Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Ford Ranger problems
Owners filed 597 complaints about the 1998 Ford Ranger with NHTSA between Dec 1997 and Apr 2021. The most-cited component is tires (137).
Complaints
597
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
67
Reported by owners
Fires
35
Reported by owners
Injuries
45
People reported injured
Deaths
7
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Tires137
- Vehicle speed control73
- Power train60
- Service brakes, hydraulic51
- Engine and engine cooling51
- Suspension50
- Structure45
- Air bags33
- Electrical system28
- Steering18
- Interior lighting18
- Exterior lighting16
- Fuel system, gasoline16
- Seat belts14
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 5, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
53
113
163
68
35
20
19
13
9
15
9
8
4
13
8
10
6
13
3
5
3
1
3
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 53 |
| 1999 | 113 |
| 2000 | 163 |
| 2001 | 68 |
| 2002 | 35 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Tires
137 reports12 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“WHILE ON FREEWAY LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CENTER DIVIDER. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS. THE TIRE FAILURE APPEARS AS TREAD SEPARATION. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
73 reports8 crashes12 fires2 related recalls
“MY FUSE #27 FOR BACKUP LIGHTS AND THE O/D KEEPS BLOWING OUT AND NOW THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES SOMETIMES I PULLED THE COVER OFF OF THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE O/D CORD WASN'T PINCHED OR DAMAGED ALSO NO APPEARANCE OF ANY WIRE TOUCHING ANYTHING”
Power train
60 reports6 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“4WD STOPPED WORKING SOME TIME AGO, SERVO/ACTUATOR SEEMED TO BE FREE, RECENTLY STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES IN THE FRONT RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE HUB IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED. SORT OF POPS OUT WHEN COMING TO A STOP HVAC DOES NOT WORK, FAN SPEED ONLY INTERIOR COURTESY STOPPED WORKING”
Service brakes, hydraulic
51 reports7 crashes1 fire
“MY 1998 FORD RANGER XLT SO FAR HAD 2 COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURES DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE SPIRAL PROTECTION OF THE BRAKE LINES WHICH KEEPS THE HUMIDITY TRAPPED AND THUS CORRODES THE LINES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, BRAKE FLUID IS LEAKING OUT WHEN THE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN YET NO BRAKE FUNCTION IS EXPERIENCED. AS THIS PROBLEM HAS A CLEAR TECHNICAL REASON IN THE FORM OF THE BRAKE LINES, IT IS SYSTEMIC IN ALL SUCH VEHICLES. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MY CAR MECHANIC SHOP WHICH IS FREQUENTLY REPAIRING FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NO EARLY WARNING INDICATION AND IS NOT DETECTED BY THE YEARLY INSPECTION. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
51 reports1 crash6 fires
“I STARTED THE TRUCK, ALL GAUGES READ OK, BACKED IT OUT ONTO THE ROAD AND PROCEEDED T DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. I SHIFTED INTO 3RD AND IT FELT SLUGGISH, (LIKE BRAKE DRAG) I LOOKED DOWN AT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR INFORMATION, AND FOUND NO RESPONSE FROM THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE. I PROCEEDED TO PUSH IN THE CLUTCH AND SHUT OFF THE MOTOR, BUT BY THE TIME I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULDN'T PROCEED TO RUN. I CHECKED THE OIL DIP STICK TO FIND THE OIL LEVEL IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE MOTOR REFUSES TO TURN OVER. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS TO THIS DAY. *TR”
Suspension
50 reports1 crash
“THE FRAME HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION IS DETACHING FROM FRAME AND FRAME IS ALMOST RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND WILL SEPARATE SOON. THE SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER HAVE FALLEN OFF WHERE IS WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RUST AND THE BED MOUNTS HAVE RUSTED AWAY AND NO LONGER ATTACH TO THE FRAME LEAVING THE BED WITH NO SOLID MOUNT. SPARE TIRE AND CARRIER FELL OFF ON INTERSTATE WHILE DRIVING.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 5, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.