FaultScore

1996 Ford Ranger engine problems

36 of the 533 complaints about the 1996 Ford Ranger are about the engine — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 190,000 miles.

C

36

Complaints

3

Crashes

2

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gasoline 16 44.4%
Engine 8 22.2%
Radiator Assembly 3 8.3%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 3 8.3%
Engine 2 5.6%
GAS Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) 1 2.8%
Exhaust System 1 2.8%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 1 2.8%
Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 1 2.8%

Engine & Cooling across every Ford Ranger year

1988 15 2.6%
1989 13 2.2%
1990 16 2.7%
1991 16 2.7%
1992 20 3.4%
1993 14 2.4%
1994 27 4.6%
1995 17 2.9%
1996 36 6.1%
1997 19 3.2%
1998 57 9.7%
1999 51 8.7%
2000 43 7.3%
2001 35 6.0%
2002 46 7.8%
2003 27 4.6%
2004 24 4.1%
2005 17 2.9%
2006 20 3.4%
2019 32 5.4%
2020 18 3.1%
2021 15 2.6%
2025 10 1.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 80,000 miles Mobile, AL 1 injured

ENGINE

NANO AND MICRO PARTICULATES/CONTAMINANTS HAVE BEEN SPRAYED FROM AN AIRLINER AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO MY BODY AND MY VEHICLE; IT INCLUDES FLAKES, TUBULES AND HIGHLY REFLECTIVE PARTICLES AND METALS. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND LOST TWO GEARS AS A RESULT. IT HAS A GAS LEAKING ISSUE CAUSED BY THE TECHNOLOGY. I HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONTAMINATED, DAMAGED AND SABATAGED AS WELL AS MY FAMILY MEMBERS VEHICLES, PERSONS AND PROPERTY. IT'S OCCURING ON AND OFF HIGHWAY. IT'S HAPPENING TO OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. OIL AND BATTERY INTERIOR AND EXTERIORS AS WELL AS BODILY HARM, RISK AND INJURY. THE TECH AND PARTICULATES ARE HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND DESTRUCTIVE. [XXX] IS THE OFFENDING PARTY THAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11300548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 300,000 miles Canoga Park, CA Fire

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #11173291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Svea, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #755374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Petaluma, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS / TEMPERATURES. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #898755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lisle, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I WENT IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS ABOUT TO BLOW OUT. I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3000 MILES AGOE AND WENT ON A TRIP WHIT A NEW OIL CHANGE. I RETURNED HOME AND WENT TO GET THE OIL CHANGED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THE OIL GASKET COMMING OUT. THANK GOD IT DID NOT BLOW WHILE I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME DURING THE LONG TRIP I HAD GONE ON.

NHTSA complaint #747404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockton, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLUTCH, AND HAS STATED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FIRST GEAR SYNCRO, BLOCKER RING, AND THIRD GEAR BLOCKER RING. HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT. TAIL PIPE WAS HITTING SPARE TIRE CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPOSITIONED TAIL PIPE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #885719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockton, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN LOW GEAR, IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. ALSO, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLUTCH, AND HAS STATED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK DEALER ALSO REPLACED FIRST GEAR SYNCRO, BLOCKER RING, AND THIRD GEAR BLOCKER RING. HEATER WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT. TAIL PIPE WAS HITTING SPARE TIRE CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPOSITIONED TAIL PIPE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #885719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chattanooga, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS RESONANCE PROBLEM WHICH PRODUCES A SINGING SOUND AND A PRONOUNCED VIBRATION THROUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ON A LONG TRIP THIS CAUSES THE CONSUMERS FOOT TO FALL ASLEEP AND RESULTS IN OVERBRAKING. NLM

