FaultScore

2004 Ford Ranger tire problems

17 of the 462 complaints about the 2004 Ford Ranger are about the tires — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 35,500 miles.

C

17

Complaints

2

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Tires 9 52.9%
Sidewall 3 17.6%
Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire 3 17.6%
Tread/Belt 2 11.8%

Tires across every Ford Ranger year

1990 14 1.6%
1991 13 1.5%
1992 18 2.1%
1993 35 4.1%
1994 57 6.7%
1995 31 3.6%
1996 47 5.5%
1997 63 7.4%
1998 146 17.0%
1999 187 21.8%
2000 150 17.5%
2001 40 4.7%
2002 29 3.4%
2003 10 1.2%
2004 17 2.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Pleasanton, KS

TIRES

After driving for 45 minutes on smooth highway, my front driver's side tire blew while I was going 75mph. Had I been closer to the vehicle I had just passed, there could have easily been a bad wreck as I had little control of the vehicle. I was fortunately able to pull over and slam on my brakes safely. The tires have under 40,000 miles on them and showed no signs of low pressure or issues prior to the blowout. I was told by Discout Tire that they would refund me for a replacement tire, but that the Falken Wildpeak R15s on my vehicle have not been recalled, a different size of this tire model have though. There was no reason for the sidewalls of this tire to blow. The air pressure was fine and there was plenty of life left on the tread. Based on the recall on the other size of this tire model, I would guess this size is defective in the sidewalls as well.

NHTSA complaint #11723344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 113,640 miles Machias, NY

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY SPARE TIRE AND TIRE FRAME FELL OFF. AFTER PICKING EVERY THING OUT OF THE ROAD I NOTICED MY FRAME WAS GONE, MY RIGHT REAR SPRING AND SHACKLE ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE FRAME. THE WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE IS GONE. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND TOOK CARE OF IT. THE LAST TWO YEARS RUST IS OVERWHELMING THE TRUCK..BASICALLY THE TRUCK IS SCRAP WITH A LITTLE OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES. TRIED CALLING FORD BUT ...I NEVER COMPLAIN BUT I GOT ROBBED.....

NHTSA complaint #10586206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles FT. White, FL

TIRES

WHILE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON I-75, NEAR LAKE CITY, FL., THE REAR, PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE. THE TREAD DAMAGED THE REAR, PASSENGER SIDE OF MY FORD RANGER TRUCK. FORTUNATELY, I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. WHEN MY MECHANIC INSPECTED THE REST OF THE TIRES HE DISCOVERED THAT A HALF DOLLAR SIZED CHUNK OF TIRE WAS MISSING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. THE CONDITION OF THIS TIRE, COUPLED WITH THE OTHER ONE, FORCED ME TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE SET OF NEW TIRES. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WASN'T VERY HAPPY OVER THIS WHOLE INCIDENT. I AM, HOWEVER, HAPPY/LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND WRITING THIS COMPLAINT TO YOU. P.S., JUST FYI, I AM STILL IN POSSESSION OF ALL FOUR GENERAL TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10508647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,030 miles Naples, ME

TIRES

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER WITH DUNLOP RADIAL ROVER TIRES, LINE SIZE 255/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE HEARD A BANGING NOISED, SHE REALIZED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE TREAD AND PART OF THE WIRES SEPARATED WHICH LATER THAT DAY EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,030. PM

NHTSA complaint #10399600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 81,000 miles SAN Francisco, CA

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER EQUIPPED WITH B.F GOODRICH LONG TRAIL TA TIRES, LINE SIZE 235/70/R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL THUMPING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED TO CHECK THE TIRES AND FOUND AN ABNORMAL BULGING ON THE TREAD BELT. THE TIRE FAILURE WAS NOT IMPACTED BY A POTHOLE OR ANY OTHER ROAD HAZARD TO CAUSE THE FAILURE. THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 1/4 INCHES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 06/03/11

NHTSA complaint #10394288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,000 miles Fisherville, VA

TIRES:SIDEWALL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE SPLITTING AROUND THE RIMS. ON FEBRUARY 6, 2009, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES WERE WEARING AROUND THE RIM. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 21,000. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/18/09.

