1996 Ford Ranger problems
NHTSA has received 533 complaints about the 1996 Ford Ranger, and 16% of them involve brakes. After that come wipers, windshield & visibility (10%) and tires (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 533 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 53 and 22
- Injuries and deaths
- 39 and 10
- Typical mileage
- 117,000 miles 93 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 3 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 5 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 21 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 12 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 14 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 9 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 4 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 14 |
What the data shows
Among the 93 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 117,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 53 complaints mention a crash; 22 complaints mention a fire; 39 injuries reported; 10 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 28 model years of the Ford Ranger with enough data (290 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving the vehicle has high engine RPM between 1600 to 2200. Not safe to drive on icy road conditons. Consumer concerned about long term wear and tear on clutch, transmission and rear axle. Dealership is aware of problem.
While driving 60 MPH left rear tire experienced a tread separation. After market equipment installed at 144,109, tire size p225/70r14, DOT # pjfcdxkr4102. The tire dealer was notified. The dealer offered a 15 dollar credit to a new tire. The consumer stated that he feels the remaining three tires are unsafe.
Truck was involved in a head-on crash traveling at 35 MPH, and there was no deployment of the air bags. The truck has been repaired.
I hit a small deer doing about 35 miles per hour and pulled over to the side of the road about three minutes later another auto came up from behind and rear ended me my air bag deployed then. Why did it deploy then and not when I hit the deer. The only damage I did to the front end to my truck was cracked the gill and others around it. The damage that the other auto did was bent the bumper under my truck along with the brackets too, the impact from the other auto was loud and was heard from about a mile away.
Blend air door failed and will not operate on 1996 ford ranger resulting in inoperative defrosters. Ford wants $700 to repair problem. Numberous web site forums report this to be a chronic and frequent problem with 93-96 ford ranger/explorer and mountaineer vehicles.