NHTSA complaint #560206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Strasburg, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE. KNOCKING ROD AT ONLY 56,000 MI. OVER $3,000 FOR NEW ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO TURN ON BEFORE LEAVING DRIVEWAY. CAME ON AFTER TURNING ON HIGH BEAMS AND TURN SIGNALS. ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I'M ABOUT TO DOWNSHIFT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. NO POWER STEERING, NEARLY LOST CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #738332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plymouth, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ABNORMALLY HIGH COLD IDLE MADE WORSE BY ATTEMPTING TO 'KICK IT DOWN' WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL; PEDAL STICKS TO KICKED POSITION CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE EVEN HIGHER. MUST SHUT OFF ENGINE TO AVOID DAMAGE. WITH ENGINE OFF, MUST REPEATEDLY STOMP PEDAL TO ATTEMPT RELEASE. PARTIAL RELEASE STILL LEAVES VERY HIGH ENGINE SPEED, UNDRIVEABLE. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM; FOUND CORROSION AT END OF THROTTLE CABLE, CLEANED AND LUBRICATED. NOT SURE IF PROBLEM IS FIXED, SINCE ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAD SAT FOR ONE WEEK OF NONUSE BEFORE PROBLEM OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #725873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Castle, OK

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ALL POWER AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #858914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Thibodaux, LA Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I WAS WONERING ABOUT MY VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE IN AN ACCIDENT I HAD GOTTIN INTO.

NHTSA complaint #718386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LOSE SPEED WHEN GOING UP HILL. WITH THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR, THE SPEED DECREASES AND THE ENGINE AND OVER DRIVE LIGHTS BLINK.

NHTSA complaint #511946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaver, PA Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AT LEAST 12 SETS OF BRAKES PUT ON VEHICLE"4 IN UDER 9000 MILES, RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS" 3 TIMES AT TURNING ROTORS/ENGINE REBUILT AT 52000 MILES STILL WITH LOSS OF PORWER. 2 EGR VALVES/2 WIPER SWITCHES/SYNCRONIZERS/2 SLAVE CYLINDERS ON TRANSMISSION AND OIL LEAK. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. ENGINE IDLES HIGH ENOUGH THAT THE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT NEEDED FOR INTOWN DRIVING. SPEEDS OF 45MPH CAN BE OBTAINED BEFORE HITTING PEDAL.

NHTSA complaint #705009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaver, PA Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

AT LEAST 12 SETS OF BRAKES PUT ON VEHICLE"4 IN UDER 9000 MILES, RESULTING IN 2 ACCIDENTS" 3 TIMES AT TURNING ROTORS/ENGINE REBUILT AT 52000 MILES STILL WITH LOSS OF PORWER. 2 EGR VALVES/2 WIPER SWITCHES/SYNCRONIZERS/2 SLAVE CYLINDERS ON TRANSMISSION AND OIL LEAK. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. ENGINE IDLES HIGH ENOUGH THAT THE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT NEEDED FOR INTOWN DRIVING. SPEEDS OF 45MPH CAN BE OBTAINED BEFORE HITTING PEDAL.

NHTSA complaint #705009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE LOCKED AT 42,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #780484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garden GRO, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

OIL PUMP FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #604931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Longm, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE IDLES VERY ERRATIC.

NHTSA complaint #525849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kearney, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE CONNECTING ROD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #781321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marlboroug, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #540429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North LAS Vegas, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS OUT, INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. CONSUMER'S SPEED VARIES BETWEEN 25-65MPH WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #825551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mckinney, TX Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AT 20 MPH IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. ALSO, MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE IN LOW SPEED CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #825173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carrollwoo, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

IN WET WEATHER VEHICLE STALLS WHEN TRAVELING OVER SMALL PUDDLES.

NHTSA complaint #529178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Auburndale, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS/STALLS.

NHTSA complaint #526932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRANK SENSOR SHORTED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #603502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cerritos, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TAIL PIPE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rockingham, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DURING FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEED THE MOTOR RUNS BETWEEN 3/4 TO 1/2 WIDE OPEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #813720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upland, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

LOWER RADIATOR HOSE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #602901 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fallbrook, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE COMPUTER FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #602981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Banning, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE MAIN SEAL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #603085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 1996 Ford Ranger report