1996 Ford Ranger: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 413 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (12% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 413 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“heading back from picking up meal at pizza hut when "POP" sound from front of truck and then cabin filled with smoke. within 20-30 seconds of exiting the car it was in flames (See attached photos) recall notification was never sent to current owner and current owner didnt own in 2009 when it was first recalled. Ford customer service informed that auto insurnace would be required to handle loss of vehicle, but current owner doesnt have comprehensive coverage so insurance company is unable to payout for loss due to fire. This recall should have been communicated to titled owner after purchase.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2022
“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.”Owner report · Suspension · Oct 2020
“Tl* the contact owned a 1996 ford ranger. While driving 30 mph, flames appeared under the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The cause of the fire was unknown. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not towed, but was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 300,000. *tr *js *bf consumer stated both odi 11173289 and 11173291 had manufacturer defect that caused the fire.*jb”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford ranger. While driving down a hill at less than approximately 20 mph, the vehicle crashed into a tree. None of the air bags deployed. The driver sustained minor bruising, which did not require medical treatment. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure months later. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford ranger. The contact stated that the vehicle failed inspection due to extensive rust on the frame of the vehicle. The independent mechanic stated that the frame needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there was no recall. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2017
“Truck was parked on the garage pad for a week. I opened the hood and checked all fluid levels, and found the brake fluid a little low. Topped off the master cylinder and got back into the truck. Started engine, and pushed the brake pedal. It went to the floor, got out of the truck and heard fluid dripping. I looked under the truck and saw a puddle of brake fluid near the left rear wheel. I asked my wife to push the pedal down and I saw brake fluid spraying from the main steel brake line. Could have been a serious accident as the truck was used one week prior to the accident to haul a full load of fire wood.”Owner report · Service Brakes · May 2016
“I have a 1996 ford ranger and when I was filling up the gas tank I started noticing a strong smell of gas then later came to find out it was leaking gas. I have come to find out that this is a common defected with these vehicles. I think that it should be addressed before someone gets killed if someone has not gotten killed yet. *tr”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2015
“It took several attempts to get the drivers seat belt to latch. Shortly after the seat belt came unlatched as I was driving. After that the belt won't stay latched. *tr”Owner report · Seat Belts · Sep 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford ranger equipped with michelin goodrich radial tires, size p225/70/r14. The contact stated that after rotating the tires, a crack was discovered on the side wall of the tire. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to see the crack. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The tire failure mileage was 15,000 and the vehicle failure mileage was 180,000.”Owner report · Tires · Aug 2014
“Rubber fuel vapor hose between fuel vapor purge valve and charcoal canister can't be repaired because ford has made part obsolete. This hose is not a normal off the shelf bulk hose. It is rubber performed with a different inside diameter on both ends. Ford won't even give me part number! Three parts vendors were recommended to maybe find part. The vendors all want part number though-so that doesn't help me. The vehicle constantly leaks gasoline fumes. I'm not expecting ford to fix it because of age of truck. Something ought to done by ford to make part available to consumer. This is a serious safety issue. Truck could easily catch on fire! *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jun 2014
When filing, owners marked a crash in 41 of these complaints and injuries in 33 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN OCCUR DUE TO A COMBINATION OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THE TIRE DESIGN TO STRESS, AGING, AND MANUFACTURING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS. FORD IS REPLACING THESE TIRES TO PREVENT POSSIBLE PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: THE VEHICLES LISTED BELOW MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES OR MAY HAVE HAD WILDERNESS AT TIRES INSTALLED DURING THE FIRESTONE RECALL LAUNCHED IN AUGUST 2000. CERTAIN 1991 THROUGHT 2002 FORD EXPLORER CERTAIN 2001 THROUGHT 2002 EXPLORER SPORT, AND SPORT TRAC CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 2001 RANGER CERTAIN 1999 THROUGH 2001 EXPEDITION CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994, AND 1997 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES CERTAIN 1991 THROUGH 1994 BRONCO NOTE: BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT TIRES ARE AFFECTED.
Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.
Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
How other years compare
Check your exact Ranger by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford Ranger reliable?
NHTSA has 413 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 1996 Ford Ranger. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (12% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Ranger problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 116,501 miles or less.
Does the 1996 Ford Ranger have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.