incident

Oct 5, 2007

Mileage

125,212 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE THE BALL JOINT BOOTS WERE NOTICED DETERIORATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED AS WELL. THE TIMING COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10152211

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

Mileage

29,055 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2001 FORD RANGER IN OCTOBER OF 2000. IN 2004 THE PINION SEAL BEGAN LEAKING AND THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT CLICKING/SQUEAK IN THE DRIVERS FRONT SIDE. THE PINION SEAL WAS REPLACED AND FLUID WAS TOPPED OFF. AS WELL THE EXCLUDER SEALS WERE REPLACED AND LUBED TO REPAIR THE CLICKING SQUEAK. THIS WAS ALL DONE UNDER THE WARRANTY. ON 05/24/05 THE TRUCKS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO CRATER LAKE FORD AND THIS EMISSIONS ISSUE WAS FIXED AND WE WERE TOLD WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY 203.39. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION REGARDING THE WARRANTY AND THE FACT THAT THOUGH THIS IS NOT COVERED THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO ISSUES THIS SOON, WE WERE FINALLY TOLD THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THIS AND THEY ADJUSTED THE BILL TO 18.49, DID NOT CHARGE THE WARRANTY AN AMOUNT. HOWEVER, THEY PUT ON THE RECEIPT THAT THE PINION SEAL WAS AGAIN LEAKING, THOUGH THEY DID NOT MENTION THIS TO US AND DID NOT STATE THAT THEY WOULD FIX IT AND THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED. WE HAVE THE BEST WARRANTY THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK. WE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE TRUCK IN, OUR SCHEDULES BEING VERY HECTIC. WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN TODAY, AND WERE TOLD THAT THE PINION SEAL WAS NOT PART OF THE WARRANTY, THAT THERE WAS ONLY A 12 MONTH 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY OVER 3 YEARS AFTER PURCHASE AND IT HAS BEGUN LEAKING BY THERE ESTIMATES LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THEY REPLACED IT. OF COURSE THIS DID LITTLE FOR OUR DISPOSITION AND WE TOOK THE TRUCK AND LEFT. WE HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT CRATER LAKE FORD AND AT FORD MOTOR CORP. NOW WE RECEIVE A CALL STATING THAT THE SERVICES WE WERE BEING SEEN FOR ARE COVERED AND THAT WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK IN. HOWEVER, THE SEAL IS OBVIOUSLY AN ONGOING ISSUE. WE WANT THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING THE PINION SEAL LEAK. THEY WANT TO SIMPLY CHANGE THE SEAL AGAIN. WE WANT THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM, NOT THE SYMPTOM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10150694

Incident

Feb 20, 2006

Mileage

57,587 mi

2001 FORD RANGER HAD JUST THROWN A ROD THROUGH THE OIL PAN. *MR THE ANTI FREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL AND LOCKING DOWN THE MOTOR. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10083995

Incident

Jul 1, 2004

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUME HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080051

Incident

Apr 8, 2004

Mileage

42,800 mi

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULDN'T RESTART. DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10071420

Mileage

10,000 mi

TRUCK EXHIBITS IDLE DIP BELOW 500 RPM DURING DECELERATION WHEN ALMOST STOPPED. TRUCK TRIES TO PUSH THROUGH STOP, ENGINE NEARLY DIES ONCE TRUCK IS STOPPED ENGINE CORRECTS AND IDLE RETURNS TO NORMAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10063815

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

24,500 mi

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING ENGINE MOTOR WILL GO OUT, AND THEN VEHICLE WILL START TO DECELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014860

Incident

Jul 12, 2002

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WILL WITHOUT ANY NOTICE STALL OUT ON HIGHWAY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

8008540

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

DATE OF PURCHASE SMELLED RUBBER ON THE DRIVERS FRONT WHEEL. TRUCK BOUNCES ALL OVER CONTINUES TO DO SO, THIS CAUSES POOR STEERING CONTROL AS WELL. BRAKES ALTERNATES FROM GRABBING OR SLOW IN WORKING, PCM HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED, YET THE WHINNING IN THE ENGINE OR DRIVE TRAIN CONTINUE. SUSPENSION VERY WEAK, VEHICLE LEANS TO THE RIGHT ON THE CURVES AND STEERING CONTROL IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

9005862

CONSUMER CONTATCED DEALERSHIP FOR ENGINE STALLING. DEALER STATED THAT PCM MODULE WAS PROGRAMMED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING SLAVE BELT AND CLUTCH TO WORK IMPROPERLY ON A INTERMITTENT BASIS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002541

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER NOTICED VEHICLE'S TIMING WAS OFF, AND IT WAS LOSING POWER. CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001961

Incident

Sep 1, 2001