NHTSA complaint #10258395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 156,651 miles Rustburge, VA

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR MICHELIN XC LT4 TIRES, SIZE 225/70R15. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING SOUND. HE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES HAD A FAULTY VALVE STEM. A NEARBY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FAULTY VALVE STEM. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. AFTER REVIEWING ONLINE COMPLAINTS, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE FOR MICHELIN TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 156,651.

NHTSA complaint #10258283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

TIRES:SIDEWALL

ONE OF FOUR ORIGINAL TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY 2004 FORD RANGER EDGE TRUCK WITH 4.0L ENGINE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS (235/75 X 15) WITH ONLY 22,852 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE SIDEWALL EXHIBITED CRACK LINES ALL ALONG THE UPPER PART OF THE SIDEWALL AND I TOOK IT TO THE TIRE SHOP FOR REPAIRS THE TIRE STARTED BULGING OUT ALONG ONE SECTION OF THE CRACKS AND THEIR WAS MASSIVE LEAK OF AIR. I WAS CONCERNED THAT OTHER THREE TIRES WOULD EVENTUALLY BLOW OUT SO I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH A BRAND NEW ONES.

NHTSA complaint #10215942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 7,500 miles Middletown, RI

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD RANGER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SIDE WALLS OF HER GOODYEAR TIRES WERE CRACKED AND BUBBLING. THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS P9245-75R16. THE DOT AND ADDITIONAL TIRE INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,500.

NHTSA complaint #10192698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,500 miles Plover, WI

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPARE TIRE RIM WAS 16 INCHES INSTEAD OF 15 INCHES AND THE TIRE ITSELF WAS 70 SERIES INSTEAD OF 75 SERIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING A PROPER SIZED SPARE TIRE. UPDATED 12/26/06.

NHTSA complaint #10174075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alton BAY, NH

TIRES

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR (INSIDE EDGE) ON FRONT TIRES AT LOW MILEAGE (5,000+) AND CONTINUING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED BY THE DEALER TWICE SINCE PURCHASE.

NHTSA complaint #10166606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUN Valley, NV

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

CONSUMER SPARE TIRE WAS NOT THE CORRECT SIZE TO FIT ON 2004 FORD RANGER. *TS THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO GIVE THE CONSUMER A SPARE TIRE AT THEIR EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #10144248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington Beach, CA

TIRES:SIDEWALL

2004 RANGER XLT PASSENGER REAR TIRE CAME APART. *MR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD COME OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SEVERELY SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN HAD COME BACK ACROSS THE CENTER LANE. THE BLOWN TIRE LOOKED AS IF HAD COME UNPLUGGED AT THE SIDEWALL. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A BULDGE ON THE SIDEWALL. TWO TIRES FAILED IN THE COURSE OF DAYS. CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC *SC

NHTSA complaint #10134522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frackville, PA

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DT: THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER PRORATED THE PRICE TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED ON 6-21-05 AND THE OTHER THREE WERE REPLACED ON 7-26-05. *AK *NM *JB WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 35 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD THUMPING NOISES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK.

NHTSA complaint #10132088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 400 miles Canyon Country, CA

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT BOTH TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE FIRST TIRE WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THE CONSUMER WAS CHARGED FOR THE OTHER TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10073820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 584 miles Detroit, MI Crash

TIRES

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LANDED IN A DITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10067514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Mirage, AZ Crash 2 injured

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN ARIZONA AT 70-75 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR TIRE. LATER, DISCOVERED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRES TREAD CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID AND FLIP OVER. BOTH CONSUMER AND WIFE SUSTAINED INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10057841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Ford Ranger problems

← Full 2004 Ford Ranger report